Basic Crochet Supplies

When you’ve just discovered crochet as a new hobby and you need to get set up from scratch, you’ll need a few more things besides a crochet hook and yarn. The easiest option is to buy a ready-made crochet set. You can get one in a craft store, and it contains everything you need to get started. If you put together your basic crochet supplies yourself, you can tailor them better to your personal preferences. And those matter both when choosing crochet yarn and when choosing a crochet hook. We answer the question “What do I need for my crochet project?” in so much detail that you’ll be able to put together your own personal crochet set.

Which crochet hook is the right one?

Of course, you need a crochet hook to get started. Its basic shape is always the same: it has a handle, a shaft, and a hook. However, there are differences in the length of the tool, the material, and the size (thickness) also varies. When it comes to the size, you need to match your crochet yarn: for thick yarn you use a thick crochet hook. You crochet thin yarn with a smaller hook. To keep your hands from cramping and your fingers from tiring so quickly, you should choose the length of the hook to suit your hand size. The shape of the grip is also a matter of taste. It’s best to try out different hooks with different grip shapes in a craft store. Since your basic crochet supplies usually don’t consist of just one crochet hook, but of the common sizes, you have a bit of flexibility when it comes to the material.

Different crochet hook materials

You can find crochet hooks made from various materials. Hooks made of plastic come in lots of beautiful colors. Their fresh look really makes you want to get crafting. However, in smaller sizes they can break fairly quickly. They’re also often not finished smoothly, so the yarn can snag on them. And they can be quite slippery, so you keep slipping off.

Eco-friendly hooks made of bamboo or wood are very light and are therefore great if you want to work with especially thick yarn. In very small sizes, they can be a bit flexible, which makes crocheting harder. For that reason, thin wooden or bamboo hooks are not recommended for beginners.

Crochet hooks made of metal are impressively stable in every size. However, they have the downside that with thin hooks made purely of metal, the grip is also quite thin. That can make your hand tired more quickly while crocheting. That’s why it’s best to choose thin and medium hooks made of metal with a plastic handle. For a thick hook, you should prefer bamboo or wood.

Different hook sizes for crochet

To help you quickly find the right hook for your yarn, the manufacturer suggests a hook size on the label of the yarn ball. Usually, they give you a range of two to three sizes. If you crochet loosely, choose the smaller size. If your stitches are rather tight, choose the largest size listed.

Unfortunately, hook size information isn’t standardized. In the EU, it’s common to list the thickness of the crochet hook in millimeters on the label. In the USA, however, there’s a different system. In Germany, the thinnest crochet hook has a diameter of one millimeter, so it has hook size 1. In the USA, on the other hand, you can’t read the thickness directly from the tool, because the smallest size is called A. In Europe, sizes go up in half-millimeter steps (sometimes quarter-millimeter steps): after 1 comes 1.5, then 2, then 2.5, and so on. Americans move forward through the alphabet: after hook size A comes B, then C, and so on.

You can find lots more interesting info about crochet hooks on our page “Choosing the right crochet hooks”.

Finding the right crochet yarn

Next, you’ll of course need yarn as part of your basic crochet supplies. The selection of materials is huge here too. That’s why what you use for crafting mainly depends on your crochet project.

If you want to crochet a warm winter sweater or thick slippers, you need a yarn that keeps you especially warm. If, on the other hand, you’re planning to make a light summer top, choose a fine yarn that’s breathable and absorbs sweat. And for an elegant stole for a trip to the theater, you might use an effect yarn with a glitter strand worked in.

If you inform yourself before you start crocheting, you can find the ideal material for every project. There are yarns of natural origin made from animal or plant fibers. There are semi-synthetic yarns, where natural cellulose is chemically processed. You can buy purely synthetic yarns, and blended yarns are also available.

We also have more interesting information for you about different crochet yarns. Take a look at our page “Choosing wool and yarn for crochet and knitting”.

Which yarn weight is suitable for what?

As you’ve probably already noticed, yarn thickness can vary a lot too. The table below gives you a quick overview of which yarn weight is especially suitable for which crochet projects:

Crochet accessories: not all scissors are the same

In general, if you’re careful and not too clumsy, you can of course cut the yarn of your crochet work with any clean scissors. But if you want your basic crochet supplies to make your work easier, there are four things you should look for in scissors.

While fabric scissors should be as large as possible so you can cut your material straight, when crocheting you’re best off with small, handy scissors. To cut the yarn cleanly, the scissors also need to be well sharpened. A dull tool will tear the yarn.

The third feature of your crochet scissors: they should be pointed. Only pointed scissors let you cut the yarn right at the base of your crochet work.

Of course, you should use clean scissors, ideally only for crafting. If you occasionally use the same scissors to cut open a milk carton or open a snack bag, it can easily happen that your crochet work gets dirty.

Tape measure or ruler for crochet?

You’ll do best if you don’t have to answer the question “tape measure or ruler” with a simple yes or no. There are situations where a ruler works better, and other cases where a tape measure is the better choice. If possible, get both.

Then you can use the ruler, for example, to measure your gauge swatch. If you stretch it properly and pin it to a piece of fabric with safety pins, you just have to place the ruler next to it. Then you can easily read off the centimeters.

If, on the other hand, you want to take your body measurements so your handmade crochet top fits perfectly, you’ll need a tape measure. Wrap it loosely around the areas you want to measure, with the numbers facing up. That way you can read your measurements without any trouble.

By the way: don’t cheat when measuring, otherwise all your crocheting will have been for nothing in the end. The tape measure shouldn’t cut into your body, but it also shouldn’t hang loose. And don’t hold your breath—breathe out slowly.

Different types of pins as crochet helpers

Pins are also important for your basic crochet supplies. You need them to stretch small pieces out for ironing and pin them to the ironing board. With these pins, make sure they are rust-free and have pin heads made of glass or metal. The colorful plastic heads melt under a hot iron and will permanently bond with your work.

You’ll also need pins to pin different crochet pieces together, for example when making a vest or jacket. For this, you can of course use pins with plastic heads. However, you should make sure they are nice and long—then pinning is much quicker.

The right needle for weaving in ends

To weave in the yarn end of your finished crochet project, you’ll need a needle. A sewing needle is only suitable to a limited extent. It’s very sharp, which means you risk splitting the yarn when you stitch into the loops. You should avoid that because it doesn’t look nice.

Also, the eye of a sewing needle is so small that you can only thread very fine lace yarn through it.

It’s best to use a yarn needle. Yarn needles are available in different sizes. They have a rounded tip and, instead of a metal eye, they have a small, flexible plastic tube. You can easily thread all kinds of yarn thicknesses and materials, because the plastic bends and also lets the yarn glide through smoothly.

As an alternative to a yarn needle, you can also use a blunt embroidery needle or a blunt darning needle.

What is a stitch marker?

A stitch marker should also be part of your basic crochet supplies. With a stitch marker, you can mark the beginning when crocheting in rounds. It’s also a great tool for counting rows. And you can use it to mark the spot where you started increasing or decreasing.

Stitch markers are usually made of colorful plastic. With a quick movement, they can be clipped into your crochet work—and taken out again just as easily.

Maybe you don’t have a stitch marker yet, but you realize while working that you need to mark a position. In that case, you can use a safety pin, a paper clip, or simply insert a noticeable, brightly colored piece of yarn instead.