9 Best Crochet Hooks For Beginners, Comfortable Crocheting And Every Type Of Yarn – Crochet

Choosing the best crochet hook sounds like it should be simple. It is a stick with a hook on the end, after all.

Then you start shopping and discover tapered hooks, inline hooks, aluminium hooks, wooden hooks, ergonomic handles, soft grips, thumb rests, luxury resin hooks and complete sets containing more sizes than you knew existed.

And that is before we begin discussing the crochet hook that has somehow disappeared into the sofa even though you were holding it five minutes ago.

The truth is that there is no single crochet hook that will suit every crocheter. The best crochet hook for you depends on how you hold your hook, whether you use a pencil or knife grip, the yarn you work with and whether your hands become tired during longer crochet sessions.

To make the decision easier, I have compared some of the most popular crochet hooks currently available, including affordable beginner crochet hook sets, comfortable ergonomic hooks, smooth aluminium hooks and wooden inline crochet hooks.

Best Crochet Hooks At A Glance

Best Overall Crochet Hook: Clover Amour

Clover Amour crochet hooks are one of the most frequently recommended crochet hooks, and they are a sensible all-round choice for beginners and experienced crocheters.

They have smooth aluminium tips, gently shaped hook heads and wider, colour-coded handles. The handle is substantial enough to hold comfortably without feeling like you are crocheting with a garden tool.

The colour coding is especially useful when your crochet hook collection begins multiplying. You can often spot the size you need without reading every tiny number while muttering at the hook case.

Clover Amour hooks use a tapered hook shape, which many crocheters find easy to move through stitches. They work particularly well with everyday yarns, including acrylic, wool, cotton and blended yarn.

Best for: Everyday crochet, beginners, blankets, garments and amigurumi
Possible drawback: A complete set costs more than a basic aluminium hook set
My verdict: The best all-round crochet hook for most crocheters

You can also find the Clover Amour crochet hook set through KnitPicks, which is worth checking when comparing current prices and availability.

Best Premium Crochet Hooks: Tulip Etimo

Tulip Etimo crochet hooks are a popular premium option for crocheters who want a smooth hook with a comfortable cushioned grip.

The handles have a more refined shape than many inexpensive ergonomic hooks and are designed to sit comfortably in the hand. The aluminium hook shaft is smooth, while the pointed head can be helpful when working into tighter stitches.

These are particularly appealing if you crochet frequently and want to upgrade from thin metal hooks. They also make a rather lovely gift for the crocheter who insists she does not need anything while sitting beside six baskets of yarn.

Tulip Etimo sets are available in several colour ranges, including red, grey and rose.

Best for: Frequent crocheters, gifts and premium crochet tools
Possible drawback: They are one of the more expensive crochet hook sets
My verdict: A beautiful premium set for someone who crochets regularly

Best Affordable Crochet Hook Set: KnitPicks Expanded Bright Crochet Hook Set

The KnitPicks Expanded Bright Crochet Hook Set is an excellent option when you want a broad range of sizes without immediately investing in a luxury set.

The set includes 15 tapered hooks ranging from 2mm to 10mm. The aluminium hook tips are paired with wider, easy-to-grip handles, and the colours make the sizes quicker to identify.

This is one of the better crochet hook sets for beginners because it covers fine crochet, everyday DK and worsted-weight yarn, plus larger hooks for chunky yarn projects.

You are unlikely to use every size immediately, but having them available saves that annoying moment when a pattern calls for a 6.5mm hook and your collection mysteriously jumps from 6mm to 8mm.

Best for: Beginners, varied projects and affordable complete sets
Possible drawback: Crocheters with a strong preference for inline hooks may not enjoy the tapered shape
My verdict: The best-value crochet hook set for building a useful collection

Once you have a new set, try it on one of these quick weeknight crochet projects rather than committing immediately to a king-size blanket. A small project makes it much easier to decide whether you genuinely like the grip and hook shape.

Best Wooden Crochet Hooks: KnitPicks Radiant Wood Crochet Hooks

Some crocheters find polished aluminium almost too slippery, particularly when using smooth cotton, bamboo or silk-blend yarn.

The KnitPicks Radiant Wood Crochet Hooks are made from laminated birch and have slightly more natural grip than metal hooks. They feature an inline head with a deeper groove, giving you more control over the yarn.

Wood also feels warmer in the hand than aluminium, which can be surprisingly pleasant during winter crochet sessions.

The main thing to know is that these hooks do not have prominent size markings, so you may need a hook gauge if the hooks escape from their labelled storage.

Wooden hooks also require a little more care when working very tight stitches. For firmly stuffed amigurumi, avoid forcing a smaller wooden hook through an extremely tight stitch.

Best for: Natural fibres, slippery yarn and inline-hook crocheters
Possible drawback: No obvious size markings, and wooden hooks require gentler handling
My verdict: A lovely choice for crocheters who prefer warmth and controlled yarn grip

Prym Ergonomic crochet hooks have a distinctive lightweight body and softly shaped handle.

