Guide to Crochet Hooks
Crochet hooks are not created equally and different features appeal to different folks for different reasons. What works beautifully for one crocheter may end up being a nightmare for another, so this guide is not meant to prescribe what the best hook according to me is, but rather give some information and observations I have noted, that can help make the selection process a bit less mysterious. An unsuitable hook can be detrimental to the crocheting experience, so read up, shop around and don’t be afraid to try a few out before purchasing.
Crochet Hook Anatomy
Click to enlarge
Inline
Not Inline
Inline vs. Not Inline The difference between an inline hook and not inline can seem subtle visually but have a huge impact on a crocheter’s stitching technique. Inline hooks are basically like a perfect cylinder, think along the lines of an unsharpened pencil with a notch removed to hold the loop. No portion of the shaft tapers in and out or bulges. The notch that holds the loop is passive in that the yarn sits in there but can slide in and out because there is no hook shaped overhang. Not inline hooks are any crochet hooks that don’t fit the definition of inline, though I refer to hooks that have the best of both worlds as “middle of the road”.
Handle – the portion of the hook held by the crocheter. Standard hooks offer a thin handle the same dimension as the shaft of the hook however crocheters with arthritis or stiffness and pain after crocheting should consider hooks with larger or ergonomic handles.
Thumb Rest – not identified in the picture because it is fairly self explanatory. Some hooks have the size of the hook or the brand name stamped on the thumb rest. It is not however, necessarily where you must put your thumb.
Shaft – the shaft is essentially the long, elegant neck of the crochet hook. Shafts are usually shaped in one of two ways, in inline hooks, the shaft is like a perfectly symmetrical cylinder that does not taper at all, and in not inline hooks, the shaft is tapered. Cylindrical shafts that do not taper can be helpful for crocheters that have problems with uneven application of tension and overly tight stitches.
Throat – the throat is a gap the loop of yarn is held in. In not inline hooks, the throat can have a significant taper and a rounded out cavity to hold the loop securely which can be helpful for crocheters that routinely pop their hook out of their work and drop loops. In inline hooks, the throat can often be more like a notch or slit in the perfectly rounded and symmetrical cylinder which can sometimes be helpful for crocheters that often snag or split yarn.
Point – the very tip of the hook that is pushed into loops of yarn.
Crochet Hooks - Side View
Crochet Hooks - Front View
1. Generic Aluminum Hook
2. Generic Aluminum Hook
3. Boye Hook
4. Addi Comfort Grip Hook
5. Kollage Square Hook
6. Tulip Etimo Hook
7. Hamanaka Raku Raku Hook
8. Clover Soft Touch Hook
9. Susan Bates Bamboo Hook
10. Generic Bamboo Hook
11. Susan Bates Hook
The hooks shown are arranged from left to right starting with not inline hooks, progressing to middle of the road and ending with inline hooks. I have provided a review type commentary on some of the hooks pictured, but ideally, find the features you are looking for and select a hook based on that, because it is different for everyone. Ideally you will be able to find one to try, either borrowed from a friend or tried out in store if the packaging allows removal and use of the hook without damage. If you are unable to try out a hook you are considering, don’t feel obliged to buy a full set. Start with a single hook of your most commonly used size, then if it works well for you, buy the sizes you anticipate needing to avoid wasting money on crochet hooks you may never use.
1. and 2. Generic Aluminum Hook – Most generic, cheap aluminum hooks you find in dollar stores will be non-inline. Depending on the thickness of the hook there can be problems with too much flexing or bending when crocheting if you work type. It’s not a bad idea to test them out as some really cheap hooks can have issues like paint wear that leave discoloration on yarn while you work with them. They can do the job but your average crocheter deserves better.
3. Boye Hook – Boye is the non-inline hook brand most often mentioned when talking about styles. They are made by the same company that makes Crochet Dude merchandise and can be found in most craft box stores. In all honesty I don’t see much difference between these and cheap non-inline hooks such as 1 and 2, other than there aren’t really the same quality control issues. Folks crocheting for extended periods or working tightly will likely have fatigue from gripping such a thin handle and may wish to look into handled hooks.
