The right crochet hook will shape and bring your yarn craft to life, be it a tiny coaster or a large granny blanket. But crochet hooks come in such a wide variety that choosing the right one can be confusing. Whether you’re new to crocheting or you’re an old hand looking to expand your crochet hooks collection, we’re here to help you find the best crochet hooks for any project.
We have tried out different crochet hooks, and out of the 16 products we’ve reviewed, Caron Tulip Etimo Crochet Hook Set stands out for its solid build and design, reliability, ease of use, and comfort during use, easily earning its spot as our Editor’s Choice. We explain more about this set of crochet hooks in our Product Reviews section, where you’ll also read about the other crochet hooks we’ve reviewed and how they compare to each other.
For this review, we looked at the features that matter in a crochet hook. These are things like the material, size, grip, and sharpness. In the Buying Guide, we’ll explain why these features are important and how they determine the usability of the hook. We’ve outlined the review in an easy-to-follow structure that includes a summary table, in-detail reviews of each product, a buying guide, and FAQs about crochet hooks. By the end of the review, we believe you’ll have a better understanding of how crochet hooks work and be in a position to confidently pick the right hook for any project you’re working on.
More features: scissors included; clutch included
This Caron Tulip Etimo Crochet Hook Set is the ultimate tool of choice for any avid crocheter. If you regularly crochet large projects, you’ll appreciate how solid yet lightweight these hooks feel in your hand. They come in 8 sizes, so you have a hook for all stitch sizes, from thin to thick and ultra thick. The smaller hooks, sizes D and E measure 51/4″ from end to end, while the rest of the hooks are 51/2″. Both sizes fit snugly in your hand and this makes crocheting quick and easy.
They’re made from quality aluminum and polished to a fine finish that does not chip or flake. What you’re looking at is a hook that will not only last long, but one that allows yarn to glide smoothly as you work, such that you won’t struggle pulling through loops no matter how small or thick your stitches are.
The elastomeric grip provides comfort during use and puts this set right at the top of the list of best crochet hooks for beginners. In your hand, the hook feels so soft and cushy that you can crochet for hours at a time without suffering fatigued fingers.
It would have been more practical if the manufacturer etched the sizes on the hooks, but they’ve used stickers, which will eventually come off. That’s the only thing we don’t like about these Tulip crochet hooks.
More features: color-coded hooks, travel case included
The addi Crochet Hook Colours Set comes in 9 sizes that range from 2mm to 6mm, all color-coded and carefully arranged in a neat and hardy travel case. The leather-style case is durable, easy to clean, and folds to the size of a wallet, making it easy to carry around and store.
Made from durable aluminum, the hooks are light in weight and comfortable to use, with the polished finish allowing the yarn to glide smoothly onto the hook, and the slightly sharp crochet hook piercing effortlessly through stitches. They have a plastic handle made in a dotted bumpy design to provide just the right amount of grip you need when crocheting. As such, they don’t slip from your hand as you maneuver your way around stitches. The handle is properly attached to the aluminum portion of the hook and does not detach while you’re using the hook. Nonetheless, be careful not to tag it too hard as this could force it to come apart. In case this happens, you can glue it back together.
Perhaps the most gratifying part in buying these addi crochet hooks is knowing that you have a lifetime warranty against imperfections of any kind and defects.
The one compromise you have to accept is that the distance between the throat and the shank is quite short, and this makes working elaborate stitches a challenge.
More features: color-coded
The CLOVER Amour Crochet Hook Set features the best crochet hooks for carpal tunnel. The thumb rest is comfortable, and the handles are soft with an easy grip that enhances your comfort while you use the hook. This set has 10 hooks ranging in size from 2.25mm to 6.00mm. All the hooks are color-coded in bright, fun colors for easy size differentiation. One of the things you’ll love most about this set is how long the crochet needles are; they measure 10″ long, which makes them some of the longest hooks you can find. And for people with longer fingers, this is certainly good news because it means you can now crochet in comfort. The hooks are round and flat-ish, but they do a fine job of holding your stitches in and only a few slip out, if at all.
These Clover crochet hooks are made from polished aluminum, whose smooth finish allows yarn to slide effortlessly onto and off the hook.
