How to Hold a Crochet Hook

Crochet hooks come in many sizes, from very fine steel hooks that are used to make intricate doilies and lace to larger hooks made of aluminum, plastic or wood that are used to make afghans, clothing and household items.

The hooks you will use most often are about 6 inches long and are sized alphabetically from the smallest to the largest. Sometimes numbers and millimeters are used as well. For example, a B hook can also be referred to by the number 1 and/or 2.25mm.

The crochet hook is the most important tool you will use in learning how to crochet, so it is important to understand each part and its function.

At first glance, most crochet hooks look like a straight piece with a hook on the end. But when you take a closer look, you will see that each hook typically has five parts. It is important to know what each part is used for when learning how to crochet.

The hook end (A) is used to hook the yarn and draw it through other loops of yarn. The throat (B) is a shaped area that helps you slide loops up onto the next part of the crochet hook called the working area or shaft (C). The finger hold, or thumb rest (D), is the flattened area that helps you grip the hook comfortably, usually with your thumb and third finger. The fifth and final part is the handle (E), which typically rests under your fourth and fifth fingers and provides balance for easy, smooth work.

It is important that every stitch is made on the working area (C) to ensure that the stitches are the correct size. Never work a stitch on the throat (B), which would make the stitch too tight, and never work on the finger hold (D), which would stretch the stitch.

How to Hold a Crochet Hook

There are different ways to hold a crochet hook. You will need to experiment and find the way that feels the most comfortable for you. If your hand isn’t comfortable, it will cause your hand to cramp up, and your stitches will not be even. Below are two ways to hold the hook. Use whichever feels most natural to you.

The first position is similar to holding a knife, and your hand will grip over the hook. Place your hand over the crochet hook with the handle resting against the palm of your hand and your thumb and middle finger gripping the thumb rest. Your index finger will rest on the working area of the crochet hook.

The second position is similar to holding a pencil. Hold the crochet hook with your thumb and index finger on the finger hold, and your middle finger near the tip of the hook.

For both positions, the crochet hook should be turned slightly toward you, not facing up or down. The crochet hook should be held firmly, but not tightly. At first you may find yourself gripping too tightly but over time, once you feel more comfortable, your hand should relax.

How to Hold a Crochenit Hook

A Crochenit, sometimes spelled Crochetnit, hook is a type of double-ended hook. Even if you normally crochet holding your hook like a pencil, hold the Crochenit hook like a knife as you learn. This makes completing your work much faster and easier.