Which crochet hook should you buy? Being a beginner doesn’t make a crochet hook any better or worse for you — hooks are either easier or more difficult to use across all difficulty levels.
A few months ago, I ran a simple test with the hooks I owned and wrote a post about it on my blog.
Since then, I bought another crochet hook (the Tulip Etimo Red) and did it again. This time with a different test. Last time I did a test for how easy and how fast I could crochet following a slipshod pattern that created a flat piece, but this time I tried this amigurumi pattern (don’t worry if you don’t know what this means yet):
After pre-starting a magic circle with six single crochet stitches
2. Increase X 6 [12]
3. (SC, INC) X 6 [18]
4. (SC 2, INC) X 6 [24]
Then I evaluated each hook on speed, comfort, and price.
I evaluated, from left to right:
Clover Amour ($6/hook on Amazon in a set; $8/hook separately)
Tulip Etimo Red ($8/hook on Amazon in a set, $10-12 /hook separately)
Susan Bates Ergonomic ($3/hook on Amazon in a set, $5/hook separately)
The Woobles ($5/hook if you add to a beginner kit)
Loops & Threads ($1/hook at Michael’s in a set — Michael’s is cheaper than Amazon).
All were 4mm, except for the 3.75mm Loops & Threads hook.
How’d they do?
Speed: Tulip Etimo & Clover Amour
Comfort: Tulip Etimo & Clover Amour
Right: Tulip Amour Red
I found the Clover Amour and Tulip Etimo Red to be far and away the most comfortable options. Their hooks glided through the yarn like butter. There was much less friction. The handles were comfortable and the hook shape was also easy to work with — I had no issues with ever splitting yarn with either.
The Tulip is wider at the end of the handle than the Clover. Some people love this and some people despise it. I personally adore it, and find that the Tulip fits my hand like a glove. If you already own one and are thinking of whether to switch to the other, I recommend getting just one in your preferred size and seeing how you feel about the difference in the handle.
The least comfortable hook was the Loops & Threads hook. Especially when trying it after the other four, it had so much noticeable friction. It was uncomfortable. I absolutely do not recommend it.
Price: Loops & Threads
In terms of sheer pricing, the Loops & Threads hook is the cheapest option. It’s why I bought it — I was just starting out and didn’t want to commit to the hobby financially yet.
If you live in the United States, you can get the Clover & Tulip prices more cheaply in two ways:
- Ordering off of Amazon (but be wary of fake knock-offs)
- Waiting for Joann’s 60% off one-priced item coupon
Best Overall: Clover Amour
Considering all three factors together, I have to recommend the Clovers. If you’re going to stick with crochet as a hobby and are still using cheap hooks, I really recommend upgrading when you get the chance. It’s so much more comfortable, and at a lower price than the Tulips.
Other Thoughts:
The Woobles
If you’re just a beginner and haven’t bought a hook yet, and are considering starting with the Woobles (which I also recommend if you have an interest in amigurumi), spring for the extra hook for $5. It’s superior in every way to the very cheap aluminum hooks and worth the extra few dollars.
Susan Bates Hook
The Susan Bates hook is an in-line hook, while the Clover & Tulip are tapered hooks. When I first started, I used the Susan Bates without issue, but after switching to the Clover & Tulip, I really struggled to switch back to the Susan Bates for the test. It was just a lot less comfortable and I was splitting yarn because I wasn’t used to the in-line hook. Some people really prefer in-line, though, and you’ll have to see which works best for you.
Loops & Threads
If you plan to crochet frequently, you should invest in better hooks than these. There’s a lot of friction and it’s not comfortable to hold.
Is there another hook you’d like me to review? Did you have a different experience with one of these hooks? Let me know in the comments below.
