How We Choose Products

Every comparison on Crochetwiz starts from criteria anyone can check. This page explains those criteria, where our information comes from, what our evidence label means and what we never do.

The criteria we use

We compare products on facts, not on adjectives:

• Hooks: material (aluminum, steel, bamboo, plastic), the sizes included in US letters and millimeters, the shape of the throat and head (inline or tapered), and the handle: its length, width and material.
• Yarn: the weight category in the Craft Yarn Council system, fiber content, yardage per skein, how easy the stitches are to see, care instructions and how widely the colors are available.
• Kits: exactly what is in the box (hook sizes, yarn amount and weight, stitch markers, needle, stuffing), the project you end up with, the format of the instructions (printed, video or both) and the skill level the maker states.
• Knitting needles: material, length, straight or circular, and the sizes included.
• For every product: what makers consistently report after using it, in published reviews and maker communities, and who the product does not suit.

One product per type appears in a ranking, so a list of hooks is not padded with five near-identical sets.

Where our information comes from

Manufacturers’ product pages and instructions, industry standards such as the Craft Yarn Council’s yarn weight system and hook size chart, published reviews, and the documented experience of makers. Every figure we quote is attributed to its source with a link, and the date we checked it.

Our evidence level

Each article shows an evidence label. At launch, every page on Crochetwiz is researched: the recommendation is based on specifications, standards and published feedback, not on our own use of the product. We will only use another label when it is true, and a page that claims hands-on use will always say how that use took place.

Prices and ratings

We do not show prices or star ratings. They change daily and we cannot keep them accurate, so we describe products by their characteristics and link to the retailer, where you can see the current price.

Patterns

We explain techniques, not complete row-by-row patterns. For a full project we link to free patterns from their designers and yarn brands, with credit.

Commissions and rankings

When you buy through some of our links we may earn a commission. The order of a ranking is set by the criteria above before any link is added, and a product is never included or moved because it pays more. See our affiliate disclosure.

Updates and corrections

We update a page when a fact changes: a product is discontinued, a kit’s contents change or a better option appears. The “Updated” date only moves when the content really changes. To report an error, write to [email protected].