More features: carrying case included, color-coded
If you’re ever experimenting with different yarn types and coming up with new stitches, this Boye Crochet Hooks Set will give you the hook variety you need for perfect results. One of the best deals on Boye crochet hook sets, it contains a total of 24 hooks: 16 of them steel made and 8 of them aluminum made. The steel hooks range in size from 00-14 (0.75mm-3.5mm), while the aluminum hooks are sizes D-K (3.25mm-6.5mm). With this many hooks, you’ll never go looking to buy a hook of a specific size because all hook sizes you could think of are represented here.
Other than that, both the steel and aluminum hooks have the sizes clearly etched on the thumb rest, so you always know which size hook you’re holding at any given time. Both types are lightweight so you’ll enjoy crocheting for long periods at a time. But while the aluminum hooks are smoothly finished and extremely durable and you can expect to use them for years, the steel ones are not well finished and appear to be made from lower grade steel. They tend to bend after a while, and it doesn’t help that they’re all a smaller size so this bending can happen easily if you use extra force. But to their credit, the heads are nicely rounded and do not rip out yarn.
They come with a pouch for easy storage.
More features: 4 cords and accessories included, vinyl case included
The Knitter’s Pride KP600151 Dreamz set of crocheting needles makes Tunisian crocheting a breeze. It comes complete with 8 inline crochet hooks, sizes 3.5 mm, 4.0 mm, 4.5 mm, 5.0 mm, 5.5 mm, 6.0 mm, 6.5 mm and 8.0 mm (E, G, 7, H, I, J, K, L), 4 cords in sizes 24″, 32″ (2 pieces), and 40″; 4 cord keys, 8 end caps, and connectors. Everything you require to Tunisian crochet is included so you need not buy any accessory separately.
These hooks are made from polished wood and are ultra smooth. You’ll enjoy how smoothly the yarn glides through the hook. They also feel comfortable in the hand, so you can crochet for long periods at a time and your fingers won’t get tired. And even though the overall quality of the hook is good, the smaller hooks are delicate and prone to breaking, so handle these with extreme care.
The sizes are clearly marked in white on the hooks to make it easy for you to identify each size right away. You can interchange the cords as needed, and because they come in different sizes, you can change them up depending on the project you’re working on. The metal connectors keep the connection to the cord tight. Plus, it’s easy to attach and detach them.
It comes in a pouch-like vinyl case for easy storage.
More features: soft case included, two brightness modes, USB fast charge
Lighted crochet hooks can be heaven-sent when all you want is a little more light to help you see better when crocheting. And this Yarniss Lighted Crochet Hooks Set does just that. In total, you get hardy polycarbonate 9-in-1 hook heads that should last for years. The heads range from 2.5mm-6.5mm in size and you can use them interchangeably for different projects.
These heads connect to a battery-powered handle that lights up in 2 brightness modes, dim and bright, which you can adjust as needed. When fully charged, the built-in battery lasts 7-9 hours, meaning you can do a fair amount of crocheting with a single charge. It’s also fast charging and will reach full charge in about 15 minutes. To recharge, simply connect the enclosed USB charger to a power bank, PC or laptop, or wall adapter. It’s easy to connect the heads to the handle. Simply align the protruding end of the hook with the slot of the handle and use a wrench to tighten it. You’ll also need the wrench to loosen the head to remove it.
The handle makes these one of the best ergonomic crochet hooks you can buy. Everything about the handle, from the cushy silicon material it’s made of to the contoured shape makes it easy on the hand and minimizes pressure to the fingers, arguably making these the best crochet hooks for arthritis.
Comes with all the accessories you need, including a plastic wrench, magnifier, 10 stitch markers, soft measuring tape, case, and USB cable.
You now have a fairly good idea of the types of crochet hooks available, how they’re designed, and what materials they are made of. We’ll now discuss crocheting as an art in greater detail, talk about how you can get started and build your skill, and identify some of the things you can make using crochet hooks. We’ll also look at what to consider when buying a crochet hook.
Crocheting, like knitting, involves use of yarn and needles. But unlike knitting which requires you to use two needles, you only need one crochet hook to work on a project. There are tons of items you can create using a crochet hook, either for yourself or for family and friends. You can even create an extra income stream by selling your crocheted products. Below, we mention some of the most popular crochet items you can make and categorize them by use.
