Welcome to my recommendations page. I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite crochet tools.
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Crochet Hooks
I like and use three different kinds of crochet hooks. The thing that is common to all three kinds is that I love the head of these hooks. I find that these are both pointy and smooth enough to work into tricky places while allowing the yarn to slide smoothly through. The differences among the three hooks are basically in the handles. The first ones are just a basic metal handle. I love these hooks for their lower-cost price, ease of control, and portability.
When I’m feeling like I want a little more or an ergonomic grip but still a higher level of control, I switch over to using these harder plastic handled clover hooks.
Finally, if I am working on a larger project with lots of repeats, I will usually switch to my more expensive and ergonomic clover armour hooks. I find these give me a little less grip and control for tight or fancy stitch work. However, when I’m working a blanket or larger project, these help save my wrists and hands.
Stitch Markers
I love using plastic stitch markers. They are the perfect size for most of my crochet projects which usually use DK, worsted weight, or bulky weight yarn. The plastic is great because it doesn’t usually snag or catch in my crocheted fabric, and I find them easy to open and close. It’s great to have the different colors as well for marking different parts of my projects. I suggest comparing the top plastic stitch markers and choosing one that suits your needs.
✅ Compare top three stitch markers here.
Tapestry Needles
These are my absolute favorite tapestry needles for two reasons – the bent tip and the slightly pointy end. The bent tip is fantastic for working into tight stitches. And, the end on these is a little pointier than on some other needles. This is so useful for weaving in yarn ends.
Crochet Books
The Complete Crochet Course: The Ultimate Reference Guide by Shannon and Jason Mullett-Bowlsby has recently become my go-to all purpose crochet reference book. The book covers all of the basic stitches and more advanced techniques. I love the clear photo illustrations, and the tips throughout for giving projects great finishing touches.
Ball Winder
I love having a ball winder. I think I use it most frequently when I’m part way through using a ball of yarn, and I want to rewind it into a smaller ball so that it won’t become tangled. I also use it in combination with my swift when I purchase yarn in skeins. It’s not necessary to have a ball winder. Once you have one though, I think you’ll find you use it all the time. Plus, I find I just love having little cakes of yarn piled up. I bought my ball winder years ago, and I can’t seem to find my particular brand online anymore. This one by Stanwood is the the one that looks the most similar. If you think you want a ball winder, I encourage you to read through the reviews and pick the one at the price point that seems to work best for you.
Swift
If you buy any yarn in skeins, having a swift is a huge time-saver. No need to use a chair back or enlist another person to help you. When you combine the swift with the ball winder, you can turn a skein into a nicely-wound yarn cake in just a few minutes. For example, I used my swift and ball winder to help wind the Caron Pantone X Bamboo mini-skeins into yarn cakes for my Squishy Squares blanket. It is a bit of an investment just like the ball winder. If you find yourself winding skeins by hand though, it’s a great item to have.
Blocking Set
For years I got by without having a dedicated blocking set. I would usually wet my pieces and then stretch them out on towels to dry. I have to say though that having a blocking set has been a game changer in terms of finishing my projects. Being able to pin the projects out on the blocking boards really helps to get them to dry into the desired shape. This has been particularly useful when I do projects involving squares or motifs like the Squishy Squares blanket. This is the blocking set that I use and love.
