Belly Dancing Moves

Now, what in the world does belly dancing have to do with crochet you ask?!  Well, let me tell you, it can be a life saver!  Ever sit for a long crochet session and feel very tight and strained afterwards?  A few belly dancing moves will fix you right up and help prevent future muscle tensions and problems.  My favorite is the arm undulations -- really gets at the same muscles you need to keep supple and loose in order to comfortably crochet.  Slowly, lift your arms up in front of you, with palms facing down, to about shoulder level.  Then, bend your wrists downward, with fingertips facing the ground.  Curl your fingers inward while flexxing your wrists upward, so that your palms are facing forward.  Uncurl your fingers to point skyward, then bend your wrists to move your palms downward again until your fingertips face the ground.  Repeat these steps in a fluid motion 5 or 6 times, then start to move your arms to the sides, still at a shoulder level.  Start to undulate your arms while still undulating your hands.  After repeating about 10 to 12 times, you will really feel it in your shoulders, elbows and wrists.  Don't overdo it, but if you do these moves a couple of times a day, you will start to feel a nice release in your upper body, which will make crocheting for long sessions so much more comfortable!

Do Your Stretches

If you're planning a marathon crocheting session, be sure to remind yourself to stop every 30 to 45 minutes to stretch your wrists, arms, and shoulders to avoid any repetitive motion injuries.  It only takes a few minutes and it'll make such a difference in your overall physical wellbeing.  Try these exercises: 

1) Stretch your arms out, shoulder height and palms facing down, and flex your hands upward, like you're telling someone to stop.  Then, bend your hands down, with your fingers pointing to the floor.  Now, twist your arms so that your palms are facing up towards the ceiling.  Then, bend your hands toward you, so that you are looking at your palms, then bend your hands backwards so that your palms are facing away from you and your fingers are pointing down.

2) Drape your arm over your head, so that your right hand covers your left ear.  Gently bend your head towards your right shoulder and hold for at least 10 to 15 seconds.  Then, switch sides.

3) Stand up and place your hands on your hips -- and do the hokey pokey!  No, not really (unless you want to!)  But, do gently twist to the right and then to the left a few times to work out the kinks.

Ok, hope this helps.  Now, back to crocheting!

Crochet Podcasts

If you're like me, you can't crochet and watch TV at the same time.  I just have to keep my eyes on my work.  So, I've found that listening to audio books and podcasts is a great way to multitask!  One of my favorite crochet podcasts is The Crochet Side by Brianna.  She's got great designs and crochet tips and can be found on iTunes and at www.thecrochetside.com

How Fast Can You Crochet?

Lisa Gentry is the world's fastest crocheter according to the Guinness Book of World Records.  He achieved her title by crocheting 5,113 stitches in 30 minutes -- that's almost 3 stitches per second!  She's also gone up against Lily Chin, a fast and famous crocheter in her own right.  The one-on-one televised match in California recorded Gentry crocheting 107 stitches to Chin's 82 stitches.

Read more: "Lisa Gentry: World’s Fastest Crocheter and New Knit & Crochet Designer | Suite101.com" - http://knittingcrochet.suite101.com/article.cfm/lisa_gentry#ixzz0H0dve3RE&A and see Gentry's own site at http://hookandneedledesigns.com/