Play – The list of educational toys and play items you can make for your little ones is virtually endless. Things like stuffed animals and dolls, pretend food and food art; cars, ships, and planes; doll houses fully equipped with crocheted paraphernalia like beds, chairs, desks, and kitchen appliances; handyman tools, stethoscopes and doctor’s kits; toy grooming sets with things like combs, lotion tubes, face cream tubs, shampoos bottles, mirrors, and the like; crochet cell phones, toy musical instruments, and more can all be crocheted. Really, only your imagination will limit you here.
Baby items – Crocheted baby items make great gifts. Because they are thoughtful and practical, you can gift people with these at any stage of their parenting journey, not necessarily during baby showers only. Consider making baby cocoons, clothes, sweaters, bibs, mittens; booties, crocs, and sandals; hats, diaper bags, hair bands and accessories, diaper pouches, crib mobiles, baby rattles, blocks, and more.
Apparel – You can crochet clothes for children and adults alike. Dresses, skirts, tops, sweaters, coats, rompers, pants, scarves, cowls, ponchos, beanies, gloves, slippers, indoor shoes, socks, leg warmers, ear warmers, purses, and bags are all popular crochet items. And if you feel adventurous, you can even crochet gowns and wedding dresses.
Miscellaneous items – Other items you can crochet include blankets and afghans, throw pillows, rugs, placemats, face scrubbies, wash clothes, phone cases, remote control holders, car seat covers, wall pockets and pocket organizers, travel pillows, bottle covers, sleep masks, coat hanger covers, and more.
This list is by no means exhaustive and you can come up with additional things you’d like to experiment with and see how they turn out.
Wondering how to get started with crocheting? We break down the basics for you so you know what to do to build the skill and how to move from step to step as you learn. But first, let’s list the items you need for crocheting, and then we’ll move on to how to hold the hook and yarn and which stitches you need to learn first.
What you need
To crochet, you need a few items, namely yarn, crochet hook, and a pair of scissors. Later, you will add things like darning needles for sewing in your ends and edges, and stitch markers to help you mark where you make changes either in stitch number, pattern, or yarn as you go.
The size of yarn will determine what size of hook to use. Usually, there’ll be a label on the yarn showing you what hook size to use with the yarn.
Next, choose your hook. The most important thing to remember in choosing a crochet needle is to use the hook size recommended for the yarn you’re going to use. Equally important is to choose a hook that is comfortable to use based on material. The main crochet hook materials are aluminum, acrylic, and wood, with handles made from the same 3 materials, plastic, soft grip material, or silicone.
Begin with the basics
You can hold your crochet hook in one of 2 main ways: knife hold or pencil hold. In both, you place the hook between your thumb and index finger, but the difference is in how you do this. In the knife hold, you hold the hook just like you would a knife when you’re ready to cut something, such that you’re sort of pressing down on the shaft using the thumb and index finger. In the pencil hold, you hold the hook like you would a pencil when you want to write, such that you’re almost pinching the shaft with your thumb and index finger.
Learn how to hold your yarn so that it moves easily and without detangling as you crochet. There is no standard way to do this. You can try out different ways of holding the yarn to find which method best works for you. Likewise, learn how to build and maintain the right amount of tension in your stitches so that your stitches are neither too loose nor too tight.
When starting out, you only need to learn how to do a few basic stitches, which you’ll be using throughout the project. You can move onto more complicated stitches as you become better at it. Muster how to make a slip knot, a chain stitch, and a slip stitch, how to yarn over, and how to pull through a loop. Next, learn how to make a single crochet, half double crochet stitch, double crochet stitch, the treble crochet stitch, and the double treble stitch. These are the building blocks of all crocheting stitches and you’ll use them in a combination of ways to make different stitches, from the front post and back post double crochet to the bobble stitch, star stitch, and more.
Watch the video to learn how to do everything we’ve discussed here and more. With time, as you become more experienced, you’ll be able to use these stitches to come up with your own custom crochet patterns:
Crochet hook prices can vary from set to set depending on the quality and quantity of hooks, materials used, and the brand behind it. Prices tend to begin at $10-20, with high quality crochet needles going for $60 or more. Expect to pay more for sets with a higher number of hooks than those with fewer hooks. But again, if the hooks are of extremely high quality, they may have a high asking price even when the set only contains a few hooks compared to a set that packs a higher number of lower quality hooks. Hooks made by reputable brands almost always cost more than generic hooks.
