Osteoarthritis of the hands runs in my family. It's one of those things one mostly has to just live with. I say "mostly" because I have learned a few tricks along the way.
I've been making an effort to do some practical crotchet projects. I had to face up to the fact that holding the narrow crotchet hook limited the time I could spend, and tended to give me cramping and discomfort if I pushed it.
Then I engaged my brain and thought of how we'd tried some pencil adaptations when my son was young. None of those specific techniques seemed quite right for what my goals were, so I kept looking in those collections of "too good to throw out, but not wanted enough to use" piles that all creative homes seem to attract.
This is a advertising gimmick eraser my kid brought home at some point - no, I'm not going to give the company free advertising on permies by showing you the other side. I drilled longitudinally through it, which mostly poked a hole and disrupted the rubber, but it was enough to push the hook through and have "stiction" hold it firmly.
It took a bit of practice to get used to the feel of it in my hand, but I can now crotchet without frustration, and the net project is progressing.
So people, if you have a tool that's not fitting your hand, there are ways to fix that! If you need input, post about it on permies - here works for textile tools, but we have other appropriate spots for other sorts of tools. I should have done this five years ago!
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