Supplies·Tested
12 Crochet Kits Worth Buying, by Skill Level
Twelve kits that contain what they claim, sorted by who they actually suit.
Beginnervaries
Supplies
What to buy first, what to skip, and what the sizes actually mean.
You can start crocheting for under ten pounds. Almost everything sold as essential is not, and the twelve-piece hook sets that dominate the marketplaces are mostly sizes you will never reach for.
What you genuinely need on day one is one hook, one ball of yarn and a blunt needle. What you will want by month three is a handful of specific hook sizes, stitch markers and a tape measure. What you will still not need is a row counter, a yarn bowl or a set of ergonomic hooks, unless your hands hurt, in which case the ergonomic hooks stop being a luxury and become the reason you can keep going.
This section is the honest version of that list.
Hooks
Size, material and handle, in that order of importance.
- Hook size chart, US, UK and metric compared, because patterns use all three
- The 8 best hooks for beginners, tested
- 7 ergonomic hooks for sore hands
- Hooks vs knitting needles, what you actually need
- Best hooks for granny squares
Yarn
Weight first, fibre second, colour last. Most people do that in reverse.
- Yarn weights explained, from lace to jumbo
- The 9 best yarns for blankets, compared
- Best yarn for amigurumi, what actually holds its shape
- Chunky yarn for blankets, how much you actually need
Kits and starter sets
Sometimes good value, often twelve hooks and four things you will not use.
- 12 crochet kits worth buying, by skill level
- 10 beginner kits that include everything
- The complete starter kit, a 40 pound shopping list
Hook sizes, all three systems
Metric is the only one that means anything physical. US letters and UK numbers are conventions, and UK numbers run backwards, which catches everyone once.
| Metric | US | UK | Typical yarn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 mm | B-1 | 12 | Amigurumi in DK |
| 3.5 mm | E-4 | 9 | Amigurumi in worsted |
| 4.0 mm | G-6 | 8 | DK garments |
| 5.0 mm | H-8 | 6 | Worsted, the default |
| 5.5 mm | I-9 | 5 | Worsted blankets, better drape |
| 6.5 mm | K-10.5 | 3 | Chunky |
| 9.0 mm | M-13 | 00 | Super bulky |
A pattern that says "size H hook" without a millimetre size was written for a US audience and may be decades old. Check the gauge before trusting the hook size, because letter sizing has drifted between manufacturers.
What yarn weight names mean
The names are inconsistent across countries, which is why the number in brackets matters more than the word.
| Weight | Number | Also called | Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lace | 0 | 2 ply, thread | 1.5 to 2.25 mm |
| Fingering | 1 | 4 ply, sock | 2.25 to 3.5 mm |
| DK | 3 | Light worsted, 8 ply | 3.5 to 4.5 mm |
| Worsted | 4 | Aran, 10 ply, medium | 5.0 to 6.5 mm |
| Bulky | 5 | Chunky, 12 ply | 6.5 to 9.0 mm |
| Super bulky | 6 | Super chunky | 9.0 to 15 mm |
Buy one skein of a yarn before buying ten. Work a swatch, wash it the way the finished item will be washed, and see what happens. Ten pounds spent finding out that a yarn goes stiff in the wash is cheaper than eighty.
Questions
What crochet hook should a beginner buy?
A single 5.0 mm hook with a soft grip handle. It matches worsted yarn, which is what most beginner patterns use, and one good hook beats a set of twelve poor ones.
Are expensive crochet hooks worth it?
Only for the handle. The business end of a three pound hook and a thirty pound hook is nearly identical. If your hand aches, the handle is worth paying for. If it does not, it is not.
What is the most useful yarn weight?
Worsted, sometimes called aran or medium. Most free patterns are written for it and every shop stocks it.
How much yarn do I need?
Depends entirely on the project, but as rough anchors: a hat takes one skein, a scarf two, a baby blanket four, a throw ten.
What is the difference between aluminium and wooden hooks?
Aluminium is slippery, so the yarn moves faster, which suits tight crocheters. Wood and bamboo grip slightly, which suits loose crocheters and sticky yarns like cotton.
Do I need a yarn winder or swift?
Not unless you buy hanks rather than balls. Most supermarket and craft shop yarn comes ready to use.