Knitting Comfortably: The Ergonomics of Handknitting

Imagine being told you have to stop knitting because of discomfort in your hands, arms, neck, or back. Imagine the sense of frustration and the longing to get the needles back in your hands. Imagine the lingering doubt you might have when you can pick them up again: “What was I doing wrong after all these years of knitting?” “Will I get hurt again?” “Will I have to stop knitting forever to make this pain go away?” Maybe you’d like to be a faster, more efficient knitter, or a knitter who produces more projects, but you’re not sure what’s getting in the way.

This book will help you understand the ergonomics of knitting so you can improve your safety, efficiency, and productivity in knitting. You’ll learn to identify ergonomic risks that contribute to injury and reduce knitting efficiency. Throughout the book, you’ll be provided with activities and guidance to improve your knitting ergonomics so you can knit more confidently and comfortably. Through instruction in stretches, exercise, and self-care, you’ll also learn how to manage the discomfort common to knitters before it becomes an injury, and how to recognize when it’s time to seek help from a health-care professional.

Join me in this unique knit-along that will help make a more comfortable, lifelong knitter out of you.

- From the introduction of Knitting Comfortably

By day Carson is a physical therapist who operates an award winning ergonomics program for a San Francisco medical center. Every other moment he's knitting, spinning, designing, teaching, or otherwise up to some fiber fun - always with a watchful eye toward ergonomics. His passion and experience in fiber arts combine with his expertise in physical therapy and ergonomics to create a unique skill set that he eagerly shares with the fiber community to keep us all creating healthfully - and comfortably - ever after.

Carson teaches at knitting, spinning, and other fiber events throughout the US. He loves to teach at local yarn shops and guilds. He has written articles for TNNA and other publications, and is a regular contributor to Ply magazine.

What people are saying about Knitting Comfortably: The Ergonomics of Handknitting

“I’ve often wished I could carry Carson in my pocket and pull him out whenever my hands ache or my neck feels pinched. He has a keen understanding of both the mechanics of the human body and the mechanics of knitting—and how the two can be kept in perfect harmony. If you want to enjoy knitting for the rest of your life, you absolutely must read this book.”
— Clara Parkes, Publisher of Knitter’s Review and author of Knitlandia: A Knitter Sees the World

“An injury that prevents a knitter from knitting is a horrible fate, and one that most of us worry about. In this clear and helpful book, Carson shows us what knitters need to know about ergonomics, and how to prevent and cope with knitting injuries. It should be required reading for every knitter whose future would be dark without their art. Finally, we have knitter specific ergonomic advice, and realistic ideas about how to knit in a way to prevent injury, or relieve discomfort if you’ve already knit yourself into a bad spot, artfully presented by a knitter and physical therapist who understands the way you think, and how much you want to be knitting. This landmark book should be required reading for any knitter who can’t imagine a world without their knitting in it.”
— Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, New York Times Bestselling Author

“This should be the very next book you read. Imagine if a highly skilled Physical Therapist/Ergonomics Specialist/Knitter sat at your side and answered every possible question you could have about movement and knitting, and how you can knit more comfortably. And then some. That’s this book.

Carson Demers embodies the perfect storm of physiological knowledge and knitting experience, honed by his years of sharing this information with his fortunate clients and students. This book is a gift to knitters who are wise enough to read it all and put Carson’s suggestions into practise.”
— Amy Singer, Editor and publisher of knitty.com

“A sorely (if you’ll pardon the expression) needed book. Carson’s clear and intelligent guidance hasn’t just improved my knitting, it has improved my general well-being. I know it will help thousands of knitters keep on clicking happily and healthily for years to come.”
— Franklin Habit, Teacher, designer, and author of I Dream of Yarn and It Itches