When I first started hooking, one thing I didn't put too much thought into was my hooks. Over the years I have collected quite a few and have learned they are just as important as the yarn. Here are a few essential hook tips you may not have thought about.
1. Keep several hooks on hand (even if they’re the same size)
The obvious reason for this is ( if you're like me) you'll often put a project down and when you come back to pick it up, all of the sudden, the hook you were using is GONE! Sometimes a kid runs off with it, or the couch eats it, but it's handy to have an extra hook on hand so you can carry on without losing your mind searching. By the way, lost hooks show up once you give up and stop looking. 🙄
The other reason is, I like to have hooks that are the same size, but different brands or different materials (like Bates, Boye, aluminum, bamboo). I have 5 different I hooks, They are all 5.5mm but depending on the type of yarn I'm using, or if I need to meet a certain gauge, I could use any of those 5 hooks.
2. Keep them organized
I have a lot of hooks! I store them in a few places. One is in my travel case. In this case, I keep scissors, yarn needles, a tape measure, and whatever hooks I'm using in my current WIPs. My favorite hooks are stored in a crystal cup thing (technical term) out in the open so I can grab what I need on a whim. The rest are neatly organized in plastic hook cases.
3. Keep them clean
You may not think much about this, but it's a good idea to clean your hooks every once in a while. For aluminum and plastic hooks I just use soap and water. You want to be a little more careful with your wood hooks. A quick wipe down with a clean damp cloth and an immediate drying with a soft cloth will do.
(Keeping them clean is super important, especially in the current state of affairs! ~Editor)
4. Keep them slick
When you get a brand new hook you may notice they have a bit of grab to them. I like to just rub them on a clean cloth to “break” it in. Also, you can rub a small amount of lotion on your hook then wipe it off with a tissue. This will leave just enough oil on the hooks to help it glide through yarn.
5. Keep them comfy
It was years after I started crafting when I realized you can add handles to your hooks to make them more ergonomic and it was a huge lifesaver. You can find tutorials to add a polymer clay handle online. Or if you're like me and not gifted with clay, you can purchase handles to fit your aluminum hooks. I'm also a fan of The Crochet Dude handles. I have small hands so the lengths are great. Amour hooks and Soft Touch hooks are good choices as well.
(For more about hooks, check out this post. ~Editor)
Do you have a hook care tip that we didn't mention here?
You should share it in our Members' Community. We love to hear the innovative ideas our readers share with us. And we may even share it with our magazine readers! If you aren't already a part of our family, we'd love to have you. Happily Hooked is more than just a magazine subscription. We're a group of people from every part of the world who want to learn more about art. Whether it's tips and tricks, the basics, more advanced stitches, or even just how to begin. And when you subscribe, you get immediate access to over 75 digital patterns because now you get the regular monthly issues of Happily Hooked Magazine AND you get Pattern Pack Pro, every single month! It's amazing. PLUS, you get access to our Facebook groups where you can join our craft-a-longs (CALs) or post pictures of your latest work in progress, or just lurk. It's a community that's immediately accepting. Better than that, it's a soft place to land in today's unforgiving world. I highly suggest you check it out. And if you have any questions you'd like answered, just ask the group. I can almost guarantee an answer!
Also, I would be doing you a disservice if I didn't tell you to consider a Lifetime Membership. It's so worth it. If you have a little bit of time to read about it, check out this post.
Author Info
I've been crocheting since my mother taught me as a little girl. I'm lucky to be working with Happily Hooked and I can't wait to share everything yarny and hooky with you! Yarn over, peeps! Yarn over!
