Types of Crochet Hooks

You need to choose something extremely light. Some of the resins you think are pretty light and you will manage with them, but you can get hooks that are feather weights to make your crochet project more enjoyable. How it is possible that a lighter one works better?

Simple… The weight of the hook contributes to the weight of suspending your hand in the air as you crochet. It adds slightly extra weight to your elbow. With weight, it takes more energy to maneuver the hook even know you will probably never realize it. 

I have the hardest time with aluminum over most of the hooks. The shiny finish looks great, but it impractical if you have extremely dry hands or sweaty fingers. Most learners tend to sweat because they are having trouble coordinating themselves and watching for tension and body position at the same time.

This allows the hook to slip in your hands so that you are not entirely in control of the meticulous movements you need to do. They are light but heavy too in comparison to other choices. Sometimes the hook area is a bit sharp (some brands) and has a tendency to snag strands of yarn.

A plastic or resin crochet hook can pretty produce cool looks but the hook can give the same experience of dry or sweaty hands. I have experienced a squeaky hook… the yarn squeaks as it moves across the hook.

Resin is light but not the lightest in the market place. They hook area tends to be better then aluminum hooks.

My Favorite!

Bamboo is my most favorite hook. For the simple reason that it addressed the weight issue. If you were sleeping and someone put this hook resting on your hand, you wouldn’t know it was there. Extremely feather light. It makes for manipulating with very little strain because weight is not an issue.

Wood absorbs your heat and holds the heat. There is no heat transfer between you and the hook. It matches your heat. Unlike the other two, they keep taking your heat. 

If you sweat, the wood absorbs it instead of providing a slippery surface. Best gripping by far and I find that I can maintain control that much better. The misconception of my brain suggested to me that wood hooks are fragile and will break easily.

I have been using the same hook for a year doing varies projects. Some loose and some tight without any issues. This is not a valid concern in my mind now. The price is about $4 - $6 more than a resin or aluminum but I find that pays itself pretty quickly with the level of comfort it provides. 

This is something very little people know about. Both aluminum and resin hooks mentioned above have issues with hand temperature. They absorb your body heat... stealing it from your hands.

They don’t conduct the heat, they are taking it away from you. This temperature stealing helps provide stress in your hands. It can cause your hands to cramp.

Also mentioned above in the wood/bamboo section is the benefit of that material when it comes to temperature. Since it absorbs it, you do not have the heat transfer you have with metal.

Both the aluminum and resin hooks are inexpensive in comparison to the wood/bamboo crochet hook. But, as mentioned in that section, the bamboo is still my most favorite and probably the best product on the market. It's worth the extra money if you relate to the issues discussed earlier.

It comes down to your preference. The prices don't differ a lot between types but a few dollars here and there could make the difference of comfort. We all know how important that is when crocheting for long periods of time. Make sure you pick the one that's going to help you continue.

Choose what works for you and your budget. Consider the above pros and cons when making your choice. It's your hands, your project, and your choice... you ultimately have to pick what's right for you.

 

Learn more about Michael Sellick from The Crochet Crowd and take a look at some of his projects featured on AllFreeCrochet.