How many times when you crocheted a fabric, the yarn splits and breaks. Many times we blame it on the quality of the yarns we are using. While it is probably true in some of the cases, to be fair, we also need to look at the hooks we are using.
As crochet becomes increasingly popular, the variety of hooks available in the market is also growing. Some hooks are made of metal and some are made of plastic, wood, and bamboo. Choosing the right hook for the job can be a daunting task for the beginners.
Whichever the style and brands you prefer, the anatomy of the hook remains the same: point, groove, throat, shaft, thumb rest, and handle. In the picture on this post I’d like to show you the close up look of the top section of several metal hooks. I skipped discussing the handle, as this subject is more of a personal preference. While I am sure all hooks were designed for its purpose, I just would like to share my own experience after using all of these hooks and how you can manually filter among them. These hooks are part of my own collection and I have tried them all.
First of all price is not always an indicator of a good hook. However, good quality hooks are usually priced higher than lower quality hooks. There are hooks especially the steel hooks which are very reasonably priced. However their size is usually small as they are used for crocheting delicate crochet fabrics or tapestry crochet only. For thicker yarns you will need larger hooks.
Look closely at the shape of the point of these two hooks.
The lip of the left hook is sharper and pointier whereas the right hook is rounder. We need the hook, which has a rounder lip. The sharp lip can damage the yarn and make crocheting difficult as the hook often gets stuck in between the ply of the yarn.
Also look at the throat; the hook on the left is very roughly made. The hook on the right is very smooth. While you wont spot this with you naked eye, you can feel it with the tip of your finger if you try rubbing it. The purple hook has a rough surface; it can damage the yarns too, while the silver colored hook is smooth. The silver hook glides nicely on the fabric making crocheting much more enjoyable.
So now you know,
Happy hooks hunting.
