What's the Right Crochet Hook for Beginners?

The bad news: There’s no one magical crochet hook that can suit every beginner crocheter’s needs. 

The good news: There are lots of different crochet hooks to try, so with the right tips you can find the right beginner crochet hook!

There’s no right or wrong answer when choosing a hook.

Because of that, it’s best to try out a couple of different hooks to find out which crochet hook suits your stitches. Once you’ve been crocheting for a while, you might even discover that you like all kinds of different hooks depending on the project.

But all beginners have to start somewhere, right? Let’s take a look at which crochet hooks are ideal for beginners, plus give you a run-down of each one so you’ll know where to start experimenting. Happy stitching!

First things first: Choose the right type of crochet hook.

As a beginner, you really want the most basic type of crochet hook, which means you want to avoid all of the specialty hooks out there, like the ones listed below.

Avoid: Tunisian crochet hooks

When you’re shopping for a new hook, beware that there’s more than one type of crochet hook. For example, you might find double-ended crochet hooks (like the ones below), extra-long hooks or hooks with a plastic wire on the end.

These specialty hooks are for a specific technique called Tunisian crochet. Don’t buy these unless you’re working specifically on a Tunisian crochet project.

Avoid: Small steel crochet hooks

You’ll also see small crochet hooks that have a number size, as opposed to a letter paired with a number. For example, steel hooks come in sizes like 0, 2, 4, and 6 while larger hooks are sized B-1, C-2, D-3, etc. These small steel hooks are used for crocheting thread (think doilies!), so do not buy these if you’re only crocheting with yarn.

Go for: The “regular” crochet hook

As a beginner, you’ll want to find the “regular” crochet hook, which is a medium size with a hook on just one end. Keep reading for more details!

Next, choose the right hook material

You might feel overwhelmed by all the different material choices — plastic, aluminum, bamboo, etc. We’ve narrowed down the options so you can choose one that’s best for you. It might take a bit of experimenting, but you’ll eventually find the right hook for the job!

Metal hooks

Use them if: you’re not prone to wrist pain and want a good general-use hook that lasts.

Metal hooks such as aluminum are the most common crochet hook, and the most widely available. The hooks are also very durable.

Some crocheters find the metal to be painful on their hands, but some manufacturers add special features to prevent this. The metal Clover Amour Crochet Hooks pictured above, for example, have a rubber handle to ease your grip.

Plastic hooks

Use them if: you’re on a budget or you feel strain in your wrists

Plastic hooks, like the Lion Brand Crochet Hook Set pictured above, are the most affordable, so they’re great for beginners who don’t want to fully commit to a set of hooks just yet.

This material is also lighter, so if your wrist is prone to pain or stress, the lighter hook will help. If you’ve experienced carpal tunnel in the past, for instance, then give this hook a try.

Bamboo hooks

Use them if: Your stitches keep slipping off other types of hooks

Bamboo hooks, like the Clover Takumi Bamboo Hooks pictured above, are a little more expensive, but they have a nice grip that stops yarn from slipping. If your yarn slips off hooks made of plastic or metal, then a bamboo hook might be just what you need.

Finally, you’ll need to choose the right size

If you’re working with a pattern, that will be your guide for which size hook to use. If you haven’t picked a pattern yet, then you can use the yarn label to help you figure out which size hook to choose.

Most beginners start out in the middle with a worsted-weight yarn and a size H-8 (5mm) hook. This is a good middle-of-the-road size that will help you get used to the rhythm of your crochet stitches. When you’re more experienced, you can try smaller hooks with lighter yarns as well as larger hooks with heavier yarns.

As mentioned earlier, look out that you’re buying the H-8 hook, rather than the size 8. The numbers-only sizes are for small steel hooks, which are not exactly beginner-friendly. The letter and number size should appear on both the hook and the packaging, so the labeling will be clear.