Unlike traditional aluminium hooks with an added rubber grip, the Prym design forms the hook and handle into one continuous shape. This eliminates ridges where the metal shaft joins the handle.

They are light, warm to hold and comfortable for many crocheters who dislike cold or narrow metal hooks. However, synthetic hooks can create slightly more yarn drag than polished aluminium, especially when they are new.

That small amount of grip may be useful with slippery yarn but less appealing if you like your hook to race through acrylic yarn at great speed.

Best for: Lightweight crocheting and people who dislike metal handles
Possible drawback: The hook surface may feel less slippery than aluminium
My verdict: A good alternative for crocheters wanting a very lightweight ergonomic hook

Best Budget Inline Crochet Hooks: Susan Bates Silvalume

Susan Bates Silvalume crochet hooks are traditional aluminium inline hooks with a deeper throat and a shaft that remains close to the same width as the hook head.

Inline hooks can help some crocheters create more consistent loops because the yarn sits on a shaft with a uniform diameter.

They are inexpensive, widely available and useful for learning whether you prefer an inline hook before investing in a premium wooden or ergonomic set.

The thin metal handle is the main drawback. It may be perfectly comfortable for short projects, but some crocheters find narrow hooks tiring during long sessions.

A removable ergonomic hook grip can make basic aluminium hooks more comfortable without replacing your entire collection.

Best for: Budget-conscious crocheters and anyone testing inline hooks
Possible drawback: Thin handles may feel uncomfortable during long projects
My verdict: An affordable and practical introduction to inline crochet hooks

Best Crochet Hook With A Flat Thumb Rest: Clover Soft Touch

The Clover Soft Touch crochet hook has a flatter handle than the rounded Clover Amour.

This shape suits crocheters who rest their thumb firmly on top of the hook and prefer a defined thumb position. The handle is not especially thick, but it gives you more to hold than a standard aluminium hook.

CraftGossip reviewed Clover Soft Touch hooks many years ago, and they have remained popular because the shape sits somewhere between a traditional hook and a bulky ergonomic handle.

They are also available individually, which is helpful when you want to test a 4mm or 5mm hook before buying an entire set.

Best for: Pencil-grip crocheters and anyone who likes a flat thumb rest
Possible drawback: The handle may still feel too narrow for crocheters wanting a chunky grip
My verdict: Worth testing as a single hook before committing to the full range

Read our original Clover Soft Touch crochet hook review for another experienced crocheter’s perspective on the handle and hook shape.

Best Crochet Hooks For Chunky Yarn

Large crochet hooks are useful for chunky blankets, baskets, rugs, scarves and quick home décor projects.

A large ergonomic crochet hook set gives you several oversized hooks, often ranging from approximately 6mm to 20mm.

Look for handles that remain long enough to rest against the hand. Some very large hooks have short, thick handles that can feel surprisingly awkward.

For bulky yarn, the tip should be smooth and rounded enough not to split loose fibres but pointed enough to enter the stitch without a wrestling match.

Best for: Chunky blankets, baskets, rugs and super-bulky yarn
Possible drawback: Very inexpensive plastic hooks can have seams that catch yarn
My verdict: Buy a small set covering the larger sizes you genuinely use rather than an enormous novelty collection

Best Crochet Hook Set For Beginners

A beginner does not need every crochet hook ever manufactured. Despite what the craft cupboard may eventually suggest, you can learn with one comfortable hook.

A 5mm or 5.5mm hook and a smooth, light-coloured worsted-weight yarn make a friendly starting combination. Avoid black fluffy yarn for your first project unless you enjoy trying to locate stitches by instinct and candlelight.

A basic ergonomic crochet hook set is useful if it includes:

• Hooks from approximately 2.5mm to 6.5mm
• Clearly marked metric sizes
• Smooth aluminium tips
• Comfortable handles
• A storage case
• Yarn needles
• Stitch markers
• Small scissors

The extra tools are useful, but do not choose a set purely because it contains 97 accessories. A smooth hook is more important than twelve plastic stitch counters, three measuring tapes and a tiny pair of scissors that cannot confidently cut yarn.

New crocheters can use the CraftBits right-handed crochet guide or our left-handed crochet instructions to learn the basic hook hold, yarn tension and first stitches.

Inline Versus Tapered Crochet Hooks

One of the most important differences between crochet hooks is the shape of the head and throat.

Inline Crochet Hooks

An inline crochet hook generally has:

• A deeper hook groove
• A sharper or more defined head
• A shaft that remains close to the same width
• A flatter throat transition

Inline hooks may help with consistent loop sizing and controlled stitches. Susan Bates and KnitPicks wooden hooks are common examples.

They can work particularly well for crocheters who scoop the yarn or prefer a strong, clearly defined hook head.

