Holding the Crochet Hook

The following is how some people describe how to hold your crochet hook, and also your left-hand "tension":

Always keep thumb and forefinger of your left hand near the stitch on which you are working.
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Holding The Crochet Hook
There are two methods of holding a crochet hook. Try them both to see which
one feels most comfortable to you.

Place the hook in your right hand, holding it between your index finger and thumb, as you would hold a pencil.

Hold the hook in an "overhand" clutch, similar to the way you might hold a tennis racquet, or a spoon while making cake batter.
(I apologize for not noting this link down when I found it.)
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To crochet easily and successfully, you need to hold the yarn and the hook comfortably, with enough tension on the yarn, so that when you draw the hook around the yarn, it stays firmly in the lip of the hook. Most people choose to wrap the yarn around their fingers, and some make an additional wrap around their little finger – choose whichever yarnholding method works best for you.

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Position of the hands
Hold the work in the left hand, between the thumb and forefinger, yarn is taken over the forefinger and middle finger, under the third finger and around the little finger. The crochet hook is held in the right hand (as you would hold a pencil) between the thumb and forefinger and pressing on the middle finger.

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Tension

Q. Hi I wanted to say thank you for the videos they are a big help and I am working on a baby blanket for my niece that is due in August I just have a couple of questions if you dont mind...First, I can not get the stitches consistent all the way across they are either too tight or way to loose. How can I fix this? then second, when I go to do the yarn over that is ok but when I actually pull it through it frays the yarn and I end up only pulling half of what I am supposed to...Please help???

A. You are very welcome for these crochet videos! Actually, I've got to give my niece a lot of credit, because she's the one who had the idea!

To answer the first part of your question, it sounds like you need to use one hand for your "tension". If you are right-handed, and use your right hand to actually crochet, then the "tension" hand would be your left hand. (Vice-versa if you're left-handed.) I show how I do this on my first crochet video:

Crochet Video 1 - This one shows the "tension" technique 1/4 the way from the beginning.

Crochet Video 2 - This one shows the "tension" technique 3/4 the way through.

The second difficulty you mentioned is also tension-related. When you're making your stitch, if your tension isn't tight enough, then you'll lose some "plys" part of your yarn as you're pulling it through your stitch. Also, remember to turn your hook to face down as you're pulling it through your stitch.

Try these ideas out, and see if they help - - if not, let me know!