Everything You Need to Know About Crochet Hooks

What’s there to know about crochet hooks? Well, a whole lot! Even if you’ve been using them for years, there’s always more to learn about.

Let’s start with a simple question an alien could ask: what is a crochet hook anyway?

To put it simply, the crochet hook is a tool for making crochet knitwear by hand. It’s long and narrows towards one end where there is a hook which draws the yarn through loops. Sounds simple, right? Let’s look at it closely.

Anatomy of a Crochet Hook

First things first – what does crochet hook look like?

1. Point – top part of a crochet hook, which you insert into the stitches.
2. Throat – this narrowing part keeps the yarn as you are guiding it through the stitches.
3. Shaft – the part in which the true “size” of the hook is visible. This part determines the size of your stitches.
4. Grip – here’s where your thumb rests while crocheting, and where the size of the hook is often indicated.
5. Handle – the part which you keep while crocheting; can be sculpted into ergonomic shape, or left straight and simple.

Types of Crochet Hooks – General

Classic 

These crochet hooks are short and straight. They come in all shapes and sizes, but their anatomy is basically the same.

Tunisian Crochet Hooks

These hooks are long and look similar to knitting needles. The hook ends with a nub or an elastic rope to prevent stitches slipping off, because (similarly to knitting) they stay on the hook while crocheting.

• photo from amazon.com

Inline or Tapered Crochet Hook

This distinction is all about the shape of the top part of the hook. As you can see, the head of the tapered hook is “leaning forward”, when inline hook looks as if carved from a single “stick”. The head of the inline hook is – well, you guessed it! – in line with the shaft.

• photo from dabblesandbabbles.com

Types of Crochet Hooks – Material

Modern crochet hooks come in all shapes, sizes and materials, so you really have a bunch of options to choose from! You can also find fancy crochet hooks, such as those with an inbuilt light, or with an ergonomic grip.

Plastic

• PROS: These crochet hooks are affordable, quite durable and smooth. They come in fun colors, or with decor such as glitter. Plastic allows to make very big hooks – jumbo sized, for example.
• CONS: Smaller hooks may break easily, and plastic in general isn’t good for the environment.

Aluminum

• PROS: Aluminum crochet hooks are durable and quite pleasant to work with, because they have smooth finish. This kind of hooks is affordable and easily available in yarn stores.
• CONS: Simple aluminum hooks may not be great for intensive crochet if they don’t have a handle, because they may cause wrist pain.

Wood

• PROS: Wooden hooks have the looks, so if you like natural aesthetics, this kind will be great for your Instagram photos! They are quite light and good for the environment.
• CONS: Depending on the finishing, wooden hooks can splinter or even break (especially smaller sizes). Splinters may catch the yarn while working and severely damage your work, so avoid them if you can!

Steel

• PROS: Steel crochet hooks are the strongest and come in the smallest sizes. If you want to crochet with thread, you’ll likely use a very small stell crochet hook. They are durable and smooth, so working with them is easy, quick and pleasurable.
• CONS: As steel hooks come in small sizes, they are not for everyone. Additionally, they have their own sizing system, so it’s worth checking out before deciding what you need.

Ergonomic Crochet Hooks

• PROS: Ergonomic crochet hooks can significantly lower wrist pain in those who crochet intensively, or have arthritis.
• CONS: They often are heavier and more expensive than regular hooks, but also not everyone will feel comfortable holding the sculpted grip. Always choose the tool according to your own needs and anatomy!

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Crochet Hook Sizes

The size of a crochet hook corresponds directly with the thickness of its shaft, because that’s where we create the stitches. Sizes usually come in millimeters or with letter markings.

learn more:

The Ultimate Guide To Crochet Hook Sizes (coming soon!)

Crochet Hook Sizes Chart & Comparison (coming soon!)

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That’s all for today, but I’ll be back with much more inspiring projects and free patterns. Like, share, and subscribe if you like what you see. Stay tuned!

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