Buying A Crochet Hook Set

USA Crochet Hook/Needle Sizes

• US 2.25 mm/ B-1


• US 2.75 mm/ C-2


• US 3.25 mm/ D-3


• US 3.5 mm/ E-4


• US 3.75mm/ F-5


• US 4 mm/ G-6


• US 4.5mm/ 7


• US 5 mm/ H-8


• US 5.5 mm/ I-9


• US 6 mm/ J-10


• US 6.5 mm/ K-10 1/2


• US 8 mm/ L-11


• US 9 mm/ M/N-13


• US 10 mm/ N/P-15


• US 15 mm/ P/Q


• US 16 mm/ Q


• US 19 mm/ S

Steel Crochet Hooks
I remember a story about a 90yo lady whose mom taught her how to crochet. She had a tiny steel hook and was working on a bedspread. Time past as she grew up, married and raised her children, she would work little by little on this bedspread until finally she was done. Her son made a video of her completely the final touches to the bedspread and all the time she used that same original steel hook her mom gave her as a little girl. It was quite bent from the many years of use but imagine the memories that crochet hook could tell?

Plastic Crochet Hooks
Some people really enjoy working with plastic crochet hooks. I've used them a couple of times when they came in a kit. I always find that they break especially when you have to do a longer stitch or cable.

Bamboo crochet hooks
I like bamboo hooks. They are light weight and easy on the hands. I have found some to catch the yarn and split it but when I sanded it and re-polished it with bees wax it was remedied.

Aluminum crochet hooks
I have more aluminum hooks than any other type. I like using them and they are super cheap and readily available. I tend to use Boye over Bates but I do have a few Bates in my stash.

Wood crochet hooks
My favorite Tunisian hook is made of wood and if I had the funds I would purchase a whole set. They feel better on my hands.

Photo: Moonrat42 on flickr

1. Does the Composition of the hook work for you?
Hooks are made from a number of things. Early on they were made of Ivory and Bone. Now, you can find hooks made from steel, aluminum, wood, bamboo and plastic.

2. How does it pull up the yarn?
Hooks are made in two sizes, American and English. Your gauge can vary depending on how accurate your hook size is. Each company makes the head of the hook differently - some more pointy than others which can affect how the stitch is picked up.

3. Does the yarn slide easily? too easily?
Nothing irritates me more than a hook with a rough coating. This makes it difficult for the yarn to glide off the hook. It makes for many frustrating crochet sessions. On the other hand, if the surface is too smooth the yarn will slip off too easily causing you to loose stitches.

4. Is it Comfortable?
You comfort will greatly enhance your crochet experience. If your hands hurt you will connect pain with crochet and eventually set it aside. You can add comfort grips or buy ergonomic handles for your hooks.

5. Which Hook Material Do You Prefer?
Just as each of us has our favorite yarn to work with we also have our favorite hooks. Hooks come in plastic, steel, aluminum, wood and bamboo. Try each kind to narrow down the one that works for you.

When hooks started to come with grips I didn't really see the point. I was never one to use pencil grips so having one on my hook seemed such a waste.

I was in need of an 'N' hook for a project and the only one available was one with a bamboo handle. I bought it and was surprised to find that I like it. It's now one of my favorite hooks.

I even have an 'I' hook now with a bamboo handle. I'm finding the more I use the hooks with handles the more I prefer them.

Crochet hooks started coming with handles to aide in arthritic hands. You can find polymer clay handles, soft comfort grips that you can add to your hooks just like a pencil grip, and of course bamboo hooks.

Addi Swing crochet hooks come with a blend of soft and hard plastic that is suppose to balance each other other to bring about perfect flexibility.

Photo by VictoriaNado on Flickr Some Rights Reserved