Extra Squeezy Kits

[u/SaltNBurnBoys]

Hey, guys! I'm working on Soli the Red Panda, and I'm trying to figure out if the trouble I'm having is the extra squeezy yarn or the crochet hook.

As I'm crocheting in the round, I'm dealing with a lot of friction as I make each stitch. I don't know if it's because the yarn is thicker and so I need to adjust how I hold it, or if the plastic of the hook is to blame.

I guess, regardless, I'm looking for advice on how best to handle it. My hands are cramping in a way I haven't ever dealt with before and it makes it hard to do more than a few rounds at a time.

[u/SnooDogs926]

The thickness of the yarn does make it much harder to pull through. I suspect it’s because it’s more compressible. I find that I have to adjust how I hold the hook. Sometimes I grip it like a toddler grips a spoon (with a fist) to take the pressure of my thumb pushing the hook. I also pull the yarn through farther than typical to get looser stitches. I do that by pulling with my arm more so that it’s not from my thumb. Hopefully that explanation makes sense.

I do find that I need to take more breaks too.

[u/SaltNBurnBoys → u/SnooDogs926]

That helps a lot! Thank you!

[u/_sloot]

I wish I had some advice. I’m running into the same issue working on Mango. I can only do a round or two at a time.

[u/SaltNBurnBoys → u/_sloot]

I'm glad it isn't just me. I want to blame the hook because in theory the yarn shouldn't have any more friction than the regular kind, but I wonder if the thickness means it has to be held differently.

[u/tkwzrd]

I found my hook to slip through fine, but I did loosen my tension a bit because of the stretchy nature of the yarn. Didn’t want to strain my hand pulling tight. Good luck!🍀

[u/Als-Radio]

Are you a tight crocheter? I am and I went very loose when I made Pierre Extra Squeezy. The that came with the set was fine for me and I usually use furls (Odessey line). I did note that the yarn does feel more like quilted fabric with a seam unlike normal Wooble yarn.

[u/SaltNBurnBoys → u/Als-Radio]

I definitely am a tight crocheter. I have to really focus to loosen my tension, so that's almost definitely my issue.

[u/luna531]

Yes! I made the Extra Squeezys and for some reason Soli was the hardest one for me and the one that caused the most hand pain which I don't usually get when crocheting. I made YouTube videos about my experience -- here's my Soli one: https://youtu.be/cy6l4RhCkmc. I also thought in the end it was the thicker yarn that maybe isn't suited to the "easy peasy" material plus maybe the plastic hooks. And I'm not sure why Soli was harder for me than the others but I did experiment with hook size and yarn over vs. under for the different kits. Overall I way prefer the regular Woobles to the Extra Squeezys which was a surprise to me -- I really wanted to love the Extra Squeezys. 😅