Most hand knitters experience sweaty hands or palms at some time, while knitting a project. It does not happen all the time but can become a nuisance. This can become more prominent during the hot summer weather or when the central heating has been cranked up during the cold winter spells.

What is Sweating?

This is a natural mechanism within the body which helps to cool the body down and prevent overheating. The moisture is released through sweat glands under the armpits, on the face, soles of the feet or palms of the hands. Sweating generally occurs during exertion, when nervous, through wearing too many layers or naturally in the sun. In so many words, when your body temperature becomes raised you sweat or perspire.

Why Does it Happen When Knitting?

Everyone generally has a natural level of heat generated from the palms of their hands. As mentioned earlier when you exert your body through exercise it triggers the sweating process in your brain. If you think about it, when knitting you are giving your hands an aerobic workout while manipulating the needles through the wool. So the body’s natural response is to cool your hands down. Also the fact that your hands are closely in contact with the wool at all times, also generates extra heat into your palms.

Can Anything Be Done To Calm This Problem?

The answer to this question is difficult as home remedies may work for some people and not for others. The following can be tried but there are no guarantees:

Try drinking plenty of ice cold water to keep your core body temperature down.

Dunking your hands in cold water is also an option, but I consider this to be a time consuming process as the effects are short lived.

Baby talcum powder can also be used on your hands during knitting, which will create a barrier between your palms and the wool. This does not affect the fibres of the yarn.

Try holding the needles differently so your palms are not continuously in contact with the knitting. This allows air to pass between your hands and the wool.

Have a fan near you while you knit to keep you cool.

Sweaty Palms as an Illness

Rarely, some people suffer from a condition known as Hyperhidrosis. This is an illness caused by overactive sweat glands. With this condition the palms are literally streaming with sweat constantly and the only option is to seek medical advice.

So Basically

Having sweating palms when hand knitting is a natural body reaction to increased body heat and there is really very little that can be done to alleviate this problem. One of the main things to remember is, work through it and don’t give up your needlecraft as it is not a permanent condition, unless you have been diagnosed with Hyperhidrosis by a doctor. I hope this article has been helpful.