Crochet Hook Basics

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Hey everyone! Today I’ll be starting a new series called Crochet 101. If you ever wanted to learn how to crochet, I will teach you all about the basics of crochet as well as provide beginner crochet tutorials for you. I am really excited about this upcoming series, and I hope you are as well. In today’s first Crochet 101 series, I’m going to talk all about crochet hook basics as well as how to properly hold your crochet hook. Let’s get started!

Before starting any project, it’s important to pick out the perfect yarn and hook for your project. Most patterns have the suggested yarn and hook size included, but it’s always a great idea to know about different yarn and hook substitutions. Let’s focus first on the crochet hook.

Crochet hooks are great because they help you maneuver the yarn through stitches. This little tool also helps to keep your stitches nice and neat as well as all the same size. When it comes to a crochet hook, each part has a name. See below for the anatomy of a crochet hook.

Hook-this is where you will grab the yarn

Tip-this part is pointy and rounded to help guide the hook into each stitch

Throat-this part is usually smaller to give room for the arch of the hook as well as the movement of the yarn

Shank-this is the most important part of a crochet hook as this is where the hook size is measured. This part helps determine the size (gauge) of the stitch.

Thumb Grip-like its name, this is where you grip the hook.

Handle-most crochet hooks have a handle that’s roughly the same size in diameter as the shank. Other crochet hooks, however, may have a bigger handle. This is for comfort purposes.

CROCHET HOOK SIZES

Now that you know the anatomy of a crochet hook, it’s important to know that there are various crochet hook sizes. The size of the crochet hook is determined by the diameter of the shank. If you look at the thumb grip, you will see the size of your hook. Most US hooks are marked with letters while the smaller steel hooks have number sizes. You will also see many hooks have a letter and number size on the hook. I personally prefer both the letter and the number on the crochet hook. Included below is a conversion chart between the metric and letter/number equivalent of the most common hooks.

CROCHET HOOK TYPES

When choosing a crochet hook, be aware that they can be made with different materials. The most common materials are aluminum, steel, plastic, bamboo, and wood with aluminum and plastic being the most popular. With all these different types, it might be hard to choose, but choose what is right for you. My personal favorite crochet hooks are the Clover Amour Crochet Hooks. You can read my review of them here.

HOW TO HOLD YOUR CROCHET HOOK

Finally, I’m going to show you how to properly hold your crochet hook. It might feel a little odd at first, but once you get the hang of it, it won’t feel as awkward. There are two ways to hold your crochet hook.

First, you have the knife hold. As stated, this would be like you’re holding a knife. Personally, I prefer this method as I find it much easier.

Second, you have the pencil grip. Again as stated, this would be like you’re holding a pencil.

Which way do you prefer?

I hope this first Crochet 101 lesson helped you on your way to crochet and that you now understand the crochet hook basics. Stay tuned next Saturday for Crochet 101: Yarn Basics.