I am currently knitting a scarf for my boyfriend, using a worsted weight acrylic yarn on size 9 needles. I am about 1/4 to a 1/3 of the way done and it is getting very heavy as I knit the new rows. My arm, shoulder, and back are starting to ache while I am knitting because of the weight of the developing scarf. Does anyone have tips or tricks to ease my pain? This is the first thing I have ever knitted, so I guess it will get more comfortable the more I knit. I hope so anyway 
Thanks for any help you can give me!
Stefanie
Rest the developing scarf in your lap as you work. That’ll take some of the weight off your arms and wrists.
I’m having the same problem with a scarf I’m knitting. I wholeheartedly agree with Silver; resting the scarf in your lap makes everything so much easier on the wrists. You might also consider switching to a circular needle and working back and forth on that. Circular needles are usually much lighter than straight needles, and it really can make a difference.
And, take breaks while knitting and stretch a bit, this may be helpful
If you have some available, put the work on circular needles and work back and forth–it seems to distribute the weight more evenly in my experience.
Yup…circs are the key!!
Hmmm, I wonder if your body is really tense while you’re knitting. I’m kinda thinking that a scarf shouldn’t be too heavy to knit. Have you tried changing your position every once in awhile? Are you holding the needles up high in front of your face rather than in a neutral position?
What I’m getting at is that maybe the yarn isn’t really heavy, you might be doing something to cause strain and that makes it feel heavy. 
In my very best Austrian doctor voice:
Ve must do somezing to help you relax. Tell me about zis compulsion to make knots in shtring…