4. Addi Comfort Grip – This hook has the same hook end as the Addi Swing, an ergonomic hook with a toothbrush like handle that would probably be more comfortable than the supposed Comfort grip hook. The handle on this hook is really short, not allowing for a natural grip and the plastic is hard with grooved notch grips that just dug into pressure points in my fingers and felt uncomfortable. I don’t recommend the Comfort Grip but the Swing might be better for people looking for a comfortable handle. I didn’t care for the head and slipped quite a few stitches when I was using it, possibly because of the rounder hook tip. These usually can be found online and in Local Yarn Shops as Addi is a European manufacturer of quality knitting needles that are a favorite amongst knitters.
5. Kollage Square Hook – The actual hook is a roundedish non-inline hook. The handle is surprisingly comfortable, especially for knife style hook holders, but the product itself is poorly made. The metal hook is glued into a rosewood handle which tapers at the end. The hook itself is not very deeply sunk into the handle making it very delicate. The first hook I got broke by the 18th stitch, the hook busted right out of the wood handle. The company was very nice and mailed me a replacement immediately with impressive customer service. The replacement hook which arrived in the mail a week later (they did not ask me to send them the broken one either) did the exact same thing. The hook has potential in it’s design but is essentially a waste of money. Not recommended.
6. Tulip Etimo Hook – This hook is manufactured in Japan by Tulip and used to be very hard to find but is now imported to North America by Caron, making it much easier to purchase. It is an impressively sturdy hook that is halfway between inline and not inline, leaning a little bit toward the inline style. The handle is made of a grippy almost silicone like finish meant to reduce slippage and the need to grasp tightly. It is probably best suited to pencil grasp as a knife style grasper it does feel a little bit awkward for me. The hook has a slick polished finish that I find doesn’t play all that nicely with cotton yarn (similar to acrylic hooks but not as bad) but would like help alleviate slippage with synthetic yarns. The metal portion of the hook extends all the length of the handle so there is no risk of glue loosening or the metal portion popping out. It’s a great hook definitely worth a try if you are working primarily in synthetic yarns, use pencil grasp or just want to see what else is out there.
7. Hamanaka Raku Raku Double-Ended Hook – Manufactured in Japan by Clover, these double ended crochet hooks are usually fairly pricey due to the lack of availability and importers. They are double ended hooks with a slick, polished finish similar to the Tulip hooks, with silicone jelly like comfort grips. They are comfortable to hold both in a pencil or knife grasp, but they are shorter than your average hook, making the end not in use somewhat cumbersome depending on your grasp. When I use these hooks, the unused end digs into my wrist as I crochet and ends up hurting. They are good hooks but the cost coupled with the difficulty in locating and the discomfort of a shorter handle makes them less than ideal. Clover Soft Touch and Tulip Etimo hooks are in my opinion, superior hooks.
8. Clover Soft Touch Hook – The head on this hook is a middle of the road between inline and not-inline, taking essentially he best of both worlds. The finish on the hook is a shiny matted paint that allows natural fibers worked tightly to slide back and forth without squeaking or friction so it is well suited to amigurumi worked in cotton. The handle is hard plastic with a small brown thumbrest that is more of a soft material but has little impact. The width and shape of the handle make it very comfortable to hold without requiring a firm tight grasp and is very well suited to knife style grasp. These hooks are manufactured bu Clover in Japan but have been exported to other markets and is readily available at most online craft retailers and some big box craft stores like Michael’s. Of the ergonomic crochet hooks this is in my opinion the best, most accessible and affordable.
9. Susan Bates Bamboo Hook – These are inline hooks with the addition of a bambo handle which is cylindrical in shape. The bamboo handle is really short and the rest of the hook is long so it is awkward to hold. I found myself holding the middle part that is stamped with the size because the bamboo handle was too far down the hook for me to work comfortably. These are fairly inexpensive and may be easy to find so depending on your grasp style they may be worth a shot.
