MATERIALS & TOOLS
M
odern crochet hooks are usually
made of aluminium, steel, plastic,
bamboo or wood. Below are some
of the hook types you’ll come across and what
they’re best used for. Collect hooks of
different types for different uses.
The most commonly used crochet hook is
the simple, straight hook. Examples of this
sort of hook have been around for hundreds
of years. They’re easy to use, with the hook at
the end helping to pull loops of yarn through
other loops of yarn, to form fabric. The fabric
can be flat or tubular. You’ll only ever work
with one loop of yarn, so crochet hooks don’t
need to be any larger than your hand. Crochet
hooks come in a standard length of 15cm,
although you can also find them in 20cm and
25cm lengths.
Store your hooks carefully, such as in a
padded hook roll, and they’ll give you many
years of service. Replace them if they become
rough, to avoid damaging your yarn or
affecting your tension. You don’t have to
throw out old hooks you can’t crochet with
though – try displaying them in a pretty vase!TYPES OF HOOK
Choose the right hook for your project
PLASTIC
Light and strong, plastic is great for getting new or
young crafters to learn to crochet. Plastic hooks are
an inexpensive way to build up your hook stash,
especially since plastic is often used for larger hooks.
Acrylic hooks are similar to plastic, but they can be a
little heavier. Both are comfortable to use.SUPER-SIZED HOOKS
Use enormous hooks like this
to crochet with big yarns, or
even a thinner yarn for a lacy
look. Super-sized hooks
result in super-quick projects!
Great fun for teenage
crocheters, too.METAL
Made from one of the
most common and
useful materials, metal
hooks are perfect for
‘stickier’ yarns such as
acrylic because they’re
smooth and the yarn
slides along easily. The
more polished a hook is,
the faster you can work.
If you have arthritis or
similar problems, try
using bamboo or
wooden hooks. Very
fine crochet hooks are
usually metal and can
bend easily, so take good
care of them!WOOD &
BAMBOO
Smooth, gorgeous to
handle and great to
look at, bamboo and
wood are good
materials to use with
slippery yarns such as
silks and fine wools,
because they grip the
yarn better than metal
hooks do.TUNISIAN
Also known as Afghan hooks,
these straight tools have a hook
at one end or both ends, and are
especially designed for use in
Tunisian crochet patterns.MIXTURE
Some hooks combine
different materials to
get the best of both.
Most popular are
hooks with metal tips
and wooden or plastic
handles, which can
manoeuvre the yarn
easily and feel good in
your hand. Some
hooks even have
moulded ergonomic
grips so the least
possible strain is
placed on your hands.