Wow, there are SO many crochet tools out there! How do you decide which ones are the best or worth the money? To figure this out I went to my blogger friends who have been doing this a while and they were kind enough to share the crochet supplies they actually use and love.
So today we are going to check out some of the amazing tools of the trade and give you some tips and tricks to use some of them.
One thing we won’t be discussing in this post is yarn – so if you are interested in learning how to choose yarn for crochet, click here.
Crochet Tools: Hooks
The first is, of course, a ! There are many different types of hooks out there made of many different materials. From an inexpensive to specialty one of a kind designs, you’re sure to find one you like. You can order these online or find them at your local craft store.
These are great, affordable hooks. I love the different colored handles that make it easy to grab the right size without having to search for the tiny writing, they are lightweight and ergonomic and they don’t cost a fortune! I really love all things Clover, too! Read what Moogly thinks about the Clover hooks here. And, if that’s not enough – Stitching Together has an another great review here
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If you’ve been in the crochet world for long, I’m sure you’ve heard of Furls amazing crochet hooks. These are awesome and they have so many different ones in price ranges to suit everyone’s budget. I have a wooden hook from Furls that I adore as well as some of the metal ones. You can check out what the Hook Nook Life has to say about Furls here.
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Clover Tunisian Interchangeable Hooks
If you haven’t tried Tunisian crochet yet, what are you waiting for? It looks so much like knitting but you use a hook – it’s really the perfect combination of the two. These interchangeable Tunisian crochet hooks are perfect for every project. Check out this review from Nicki’s Homemade Crafts to see why they are so amazing.
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If you’d like to learn more about crochet hooks, check out my post on ergonomic hooks – these are really the best to work with (and two of the above hooks fall into the ergonomic category).
Crochet Tools: Storage
Hook Case
This is amazing for holding all of your tools and supplies! I love having all of my things in one place… when I can keep them there. This case is perfect! See what my friend Megan from Left in Knots has to say about this case.
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Project Bag
Wow, this bag is amazing for storage! It can carry all of your supplies and keep them organized in one place. You can check out a video review from BobWilson123.
Miscellaneous Tools
Pom Pom Maker
Wow, have we had fun with these at my house!! Not only do they create perfect poms for beanies and other projects, but they are so easy to use that even kids can use them!
Check out my son’s video tutorial:
But plain poms aren’t all they are good for: Check out this unicorn pom pom from Nicki’s Homemade Crafts!
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Fiber Wash
Beyond Fibre Wash – detergent for hand washables Think a special fiber wash isn’t as good as regular detergent? Read the review about how this converted Stitches N Scraps here
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Broomstick Lace Tool
This is seriously amazing!! I really want to try this one now.
Check out why Crystalized Designs loves this tool so much.
Some Other Crochet Tools I Recommend
Measuring Tape or Tape Measure
This comes in super handy when measuring my projects! I like to use a measuring tape because they usually go to 60″ – much larger than a ruler. I use this for measuring the size of my blankets, sweater pieces, etc but I do NOT use it to measure gauge. It is possible they can get a little stretched out, so make sure you also have a ruler handy, too. You can get some super cute ones, but I like these inexpensive ones. I keep a few on hand to make sure I always know where one is (the kids often take them!)
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Stitch Markers
You can get so many cute stitch markers but I tend to lose mine. (Is anyone sensing a theme here??) So I go for these inexpensive Clover stitch markers. They come in many different sizes and I love that I can lock them into the first stitch of a round or row. A stitch marker is an invaluable thing sometimes!
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Scissors or Yarn Cutter Pendant
Scissors or Yarn Cutter Pendant
This is a no-brainer! Using your teeth to cut yarn is no fun (just ask my hubs – he gets to bite the yarn if I forget my scissors in the car! Lol). A small but pretty pair of scissors is a must or you can use a yarn cutter pendant like the one above. Either way it will save you from having to bite off your ends.
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Yarn Needle
Yarn Needles
These are much larger than your traditional sewing needles and they are blunt, making them perfect for sewing with yarn. A sharper needle would easily split the yarn, but these needles are better for going behind a strand. Perfect for weaving in ends, seaming pieces together and more. A yarn needle is also called a tapestry needle. The set shown above even includes stitch markers for a very low price!
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Yarn Bowl
A nice yarn bowl can come in handy to keep your yarn still. Have you ever been crocheting and had your yarn wander off? Maybe it fell off the table/couch or rolled away? A yarn bowl will keep this from happening! I love this beautiful rosewood yarn bowl from We Crochet. See the yarn bowl here.
Row Counter
If you find yourself losing track of what row you are on, a row counter could come in handy. You use this simple device while working your crochet pattern to keep track of how many rows you’ve worked. It’s super simple to use! See this handy tool here.
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My Favorite Crochet Books
By far the book I have referenced most often in my crochet career is the Crochet Answer Book. It has solutions to almost every question you could ask about crochet! It’s seriously amazing – and it’s small enough to tuck away in your project bag. See it on Amazon here.
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This book covers everything you need to know about crochet basics, including how to read patterns, work foundation stitches, and really anything you might need to know for your next crochet project. See it on Amazon here.
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Common Questions about Crochet Tools
The very basic crocheting tools you need are just some yarn and a crochet hook size that is appropriate for the yarn you are using. Then, once you get the hang of basic crochet stitches, you can venture into stitch markers, yarn bowls, and more.
The only things you really need to learn how to crochet are some yarn (I recommend a worsted weight yarn or a bulky yarn, weights #4 or 5) and a hook that is the appropriate size for the yarn. If you are unsure of hook size, check the label on your skein of yarn. A pair of scissors and a yarn needle come in handy, too.
It doesn’t have to be! You can get yarn and hooks that are very affordable – even at the Dollar Tree! (You can read more about Dollar Tree yarn here). Of course, you can go as expensive as you want as there are high end yarns and one of a kind crochet hooks out there, but all you really need is some yarn and hook.
Whew! Well, that’s all the tools you should need in your arsenal! Be sure to read up on why these experts love these tools so much!
Want to see how to save money on yarn and supplies? Check out this post!
Want to get organized? Check out this post!