It’s called a knitting thimble! It keeps your strands straight and makes it easier to pick up each color. I got mine “free” (plus shipping) on Wish, looks like Amazon has them, too
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00114OO10/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_1tQxDbJW68T1H
oh okay I understand now. Fwiw, I also haven't been able to manage holding yarn in my right hand at all. That yarn stranding guide and/or this particular Norwegian thimble have made stranded knitting possible for me
not OP but I do a lot of color work, and I knit primarily continental:
Initially I started with a Norwegian Knitting Thimble, but those can get annoying if you aren't using the two colors equally, so I've just recently learned to hold one color in each hand (I will still keep the dominant color in my left hand, and the secondary color in my right) - it only took me 2-3 rounds on a hat to get truly comfortable with holding the second color in my right hand, since it was only knit, no purling.
I've noticed that I tend to tension the yarn around my hand differently for each hand.
I'll admit to being a stranded knitting noob (only done one hat using the technique) but I was able to comfortably doing it using this specific Norwegian thimble. I had initially bought and tried Norwegian thimbles that came in a multipack, but they didn't have the taper and the hook bits were rather pointy/would snag yarn. I thought Norwegian thimbles just weren't it for me until I got that one by dritz
These are called knitting thimbles or, delightfully, the strickenfingerhut.
LoRan Norwegian Knitting Thimble https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00114OO10/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_NznwBb5ADD9B4
Here ya go!
Amazon. Norwegian Knitting Thimble.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00114OO10/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_t1_dJk5CbMCSJN4K
I would recommend most colorwork hats that just have two colors (the main color and the contrast color) as a first project. I would also recommend ones that maybe look more complicated colorwork patterns because they won't have as long of floats as ones that look simpler.
This was my first one and this was my second one (second one being an example of a more "complicated" looking pattern but was actually easier than a lot of other patterns because of the short floats).
Also, I'd def recommend in the round. I've never knit colorwork flat but it seems like a PITA that I don't need, haha.
You may also want to try using a Norwegian thimble if you have issues with tension. I'm also a continental knitter and it helped sometimes when I just couldn't get my tension right.
I have rheumatoid arthritis. I bought one of these gloves when I started crocheting to help loosen hand tension. They don't seem to be in stores locally anymore but I'd buy another in a heartbeat. It's like a slightly bendy splint with a round microbead wrist support pad on the front.
Knitting is a relatively new craft for me but I find it easier on the hands than crocheting, probably because both hands are on the needles at a time.
When working with small needles and delicate yarns, I find it helps to imagine my hands are lightly dancing - like a conductor keeping time. I try to balance the weight of the needles against my hand and start movement from my wrists as opposed to cramping the fingers.
Yarn tension is hard - I'm thinking about buying a Norwegian knitting thimble to see if that helps. At this point I'm sacrificing speed for a looser tension and adjusting it frequently.
Stretch your fingers, hands, wrists, elbows AND shoulders before and after (so many places for tension to lurk!). I like to have a big mug of hot beverage nearby to cup my hands around for heat therapy.
My problem areas are lower back and shoulders so these tips may not be as useful for you. I do find hand crafting very soothing, especially since sports used to be a huge part of my life pre-illness.