I’ll admit it – I’m a bonafide crochet hook addict. I’m constantly on the search for the best ergonomic crochet hooks which means I buy A LOT of hooks. At last count I had about seven 4mm hooks alone. Seems like overkill right? If I see a hook I’ve never tried before, I buy it immediately – it’s my achilles heel. I think I’m one of the only yarn crafters who buys more hooks than yarn! I’ve had a few people asking what my go to hooks are and the truth is, I use so many different styles of hooks I can’t even count, but I do have a few favourites.
I’m naturally a very twitchy person – I don’t sit still for very long – and this behaviour translates with crochet hooks as well. If I’ve been using a Clover Amour
all day designing something in the Crochet Coach studio and I want to switch to another project, I’ll often change to a different style of hook too just to mix it up. It’s like exercise – if you run 5km every day your body eventually gets used to it and you need to change your exercise routine to incorporate something different.
A Few Notes About Crochet Hooks
I will do a full post on the whole shebang of hooks but for now you just need to know that there are basically two kinds of hooks and most brands are based on these kinds of hooks.
In Line Hooks/Bates Hooks
The Important Bits
- Have a straight edge that does not taper near the hook part
- Generally have a sharper, pointier head
- The groove of the hook is often much deeper than tapered hooks
- The hook is in line with the handle of the crochet hook
What I’ve Heard About In Line Hooks
- Good for beginners as the deep groove can help keep the yarn in place
- The sharp head is GOOD for inserting the hook into projects as it allows precision
- The sharp head is BAD for inserting the hook into projects as it can snag
- The point of the hook is too sharp and snags the yarn
Tapered Hooks/Boye Hooks
The Important Bits
- Have a narrowing at the throat of the hook (where your working loop hangs out most of the time)
- Generally have a rounder, softer tip
- The hook is not inline with the shaft of the hook
What I’ve Heard About Tapered Hooks
- They’re not ideal for tight crocheters because the tapered throat allows the working loop to slip even smaller and tighter as you’re crocheting
- They’re better for wrist pain as the inline hooks require more movement to get yarn loops on and off them. The taper in tapered hooks means slightly less yarn wrangling because it’s meeting you half way.
My Thoughts
I’m Australian and I didn’t realise there were two kinds of crochet hooks until I ordered a hook from Happy Hooks and randomly chose a Bates style hook. In Australia, most hooks on sale are tapered /Boye style hooks. In fact most retailers like Spotlight or Lincraft only sell Boye hooks so it seems like we’re a nation of default tapered hook users.
When I got my Bates hook in the mail I was totally flummoxed – crocheting with it felt so weird it was like learning to crochet all over again. Eventually I got the hang of it and I quite like it but I’m definitely a Boye gal. I don’t think it’s because Boye is better, I think it’s because I happened to pick up a Tapered/Boye hook first and was a well established crocheter before I tried a Bates/in line. I honestly don’t think you need to stress out over what kind of hook person you are – if you like both, use both. If you like one over the other, keep doing that. The best ergonomic hook in the world is the one you don’t notice while you’re crocheting.
1. Clover Amour
I have a nostalgic soft spot for Clover Amour as my first ever set of ergonomic crochet hooks was a set of Clover Amours. I very quickly snapped up a full set of them because I love them so much.
The Important Bits
- Soft curved point Boye style point
- Tapered
- Comfort grip
- Each size is a different colour which is great when you’re trying to remember what hook you were using for which project
- Very smooth metal shaft and throat – I have a cheap ergo hook and the metal is kind of bubbly which is endlessly annoying when my yarn snags on it
The Less Important Bits
- My personal preference shouldn’t really come into anyone else’s crochet hook experiences but I’m a Clover Amour gal through and through. I use and love a variety of crochet hooks but if I have the choice, I generally reach for a Clover every time!
2. Birch Crochet Hook
The Important Bits
- Cheap and easy to use
- Good starter point for beginner crocheters
- Round, even handle good for pen and knife grip crocheters
The Less Important Bits
- I really like cheap little Birch hooks. They’re better than the full metal ones (for some reason those ones just don’t mesh with me) and they’re really affordable. I have several because I like to keep my hook with the project so I don’t forget which hook I was using so I actually have 2 size 4 Birch hooks. No complaints.
3. Addi 
Comfort
The Important Bits
- Colour coded so it makes it easier to remember which hook you were using
- Round handle – great for knife grip and pencil grip crocheters
- Grooved handle to help with grip
The Less Important Bits
- I bought this from a knitting store that carries only Addi hooks so I was kind of forced into buying it but I quite like it. It’s a 2mm so I use it for amigurumi and it’s a top notch little hook. I prefer these to the Addi Swing so if you’re going to budget for an Addi hook, try this one first, especially if you’re a pencil grip crocheter. I can’t quite imagine how a pencil grip crocheter would hold and Addi Swing. If anyone can point me to a video of it being done, I’d love to see it!
5. Addi Swing
The Important Bits
- Deep curved ergonomic handle
- I’m a knife grip crocheter and found it fine to use the Addi Swing but I’m pretty sure a pen grip crocheter would struggle – they look to me like they’re designed for knife grippers.
The Less Important Bits
- They look like toothbrushes to me. I know I’m fussy but I look at crochet hooks for about 8 hours a day and I like them to look nice. I don’t think these are the worst looking ergonomic crochet hooks by a long shot (the earwax coloured Clover Soft Touches are pretty hard on the eye) but there’s something very medical about the way they look.
- I didn’t take very well to using the Addi Swing. I’m very glad I tried it and after a while it was quite comfortable but it took some practice.
- Having said that, I know some crocheters who swear by Addi Swings – I’d recommend giving them a go just in case they’re your perfect hook.
5. Happy Hooks
The Important Bits
- They’re gorgeous
- Available in both Boye and Bates
- Available in long and short handles
- Look beautiful in Instagram photos if that happens to be something you’re into
- The handle isn’t ergonomic per se, it’s just built up with polymer clay to give it a handle. I think this is a plus though because it’s inclusive of all crocheters. Both pen and knife grips can use them.
The Less Important Bits
- They’re more expensive than commercial hooks but I think $30 for a hook that brings you total joy is an absolute bargain
- I have a Bates hook from here which is okay but I’ll be ordering Boye hooks from now on from there – the good news is you can pick which one you like!
- I’m part of their referral program so if you want 20% off your first Happy Hook you can use this link here. They’re so worth it I love mine even though it’s a Bates.
The Important Bits
- Super cheap
- A good starting point for switching to ergonomic crochet hooks
- A bit weird but actually very awesome
The Less Important Bits
- I bought this on a whim from Bendigo Woolen Mills and it had been on the shelf for so long it had dust on it. Nonetheless I bought it – it was only $5 and I wanted to try it. I was a bit wary of the large handle – it’s enormous and I’ve never crocheted with anything quite so bulky before. I’ve used it once, and I have to say, I really love it. I will defineitely be seeking out more of these.
7. Cheap no-name Ergonomic Crochet Hook
I bought this on Amazon and it has no information on it at all. It has a paddle-like handle and a Boye style hook. It’s fine for a back up. I wish it had a brand name or more information with it because I probably wouldn’t buy it again. The handle is starting to peel and it’s a bit sticky and gross. I’m not a hook snob by any means (Pony hooks rock!) but I would recommend being a bit careful with buying ergonomic crochet hooks that are on the cheaper side because they usually have a few draw backs.
What are your favourite ergonomic hooks?
Send me a link to your favourites – I love discovering ones I haven’t tried before.
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