10. Generic Bamboo Hook – Bamboo hooks may provide too much friction depending on the type of yarn you use. Smaller hooks will flex and bend quite a bit so depending on the size hook you use, bamboo is not likely ideally suited to amigurumi.
11. Susan Bates Hook – The basic Susan Bates hook is the inline alternative to Boye and offers an inexpensive and usually easily accessible option for crocheters that don’t need a fancy handle but prefer an inline hook.
I only use SB hooks (must be the in-line thing), and hate Boye hooks (not-in-line!). I’ve only been crocheting a year and have recently developed wrist pain. I’m a “knifer” and I do believe I hadn’t been holding my hooks in the right place. Not close enough to the hook-end and therefore bending my wrist too much. Taking a break and praying I make a full recovery. Meanwhile, I’ve gotten some pencil grips to apply to my SB hooks…. yet, I’m intrigued by the Clover ST since so many SB users have made the transition effortlessly. Thanks for your in-depth hook review!
I have used a plethora of different hook brands, and I have to say the Clover Soft Touch is my favorite. I have the same grasp style as you, like gripping a knife. My hands cramp up when I crochet for a long time, especially with the smaller hooks used in amigurumi. The Clover helps tremendously with that. I need to purchase more sizes though – I only have it in 3.75 and when some patterns call for bigger hooks, I still use it and just get a smaller outcome.
I’ve also seen a rosewood crochet hook at Michael’s craft store that I’ve been drooling over for the past two years – do you know if rosewood is any good? They look somewhat fragile and I was afraid to buy them – especially at $12 a pop! But they’re so gorgeous..
I’m not familiar with those. Might be worth a try
Thanks for the great information. I have always been a “Bates” fan. I wish there were more brands in this style. Idid try the bamboo handle but they are apparently manufactured differently as I had issues with splitting and catching
For those who complained about your review ignore them. There are always whiners.
[...] and I even have several sizes of steel Boye hooks for cotton thread. I prefer not to use an inline crochet hook, and so naturally Boye became my “go to” brand over the [...]
This is a VERY helpful summary of hooks. I’ve been crocheting off and on for years, always using Susan Bates hooks. It was great to find out that my preference has been for inline hooks, as I’ve been trying to buy a new set of hooks here and can’t find Susan Bates ones.
Great info! I was wondering what type of hook would work well for me. I crochet fairly loose and pretty fast and get frustrated with the yarn coming off the hook often. Currently use the Boye hooks. By the way, wish I had come across your site before I made an amigurumi elephant for my granddaughter with worsted weight acrylic yarn. Large spaces where stuffing shows- should have used cotton!
Try the middle of the road ones like Clover soft touch maybe? A lot of finding what works is trial and error unfortunately.
I hate Boye hooks for the very reason that you mentioned. My yarn slips out of the throat and off the hook, very easily with Boye hooks. I prefer a Susan Bates. The throat is deeper and the yarn stays put while crocheting along. Hobby Lobby carries a brand called Yarnology (probably their in house brand) and their acrylic hooks have the Bates type of throat and tip. I own a set and like it for different things. They are clear acrylic and see through. Maybe just a novelty. Lol I have so many different hooks. I have an entire set of Tulip Etimo limited edition with pink handles. I adore them and use them a lot. I have Susan Bates in aluminum and white acrylic and always go to them. I’m currently teaching my daughter and Bates is great for beginners because the deep throat portion is very forgiving with newbies. A Boye hook just doesn’t cut it for me. Just my two cents and opinions.
[...] Nerdigurumi Has great tutorials, this one is all about choosing hooks [...]
Thank you so much for the time and effort you have put into this hook review! I’ve been crocheting for a while now, i first started with cheap hooks from wal*mart ( boye I think) and moved on to the clover soft touch and have loved them for many years, I use a pencil grip though and sometimes they can be uncomfortable for me when working tight stitches, especially amigurumi! I’ve been stuck between investing in a couple tulip Etimos or the new Clover Amour. I bought a tulip etimo today but was curious if you have had any experience with the Clover amour?
