Broken Crochet Hook!
By Rachel Choi – 17 CommentsDarn it! I was crocheting with plarn (plastic yarn) and my hook broke!!! I was using one of those plastic H (5.00 mm) Susan Bates hook. It is one of those cheap hooks that comes in a set. By the way, I love the cheap plastic hook sets for beginners since they are of course cheap but they have all the main sizes of hooks that any beginner will need! But the down fall is when it breaks.
Well at least I have a good reason to go buy a nice, new hook now!!! Woohoo!!!
Oh that’s a bummer. Be sure to tell us what type you get and how you like it.
I use the plastic hooks for most everything anymore. I did use the wooden Brittany hooks exclusively for a while but kept losing them (and that gets expensive!), so went back to plastic and have stuck with it.
I don’t think I could handle an aluminum hook again, but I may have to if I want to use plarn. I think that plastic on plastic isn’t a good combination, as I think you just found out!
Yup, I sure did learn my lesson Marie Anne!
Liz, I bought a set of aluminum hooks. Definitely more sturdy than plastic, and wasn’t as expensive as I thought it was going to be (coupons are great)! They work great so far and most importantly I didn’t break one yet 🙂
I have found that the plastic hooks can just break anyway, even using yarn. This has happened to me twice, the darn thing just halved itself! I really like them though. I had always used the aluminium hooks, but find that the plastic hooks are smoother and snag less.
I have never tried the Brittany type wooden hooks, are they good?
I got some bamboo knitting needles and I like them. Much prefer crochet though!
Hope you are feeling better.
I am feeling much better Maggi, Thanks! I’ve never tried the wooden hooks either, although I would love to 🙂
OOOF, I did that a couple weeks ago, and it was a favorite hook of mine 🙁
My mom loves this one plastic G hook she’s had forever, it’s the only size she uses in plastic but she swears by it. When I was getting back into crocheting and re-learning I was using the plastic one but it’s too bendy and I’m afraid I’m going to snap it. I prefer aluminum. I haven’t tried wooden but I’ve seen them. They seem kind of expensive for everyday crafts. There’s actually a ton of hand-crafted wooden, bamboo and even glass and clay hooks on Etsy. What I really want though is this brand of Japanese hooks (I forget the brand but they’re on Etsy too) with a rubber comfort grip and a different size hook on each end – so you got 2 in 1.
All in all, I guess it’s just preference and whatever weight yarn and the particular pattern you’re doing that amounts to the material your hook is made out of. But aluminum is almost required for plarn because it’s such a pain in the ass. The one time I tried plarn I used I think an N hook and there was a lot of resistance and I thought THAT was going to snap! But I don’t have time to play with plarn for a while because I’m focusing on amigurumi and they’re selling quite well.
Hi Rachel,
I’m sure you will discover at some point, that we can also make our crochet hooks out of wooden dowels, simply using a wood carving or pocket knife and sandpaper. There are many websites that give instructions on how to do this and it’s not very difficult, though a bit tedious. The end result is very rewarding to use your own hand-made hook. It is also easy to make knitting needles, too (simply using a pencil sharpener and sandpaper!). The wooden hooks are also virtually indestructible!
I’m not a big fan of plastic hooks. I’ve never had one break but it doesn’t seem as smooth to work with for me. I have metal hooks that I prefer. I’ve also never seen or used wooden hooks for crocheting, but I’m not sure if it’s something I’d be willing to try because I am comfortable with the materials I already have on hand.
My grandmother also gave me a crochet hook that was an antique. I think it belonged to her mother at one point. She said it’s made of pearl, but I am afraid to even try to use it because I don’t want to break it.
I plan to fly and take my crochet. Are aluminum hooks allowed? I am looking into buying some plastic crochet but they just aren’t as smooth. Any ideas?
Hi Laurie!
I was told by a fellow crocheter that aluminum hooks weren’t allowed, but plastic ones were. I’m thinking wood ones would be ok too, but to be on the safe side it’s a good idea to call the airline to ask just in case. Have a great trip!!!
hi. i am from the Philippines. I love your designs so much specially the bag using plastic bags! You look asian.
I have been using aluminum hooks with bamboo handles for about a year now. They just seem to fit my hand better. I even have a steel hook (size 7) with bamboo. It makes thread crochet easier for me.
Folks go to re-sale shops and get crochet hooks and knitting needles for a quarter on even a dime. I have just tons of needles regular sizes and steels and never pass any up if I see them in a 2nds store. You can also get skeins of yarns from estates. Sometimes 6-8-10 or more of the same expensive skeins for 1.00 apiece even less. Cant beat that kind of cost.
Laurie – I have flown many times with my metal hook. However, I only take the one I need just in case the person at the screening is having a bad day and has chosen that day to keep them. However, you are not permitted to take knitting needles – I love the airline’s web-site recommendataion – remove knitting off needle and use crochet hook! Pretty obious the webmaster doesn’t crochet or knit. Check your airline’s website – I think Airtran specifically lists crochet hooks as acceptable. You can even carry small scissors but DO NOT carry the kind that fit into the little plastic cap to keep the blades closed – I was told they had search my entire carry-on because they thought I had a least one box cutter (aka mini scissors). Good luck!
My “knit pro” hook size 3 broke just after 20 minutes of using… 🙁
I then bought a new wooden hook from another company, because I really like the feeling of wooden hooks [I have not tried bamboo, yet, but bamboo is not wood anyway 😉 ], but I didn’t like the flatened part of the “knit pro” hook [here in Germany most of the hooks are round, and I sometimes just turn the hook between thumb and index-finger to give my wrist a rest] and birch tree isn’t that strong…
I now have a hook made of rosewood and it is very very nice – in color, in touch and in handling.
So sometimes a mishap leads to something wonderful! 🙂
Greets,
Kerstin
The last time that happened to me I was crocheting with it and it just snapped in half so I just taped it but I messed up and used the double sided tape the hook was a size I