Crochet Hooks, Yarn and Supplies: How to Choose Well
Crochet hook sizes and materials, ergonomic hooks, yarn weights from 0 Lace to 7 Jumbo, beginner-friendly yarn and the tools worth having, explained and compared.
The right hook and yarn make learning far easier. A smooth yarn in a light color shows every stitch, and a hook that matches it gives even loops without forcing. The wrong pair, a fuzzy dark yarn with a tiny hook, can make a beginner believe they cannot crochet.
This topic explains how to choose both. We start with hook sizes, given as US letters and in millimeters, and with the materials hooks are made from: aluminum, steel, bamboo and plastic, each with a different glide. We compare classic hooks with ergonomic models, which are described by their grip and handle, and we show how to hold a hook so that your tension stays even.
For yarn, everything starts with the Craft Yarn Council’s weight system, from 0 Lace to 7 Jumbo, which tells you which hook a yarn usually needs. We explain the categories, then compare yarns that suit beginners by fiber, stitch visibility and availability.
We also cover the small tools that make a difference, such as stitch markers, a yarn needle and good scissors, and the gifts that experienced crocheters actually use. To put all this to work, see Beginner Projects.
Stitches and techniques
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Tutorial How to Hold a Crochet Hook: Pencil Grip, Knife Grip and YarnHow to hold a crochet hook with the pencil grip or the knife grip, where your thumb goes, how to hold the yarn for even tension, and tips for left-handed crocheters.
The basics, explained
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Guide Yarn Weight Chart: The 8 Yarn Weights Explained for CrochetA yarn weight chart for crochet: the Craft Yarn Council's categories from 0 Lace to 7 Jumbo, their names, gauges and hook sizes, and which weight to start with.
Tools and kits compared
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The Best Crochet Hooks: 5 Sets Compared by Head, Grip and SizesFive crochet hook sets compared: soft-grip, inline, tapered, steel thread and wide-range sets, with materials, sizes in mm and US letters, and who each suits.
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The Best Ergonomic Crochet Hooks, Compared by Handle TypeFive ergonomic crochet hooks compared by handle: sculpted nylon, flat and wide, thick silicone, rounded soft grip and color-coded rubber, with sizes and materials.
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The Best Yarn for Beginner Crochet: 5 Yarns Compared on FactsFive yarns for beginner crochet compared: acrylic, cotton, a jumbo skein, a smooth premium acrylic and a beginner kit, with weight, fiber, yardage, hook and care.
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Essential Crochet Tools: The 5 Notions Worth HavingThe crochet tools worth buying beyond hooks and yarn: stitch markers, yarn needles, scissors, a row counter and a hook case, compared one product per type.
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Gifts for Crocheters: 5 Useful Gifts a Crocheter Will UseGifts for crocheters that get used: a yarn winder and swift, a wooden yarn bowl, a blocking kit, a 440-pattern stitch dictionary and a project bag, compared.
How to choose
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How to choose Crochet Hook Size Chart: US Letters, Millimeters and How to ChooseA crochet hook size chart with every US letter and its size in millimeters, steel hook sizes, and how to choose the right hook for your yarn and pattern.
FAQ
What size crochet hook should a beginner use?
Use the size printed on your yarn label. For medium weight (4) yarn, the most common choice for beginners, the Craft Yarn Council recommends hooks from I-9 to K-10½, which is 5.5 to 6.5 mm. An H-8 hook, which is 5 mm, is also a common choice with medium yarn.
What are yarn weights?
Yarn weight describes the thickness of a yarn, not how heavy a skein is. The Craft Yarn Council's standard system has eight categories, numbered from 0 Lace to 7 Jumbo, and most labels in the United States show the category number with a recommended hook and needle size.
What makes a crochet hook ergonomic?
An ergonomic hook has a thicker handle, often cushioned with rubber or silicone, and a thumb rest, so it is held more like a pen or a utensil than a thin rod. Some makers find this grip more comfortable for long sessions; it does not change the size of the stitches.