The quality and usability of a crochet hook depends on specific features, the things that make or break a crochet hook. These are the features you must pay attention to when buying a crochet hook. Let’s now see what they are.
The most commonly used materials in making crochet hooks are aluminum, steel, wood, bamboo, and plastic. Glass and clay are also used to make hooks, although these are far less common than the aforementioned materials. Steel is exclusively used for small hooks, the kind that is used to crochet thread, and so you won’t find larger hooks made from steel. Compared to the rest, bamboo and glass have a shorter lifespan, although a number of strengthening treatments can be applied to enhance their durability. While the materials can be durable, the quality (grade) of each material determines how strong and durable individual hooks are. If a lower grade of, say, steel is used, the hook is likely to break even in the early days of use.
Crochet sizes range from .75mm to 35mm, although the biggest size most popularly used is the 10mm one. The size of yarn determines what hook size to use, where the thicker the yarn, the bigger the hook you use. In the US, size is indicated in letters (B-Y) and sometimes a combination of letters and numbers (B-1 to N/P-15), while in the UK, they use numbers (000-14), which can be confusing for a beginner if they don’t know the exact dimensions the number or letter translates to. An easier-to-understand system of sizing is the metric system, where the sizing is given in millimeters and indicates the exact measurement of the hook.
Another important aspect when it comes to size is the height of the hook. Choose a hook that is long enough for your hands so you don’t get tired when using it. You’re better off choosing a long hook than a short one. The CLOVER Amour Crochet Hook Set is one such set; the hooks are 10″ long, which compared to the 5-6″ average in most hooks is quite impressive.
To crochet comfortably, the hook should have good grip such that it doesn’t slip as you work the stitches. Hooks are mostly smoothly finished, so this often means adding a material that has better grip to the lower body of the hook. Manufacturers use a range of materials to improve grip, the most common of these being plastic. Some go a step further by adding little groves to the handle, as seen in the addi Crochet Hook Colours Set, to help steady your fingers while you work. The very best of these use silicone to add a rubber-like hold that is soft and comfortable in our hand, like the Yarniss Lighted Crochet Hooks Set. The Caron Tulip Etimo Crochet Hook Set with its elastomeric grip is also good.
The thumb rest is a flat area located along the shaft which helps in positioning your finger correctly when using the hook. It’s what enables you to rotate the hook as needed for each stitch, stops the hook from rotating aimlessly, and helps you maintain the right amount of grip on the hook so your fingers don’t become numb or painful. When you hold the hook, the thumb rest should be between your thumb and the middle finger. If it’s not in this position, you’re probably holding the hook wrong. It’s worth noting that some crochet hooks don’t have a thumb rest. For experienced crocheters, this may not be a problem as they’ve probably mastered their grip and can manipulate the hook well even without a thumb rest. For beginner crocheters, however, it can be difficult to maneuver the hook if it doesn’t have a thumb rest.
The lip (tip of the hook) of the hook should be sharp enough to slide through stitches, but not too sharp as to splint the yarn. An overly sharp hook is also a danger to you since it can stab your fingers. The two main types of hooks, inline and tapered, can differ quite a bit in sharpness. You need to be extra careful when analyzing the point of a tapered hook to ensure that it’s not too sharp. Round hooks tend to be flatter than tapered ones and do not present much of a challenge when it comes to sharpness.
Our Editor’s Choice, Caron Tulip Etimo Crochet Hook Set, earns the top position for its elastomeric grip which makes for very comfortable handling. We also like the superior quality of aluminum used to make the hooks, their solid construction, and the smooth finishing that allows yarn to glide off the hook with ease.
Our second favorite, the addi Crochet Hook Colours Set, stands out for its superb aluminum construction and the firm yet soft handle which provides good grip. The hooks are smoothly finished, the case included is of high quality, and we like that it comes with a lifetime warranty.
Our choice for the third best crochet hooks is the Clover Amour Crochet Hook Set, coming in strong with a whooping 10 hooks. We like how comfortable thumb rest and handles are, making it overall the most comfortable hook.