No I have never tried the Clover Amour, it looks nice. I like the colour coded handles, the earwax brown of Soft Touch isn’t very sexy.
Thank you so much for this article. I’m considering starting crochet for the first time and have RSI problems. It might be beyond me but I’d like to try and was doing research into what kind of hooks were available and peoples thoughts on the different kinds.
Your article has really helped me. I am looking into using a hook with some kind of thicker handle and needed some comparisons between the different kinds. Thank you so much too for the information about what to look out for and whats important. WHich as a complete newbie I had no idea about.
Many thanks and best wishes
Billie
I hope you are able to crochet, because it is such a pleasant hobby, but I am worried about your RSI problems. I would definitely recommend working on looser-weave projects (i.e. granny squares rather than amigurumi), or at least larger yarn amigurumi. I’ve never had RSI problems but when I try to do miniature ami my dominant hand starts to hurt and I’ve even had some numbness. Also, limiting your crocheting time within a day will hopefully help, as well. Happy hooking!
Didn’t bother to read. To long. Moving on. Reviews helpful.
*too
Thanks for the useless comment.
I was glad to come across this article. I have crocheted for over 30 years, but did not know the proper terms for the in-line and not-in-line hooks. I certainly knew the difference in personal ease of use though. I have insisted on getting Boye hooks for years, after inadvertantly getting a Susan Bates in-line hook and being virtually unable to crochet with it! My sister, on the other hand, uses in-line hooks with ease–and she’s left-handed, too! Just proves that neither one of us is crazy…at least not when it comes to crochet hooks.
What would you recommend for me…I want a short throats hook like Susan Bates (lol I love them) but my hands are screaming for ergonomic handles.
I don’t know of any comfort handled hooks that have the same inline shape as the Susan Bates hooks. There are bamboo handled Bates hooks but the handles are really far down the hook and kind of pointless. I would suggest buying a single Clover Soft Touch and trying it out to see how it feels. It’s very much in between the in-line and not in-line hooks that usually works fine for people used to in-line and a welcome improvement to Boye hook users. If you absolutely must stick with your Bates hooks, Boye makes a handle that you can apparently drop your regular hook into you might want to look into but it looks sort of cheap and is pricey. Your other options include fabricating a comfort handle around your hooks out of polymer clay, using the cozies for pencils/pens, or the Susan Bates crochet hook cushion which looks like it might not be particularly effective. Good luck!
Just curious but was £3.49 expensive for a clover soft touch hook? It’s my first one so I really have no idea :L
No that is a decent price
Hope you like it!
Thank you for taking the time and effort to post your research. I’m view to crotcheting. Hooks are not freely available where I live and as I’m travelling to USA next month would like to purchase a set for myself. It would appear that I may need the Clover soft touch. Also like the Susan Bates aluminum. I have learnt much from your post.
Thanks for the lesson. I have to use inline because I crochet tight and end up fighting to get the hook through the loop. Tried some of the others and was very frustrated. Susan Bates has always been my favorite until I bought the Clover Soft Touch. Wow what a difference. I use the pencil grip and always wind up with a dent in my finger. Not any more. I bought mine at one of the big craft stores wiith a female name. Use your 40% off coupons and get them very reasonable.
Good guide, makes a change to see subjectiveness falling on the side of amigurumi and not afghan or lace crocheting. You’ve helped me out, needless to say – now to find the cheapest Clover Soft Touches!
long winded
start with a summry table
rate each 1 to 10
details
start with best not worst
use consumer report style
great info
Nah. The best is subjective and will vary depending on your crocheting technique. I get to be long winded because it’s my website
Feel free to go start your own and be as consumer reports style as you like.
I would like to say Thank You for this review. It has been very helpful regarding many of the hooks I have been interested in, and I think you just saved me a lot of money. I think the Tulip Etimo might be right up my alley. I was looking at a few of the others you mentioned and value the input on them, especially since I own a few that you reviewed and agree with your reviews. Thanks again.