Best Crochet Hooks for Beginners
When it comes to crochet hooks for beginners, which are best? With this beginner guide, you'll find out!
Getting started with any new craft can be a daunting endeavor, but getting started in a hobby as seemingly complex as crochet can be downright overwhelming.
There are so many factors that go into a craft like crochet, and it can be difficult to know where to start. Luckily, this handy guide, Best Crochet Hooks for Beginners, is here to help answer some of your questions.
Let’s say you take yourself to the craft store, all ready to load up on supplies. Then you find yourself in the crochet aisle and suddenly, your entire plan flies straight out of your head.
There are a surprising number of options when it comes to crochet tools, and one of the first questions you might ask yourself is, “What’s a crochet hook, and which one am I supposed to use?”
If you want the short answer to that question, most experienced crochet experts will say you should use an H-8 (5mm) aluminum hook. For a more nuanced look at the question, as well as some other tips for beginners, keep reading.
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Types of Crochet Hooks
First, let's start off with the basics. The best way to go over the types of hooks available (at least the majority of what you'll find in the crochet section of a craft store or online) is by video. Many are visual learners and so it makes sense to show you while explaining.
Our in-house crochet expert Chris will walk you through some of the most common hooks you can use and the pros and cons of each, along with when or when not you might want to use them. Once you watch this video, scroll for more specific details on the best hook beginners want to use, both size and type.
What Do the Different Crochet Hook Sizes Mean?
As a beginner, it’s recommended that you use an H-8 (5mm) hook. Beginners crocheting using 5mm needles/hooks will find it works for most projects they'll undertake.
This is a medium-size, right in the middle. If you use one that’s too small, it will be difficult for you to see your individual stitches as you go, Marie from Felt Magnet says.
Large hooks present the opposite problem. The medium size is also simply more comfortable to hold, making it easier for a beginner to adjust to the movement.
All of the different ways to label sizes can be confusing, however, if you don’t know what exactly you’re looking at.
- Letters: If you’re looking at the letter, basically the further into the alphabet you go, the bigger the hook, with B being the smallest and Q being the largest. However, in typical American fashion, the U.S. is the only place that uses the letter system.
- Numbers: There are often numbers that correspond to the letters. The letter B corresponds with the number 1, and so on. They aren’t always exact matches — for example, G corresponds with 6 and H corresponds with 8, leaving 7 without an exact letter match — but they do follow the general rule of the larger the number, the larger the hook size.
- Millimeters: The most exact way to measure would be in millimeters. Letters and numbers can be a bit arbitrary and vary from brand to brand, but when you’re measuring in an exact unit, it’s generally the same across the board.
For a useful visual, take a look at the Crochet Hook Sizes Charts right below. They show yarn hook sizes as well as thread hook sizes. You can even download the PDF using the button beneath the chart so that you can keep it handy.
What are the Differences in Crochet Hook Materials?
Once you pick a size, you have to decide what kind of material you want your crochet hook to be made out of. There are lots to choose from, and you’ll definitely want to experiment to figure out which one is right for you.
- Metal: Usually made from aluminum, get a metal hook if you’re not prone to wrist pain and want a durable, general hook. Most experts, like those over at Knit Simple, recommend starting with one of these.
- Plastic: Plastic hooks are great for people on a budget, like apprehensive beginners who haven’t quite decided if they’re all-in on crochet yet. Because they’re lighter than metal hooks, they’re also ideal for crafters worried about wrist pain, Ashley Little from Craftsy says.
- Bamboo: Like plastic crochet hooks, bamboo hooks are lightweight, and much warmer in your hand than metal ones. Opinions differ on whether they’re a good tool for beginners, however. Ashley Little recommends using bamboo hooks if your stitches keep slipping, but Marie from Felt Magnet says this can lead to your yarn sticking too much, which might be frustrating for newcomers.
Just keep your eyes peeled and stay away from Tunisian hooks — longer than normal, and often double-ended — and small steel hooks — specifically used for crocheting thread, not yarn — and you should be fine.
Crochet Hook Shapes
One subtle difference you might not notice at first is the difference in the actual hook. Tapered hooks are more rounded and inline hooks have sharper angles. People have opinions on which is better, but there is no right or wrong.
Our friends at I Like Crochet have a helpful page that goes into detail about these two hook types and why it doesn't really matter which one you choose as long as it works for you.
How Does Hook Size Correspond to Yarn Type?
The size of your stitches and how comfortable the hook is in your hand aren’t the only reason hook size matters.
What weight of yarn you’ll be using in your project is the biggest determining factor for how big or small your hook should be. As a beginner, you'll want to stick to a worsted weight yarn.
- Sock/Baby/Fingering: 2.25–3.25mm or B-1–E-4
- Sport/Baby: 3.25–3.75mm or E-4–7
- DK/Light/Worsted: 3.75–4.5mm or 7–I-9
- Worsted/Afghan/Aran: 4.5–5.5mm or I-9–K-10½
- Chunky/Craft/Rug: 5.5–8mm or K-10½ –M-13
- Bulky/Roving: 8mm and larger or M-13 and larger
Additionally, Knit Simple recommends, you’ll want a fiber with some give to it, like acrylic, wool, or a blend. Stay away from cotton if it’s your first time out.
Crochet Projects for Beginners
So now that you know what kind of crochet hook you need and which yarn to use, it’s time to get started crocheting! You may already have a specific project in mind, and that’s great.
If you’re still searching for inspiration, though, any one of these adorable crafts would be perfect for you.
Up Next
How to Measure a Crochet Hook >>>
What size hook did you first learn crochet with?
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JaneEK
Aug 27, 2017
Ah, the mystery of the crochet hooks! I love the handy chart in the middle of this article. I found a similar one and printed it out for my craft room. That way I can just glance up and see exactly which American hook I need to use. I work a lot of patterns from other countries, and not everything is translated into US terms. Good advice about the light colored yarn being easier to see. My senior ladies can attest to that.
Hippie Chick
Aug 24, 2017
There are a lot of hooks on the market today and it seems like they are added new ones almost on a daily basis. Im not really sure which one I would say is the best for any crocheter as most of them begin to cause pain in my hands after prolonged use, even the ergo ones.
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