One of the biggest hurdles to get past before you even start to learn crochet is knowing what tools to buy. While it might seem obvious – a hook and some yarn – there is a little more to it than that. And buying mismatched hook and yarn is going to make your learning journey really difficult! I want you to get started off right, so below I’ll cover what you need and what to look for when you buying them. I want you to avoid making the same mistakes that I did!

So first – yes, you need a hook and some yarn, but let me cover what you need to look for when you buy them. Everything is going to vary depending on where you’re buying them from, but there are some similarities between countries and brands that you can watch out for.

Hooks come in different designs, different materials and different sizes. I honestly believe that it is worth spending a little bit more to buy a quality hook because it will make a world of difference to you! I recently taught some people at work with cheap hooks that I had bought and I struggled to be able to use the hook well with some of the fibres of yarn.

So what do you need to look for? Ideally I would find one that has a metal hook on it with a chunkier handle. I find that the plastic hooks don’t flow so well with the yarn. A well amde metal hook will work well with all types of yarn. To start with I would purchase two – a 4mm and a 5mm hook. These will pair with lots of readily available yarn and are good sizes to begin with. The number should be printed or somehow embedded onto the handle. My favourite brand is Tulip hooks. Others will swear by clover hooks too.

When looking for a yarn, I would encourage you not to buy the cheapest yarn you can buy, especially if you’re buying acrylic. You don’t need to go super expensive either. A good qulaity acrylic is a great place to start. My absolute favourites though is cotton or cotton blend. You only need one ball to begin with to practice your stitches on. Look for a DK or 8ply weight yarn to go with a 4mm hook or a worsted or aran or 10 ply yarn to go with a 5mm hook. Anything thinner than that is going to be too difficult when you’re starting out. Anything thicker will also feel harder to work with and can require a different skill to work with too. Reputable brands will have the details you’re looking for on the label.

It is really important to make sure that your hook matches your yarn. You can make some adjustments for tension, but if you use a hook that is too thin or too thick for the yarn that you have you’ll have trouble creating stitches and will start blaming yourself for your struggles when it is really your tools!

Some other tools which are good to have, but not needed to get start are stitch markers, scissors and a tapestry needle. If all you’re doing to begin with is practicing stitches you can get away with not having any of these items.

All of this and more is captured inside my free beginners guide. You can sign up for it at the link below. The guide also includes the stitches and how to put them all together and will get you started off on the right hook once you have your tools!

Seona x