Caring for Crafting Hands

There is something deeply meditative about crafting with your hands. Whether it's the steady rhythm of needle dipping in and out of fabric, the gentle clack of knitting needles, or the crisp cut of scissors through paper, time seems to slow as we turn supplies into art. It can be hard to stop - a familiar refrain of "just one more row" or "just one more stitch" as your eyelids begin to droop before bed.

As much as our hands and eyes bring our creative visions to life, they also bear the weight of our craft.

I learned this the hard way after a marathon knitting session. Picking up my needles the next day, I could feel the strain in my hands - all sore tendons and muscles. I realized then how important it is to care for not just the tools we buy, but the ones attached to us! I was lucky; after a bit of rest and stretching, I was back to normal - but had I kept going with stitching or knitting when I felt that strain, I may have suffered a repetitive motion injury that would prevent me from picking up my needles for much longer!

That’s why I want to share some simple ways to care for yourself as a stitcher, knitter, dabbler. I'm sharing my five favourite gentle stretches to keep your hands nimble, and a couple of eye relaxation techniques to help you stitch with clarity and ease. Think of them as small acts of self-love - not as glamorous, perhaps, as a bubble bath or spa day, but a way to honour the hands and eyes that bring so much beauty into the world nonetheless.

So, before you thread your needle, take a deep breath, and let’s begin.

*Disclaimer: this post and recommended stretches are not meant to stand in for medical advice. If you are experiencing pain in your hands or wrists, we recommend talking to your doctor!

Stretching Your Hands

1. Fingertip Touches

Starting with an open hand, bring the tip of your thumb and the tip of your forefinger together. Release and do the same with your middle finger. Repeat for each finger, then repeat for the other hand.

 I like to do this a few times on each hand, going from forefinger to pinky, then pinky back to forefinger.

2. Palm Press and Wrist Release

Bring your hands together in front of you in a prayer-like position, pressing your palms together. Keeping your palms together, stretch your fingers to the right, and then to the left. You should feel this one in your wrists!

3. Finger Flex and Wrist Release

Bring your right hand in front of you with the palm facing out and fingertips pointed upward. With your left hand, gently pull your fingers back toward yourself, feeling the stretch in your right fingers and wrist. Release and repeat on the other side.

4. Inverted Finger Flex and Wrist Release

Similar to the last stretch, bring your right hand in front of you with the palm facing out, this time with fingertips pointed downward. With your left hand, gently pull your fingers back toward yourself, feeling the stretch in your right fingers and wrist. Release and repeat on the other side.

5. Finger Flexes and Palm Stretch

Bring your hands together with just the fingertips touching. Stretch your fingers out, fingertips still touching - your palms will come together but shouldn't touch. Then send your palms back apart, fingertips still touching, almost as if you are holding a sandwich. Move through these motions fluidly a few times for a good full hand stretch.

Stretching Your Eyes

While we might be more in-tune with how our hands are feeling, tired eyes may be a little less obvious - especially since so many of us are used to staring at screens for a good chunk of the day! These exercises are great for resting your eyes whilst stitching or crafting, but they work well for when you've been reading or looking at screens for a while, too! 

1. The 20-20-20 Rule

This is a great habit for artists who spend long periods focusing on close-up work. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This helps relax your eye muscles and reduce strain. You can set a gentle timer as a reminder, or use a natural pause in your stitching, like when you change threads.

2. Palming for Relaxation

This is a wonderful way to soothe tired eyes after a crafting session:

1. Rub your hands together until they feel warm.
2. Gently cup them over your closed eyes without pressing.
3. Take a few deep breaths and relax for 30 seconds to a minute.
4. Slowly open your eyes and return to stitching with refreshed vision.

Not only are these great ways to rest your eyes, but they are a good reminder to stop and take a few deep breaths, too!

In the end, caring for our hands and eyes is an act of kindness towards ourselves, ensuring we can keep doing what we love without unnecessary discomfort - or uninvited time away! By incorporating these simple stretches and eye exercises into our crafting routines, we can stitch, knit, and create with greater ease, allowing the flow of creativity to continue uninterrupted.

Just as we care for our projects with attention and love, let’s also honour the tools that make it all possible—our hands and eyes—so we can enjoy many more hours of crafting, with comfort and clarity at every stitch. Happy stitching!