Tapered Crochet Hooks

A tapered crochet hook generally has:

• A rounded hook head
• A shallower groove
• A narrower throat that widens into the shaft
• A smoother transition between sections

Tapered hooks tend to move fluidly through stitches and are often preferred by crocheters who rotate the hook as they work.

Clover Amour, Tulip Etimo and KnitPicks Bright hooks are tapered options.

Neither style is technically better. The best crochet hook shape is the one that works with your natural hand movement rather than forcing you to adjust it.

Best Crochet Hooks For Tired Or Stiff Hands

There is no crochet hook that can diagnose, treat or cure hand pain. However, some handle shapes may feel more comfortable than narrow metal hooks.

When shopping for comfortable crochet hooks, look for:

• A wider handle that reduces how tightly you need to pinch
• A lightweight design
• A smooth shaft that does not require extra force
• A handle long enough to rest against your hand
• A hook shape compatible with your usual grip
• Clearly marked sizes so you are not squinting at microscopic numbers

It is also sensible to take breaks, change hand position and avoid forcing tight stitches. Crochet is supposed to be relaxing, not an endurance event involving your thumbs.

Our review of ergonomic crochet hooks for arthritic hands looks at an inexpensive soft-grip set that may suit readers wanting to try wider handles without making a large investment.

How To Choose The Best Crochet Hook

Before purchasing a complete set, consider these five things.

Your Hook Grip

Pencil-grip crocheters may prefer a flatter thumb rest, while knife-grip crocheters often appreciate a longer or more rounded handle.

Your Preferred Hook Shape

Choose inline if you like a deeper hook groove and consistent shaft width. Choose tapered if you prefer a smooth, rounded transition through the stitch.

Your Favourite Yarn

Smooth aluminium works quickly with acrylic and wool. Wood gives extra control with slippery fibres. Plastic is lightweight but can sometimes create drag.

The Projects You Make

Amigurumi requires smaller hooks and tight stitch control. Blankets benefit from lightweight handles. Chunky projects need large hooks with smooth joins and comfortable grips.

Whether You Need A Set

Buying one quality hook in your most-used size may be better than purchasing 20 mediocre hooks you avoid using.

A 4mm, 5mm or 5.5mm hook is a sensible test size because it works with many common yarn weights and beginner crochet patterns.

My Crochet Hook Recommendations

For most crocheters, I would choose Clover Amour as the best overall crochet hook. It is smooth, comfortable, readily available and suitable for a wide variety of projects.

For someone buying their first complete set, the KnitPicks Expanded Bright Crochet Hook Set provides an excellent size range at a more approachable price.

For crocheters who prefer inline hooks or natural materials, the KnitPicks Radiant Wood hooks offer warmth and extra yarn control.

For a premium gift, Tulip Etimo hooks are beautifully presented and comfortable enough for regular use.

And if you are still uncertain, buy one hook rather than a complete set. Make a dishcloth, granny square or small amigurumi piece with it. By the end of the project, your hand will usually have a very definite opinion.

Frequently Asked Questions About Crochet Hooks

What is the best crochet hook for beginners?

A 5mm ergonomic aluminium crochet hook is a good starting option for beginners. It is large enough to hold comfortably and works well with worsted-weight yarn. Clover Amour and KnitPicks Bright hooks are both beginner-friendly choices.

Are ergonomic crochet hooks better?

Ergonomic hooks are not automatically better, but their wider handles may feel more comfortable for crocheters who grip narrow hooks tightly or crochet for long periods.

Are Clover Amour crochet hooks worth buying?

Clover Amour hooks are a strong all-round choice because they combine smooth aluminium tips, comfortable handles and clearly colour-coded sizes. Buying one hook in your most-used size is a sensible way to test them.

Which is better: inline or tapered crochet hooks?

Neither style is universally better. Inline hooks have a deeper groove and uniform shaft, while tapered hooks have a smoother narrowing throat. Your preferred style depends on your crochet motion, grip and tension.

Are wooden crochet hooks better than metal hooks?

Wooden crochet hooks offer more natural yarn grip and feel warmer in the hand. Metal hooks are usually faster and more slippery. Wooden hooks can be helpful for slippery yarn, while aluminium hooks work well for everyday acrylic and wool.

What crochet hook size should a beginner buy?

A 5mm or 5.5mm crochet hook paired with smooth worsted-weight yarn is a practical beginner combination. Light-coloured yarn also makes the stitches easier to see.

What are the best crochet hooks for amigurumi?

Amigurumi crocheters generally need a smooth hook with a pointed head, comfortable handle and good control in tight stitches. Clover Amour hooks are a popular tapered option, while inline-hook crocheters may prefer Susan Bates.

Should I buy individual crochet hooks or a complete set?

Buy an individual hook when trying a new brand or handle shape. Purchase a complete set once you know you enjoy using that hook and regularly work with different yarn weights.