Which Crochet Hooks are the Best?

If you are new to crochet or you simply want to upgrade your hook, today I want to share with you which crochet hooks are the best. Developed from my own experience over many years of learning this wonderful skill.

When starting to crochet it can seem a little daunting choosing your first crochet hook as craft shops are filled will an endless choice to choose from. Or maybe your aunt has kindly given you some traditional steel hooks, which you have tried & they are uncomfortable to use. My aim is help you choose the right crochet hook for you, with some simple guidance without all the technical specifications about each individual part of a hook. Like many things in life ‘One size does NOT fit all’.

When I began to crochet I used some simple cheap hooks to get me started but over the years I have tested many types of hooks. I quickly found that some were much more comfortable than others. To find the right crochet hook for me I applied the same technique I used when I was on the hunt for my double bass bow.

• Style – Type of music I wanted to play from the bow e.g. Baroque, Romantic, Solo, Orchestral
• Ease – How well can created a sound
• Comfort – Comfortable to hold
• Balance – Weighted correctly
• Appearance –  I wanted a bow which was beautifully crafted & aesthetically pleasing

Now let’s apply this to crochet.

Style

What is your style of crochet? Amigurumi – Aran Crochet – Hair Pin – Lace – Tapestry etc..

From here there are two main types of stitches you create – tight (Amigurumi) – standard (Aran Crochet) which I believe helps you easily choose the right style of hook

I would recommend an Inline hook (the head is the same size as the hook) for anyone who is crocheting mainly tight stitches to help keep you work uniform & tight.

Or a Tapered hook (the head is slightly bigger than the stem & the part under the head is slightly smaller than the stem which gradually increases to the hook size) are fantastic for most forms of crochet as they glide in and out of stitches smoothly with ease.

I prefer to use tapered hooks for their overall ease for many styles. These are only suggestions from my own experience, of course you can use either hook styles for any type of crochet.

Ease

You want a hook which helps your yarn glide smoothly in & out of stitches without splitting the yarn. Therefore I would recommend choosing a tapered hook in general as these hooks have a slightly rounded groove under the head. I also find aluminium or metal stem hooks are much easier to use on various types of yarn, compared to plastic or wooded hooks which tend to with catch or cause friction.

Comfort

Crochet is a repetitive motion which can easily lead to discomfort or pain. To help relieve this, choose a crochet hook which is best suited to your crochet hold style.

Pencil Hold– I am a pencil holder with my crochet hook, therefore I would recommend choosing a hook which has a clearly defined thumb rest (avoid any round hooks are these can slightly rotate as your crochet, causing you to hold with more pressure than needed). As playing an instrument, you want your form to be as natural as possible with no added pressure or tension which can hinder your overall performance. I would also suggest choosing a hook with a softer plastic which has a little bounce as your hook will feel more organic to the touch than a cold, hard surface. Similar to the feeling of using a pen with a rubber grip compared to a cheap hard plastic pen. I personally use mainly Tulip Crochet hooks as they have an almost silky feel to plastic coating.

Knife Hold – If you’re a knife holder look for a hook which fits in your hand without it digging into your palm, therefore I would suggest opting for longer crochet hooks. From friends I have heard them comment that crochet hooks with a styled formed stem are much more comfortable to hold than a thin stem.

Balance

You want a crochet hook which when you hold, it feels overall well weighted to the hand. I prefer using crochet hooks with a heavier stem & a plastic coating compared to a straight bamboo hook. For me this weighting works much better for my crochet form therefore my crochet is much more relaxed & comfortable.

Appearance

I know this should not seem important but it is a factor, we also want something which is beautiful to hold & look at. Choose a crochet hook which fills out most of the points above, then balance your choice with something you will enjoy looking at too.

Which Crochet Hooks are the Best?

Beginners

Use a larger crochet hook anything above a 3.5mm. As it will be easier to see the stitches, how many loops are on the hook & it will also help to learn yarn control as your twist & make your stitch.

Pen Hold – Clover Amor Crochet Hook (they make a very nice beginner crochet set at a resonable price) or Knit Pro Soft Grip Crochet Hook (they also make a good crochet set at a very cheap price).

Knife Hold – Prym Soft Handle Crochet Hook

Got the know how?

Ready to invest in some crochet hooks for life? Both of these crochet hooks are beautifully made & will be a joy to use year after year. I mainly use Tulip crochet hooks which I can comfortably crochet 3-4 hour sessions with ease.

Pen Hold – Tulip Emito Rose Crochet Hook Set A beautiful set of crochet hooks, skillfully made which will last you a life time.

Knife Hold – Furls Alpha Series Crochet Hook Wooden, beautifully turned, they make heirloom crafted crochet hooks.

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I hope my advice & tips have been helpful. If you have any advice & would like to share, please write it for everyone to enjoy in the comments section below.

Love, Roseanna.