Common Tools Used To Crochet

The most common tools used to crochet are hooks and yarn. Hooks come in sizes from thin to thick in steel, plastic, bone, wood or aluminum. They are chosen depending on the hand size, finger length and weight of the hook as well as a preference for the feel of it. People who create crochet patterns recommend hook sizes compatible with the kind and weight of the yarn. An important consideration is the gauge or number of stitches to make an inch. Some people crochet tightly and some more loosely so the correct combination of thread and hook can only be determined by experimentation and by measuring a sample of work.

Sizes, textures and colors are limitless. Some yarns are made of natural fibers such as cotton and wool and others are made from synthetics such as nylon or acrylic. Each material has different properties that must be considered but the composition of the yarn largely determines the price.

Yarn and hooks are the necessities for crochet, but some other tools and gadgets can make the work easier. Markers made from split plastic rings slipped over stitches mark the rows or other places that are important to the pattern. Blunt tapestry needles are used to sew the pieces together and sharp needles are useful for applying decorations. A measuring tape or ruler and a metal hook gauge is necessary for accurate work. Bobbins that can hold small lengths of yarn are useful in multi-colored work. Certain yarns come in skeins or hanks that need to be rewound to prevent tangles during use. For this process, some prefer mechanical devices, but others think that winding the yarn by hand is as efficient for a small amount of yarn.