Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

HOOK REVIEW – PLASTIC HOOKS

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plastic crochet hooks

Plastic crochet hooks are sometimes a harsh reality of our lives! For many years, when we needed any hook larger than a K, we had to find a plastic hook. Plastic hooks are cost effective, as in inexpensive, but they aren’t typically wonderful hooks. Some of them are prettier than others, but they all share a couple of inherent problems.

plastic Q hook crochet

The good old Q hook.
Problem #1 – finish. Most plastic hooks have mold marks. This is the line that runs around the length of each hook and can be especially problematic at the head of the hook. Fortunately, there is usually a quick fix for this problem – an emery board! I have used an emery board on every plastic hook I’ve ever purchased new. I ran across an older set of inline plastic hooks at a thrift store years ago and jumped at them since they had a silky smooth finish. No idea of brand!

crystallite plastic crochet hooks

Crystallite hooks.
Problem #2 – drag. Yarns don’t like these hooks. The old Q and S hooks were easier to use because we weren’t trying to create a closely gauged fabric. Smaller plastic hooks were more problematic. Newer plastic hooks like the Crystallites have a slicker finish that solves some of this problem. But, I still have issues with drag on any plastic hook. In those super large sizes, like Q, R, S, and T, I will spend the money for a finely finished Jenkins hook since I know they’ll last my entire lifetime and I’ll get my money’s worth out of them over time.

plastic-cro-hooks-2.gif

Lion Brand Plastic Hook.
There are plenty of other plastic hooks available at the mass marketers. They’re cheap, colorful, and have their place in your hook holder, but they’ll never replace those great metal and wood hooks that we can purchase for our tool kits.

Comments

  1. I was having the exact conversation with my friend yesterday. If I lose any of my treasured ancient hooks I find it so hard to replace them.I bought a set of crystalite hooks and gave them away as I could not use them. I struggle with some wooden hooks as the hooks aren’t properly finished off and drag on the yarn and so do not hook cleanly. I don’t expect to pay lots of money for a hook I have to emery board before I can use it plus I don’t like the over long handles with the fancy carvings on them. Come on manufacturers – make us a good hook!

  2. I wondered if rubbing the plastic hook with wax paper would help as much as it does for the metal hooks?

    Glenda

    GLENDA, what a great idea.  Why didn’t I think of this??? Will have to give it a try.  Thanks for the hint.  jd

  3. I used to work at Super Yarn Mart(I think I just dated myself) and 80% of the plastic hooks we sold were returned due to wear and tear. The necks would start thinning out from the friction of the yarn rubbing across the neck.

Have you read?

Free Christmas Worry Worm Crochet Pattern With a Printable Gift Card

There’s something rather lovely about a handmade gift that says, “I was thinking of you,” without needing a large box, expensive supplies or three weeks of frantic crocheting.

Our Christmas worry worm is a sweet little example. It has a curly body, a smiling embroidered face and a pointed Santa hat, plus a decorative printable gift card that turns a small crochet project into a thoughtful festive present.

And yes, those little leftover balls of Christmas yarn finally have a job. Apparently, keeping them all was entirely reasonable.

A Christmas Twist on the Crochet Worry Worm

If you’ve enjoyed our original crochet worry worm project, this Christmas version offers a different construction and a festive finish.

The body is a narrow crochet corkscrew, while the head is a separate, lightly stuffed ball worked in continuous rounds. A small hat with a contrasting brim completes the character.

What I particularly like about this design is that the Christmas detail comes from the colours and that tiny hat. There are no fiddly fingers, miniature boots or elaborate accessories to sew together. The curly body gives it plenty of personality all by itself.

What Skills Will You Need?

This free Christmas worry worm crochet pattern uses chains, single crochet, increases, decreases and slip stitches. You’ll also need to work a magic ring, embroider a simple face and sew the three components together.

I’d describe it as an easy project for someone comfortable with basic crochet stitches and ready to try small amigurumi pieces. The tiny hat rounds may require a little patience, especially if you usually make blankets with a lovely big hook.

The materials are straightforward: DK or 8-ply yarn, a 3 mm hook, a little stuffing, black embroidery thread and a yarn needle.

Choose smooth yarn so you can see your stitches clearly. Fluffy yarn might look festive in the ball, but finding four tiny stitches in a magic ring is quite enough excitement without hiding them under eyelash fibres.

Make Santa, Elf or Snowy Christmas Versions

The same construction works in several Christmas colour combinations:

  • Traditional Santa: A red curly body, cream head and red hat with a white brim.
  • Christmas elf: A green body and green hat with a contrasting red brim.
  • Snowy Christmas friend: A white body and head, finished with a red-and-white Santa hat.

The faces are embroidered, and the hat tip has a few white stitches rather than a separate pompom. Keep those details simple and let the colour combinations do the decorating.

If seasonal variations are your weakness, our Easter bunny worry worm pattern is another idea to save for your next round of small handmade gifts.

The Printable Christmas Gift Card Makes It Feel Special

The accompanying printable card is the detail that brings this project together.

Watercolour-style poinsettias, holly, red bows and gold accents frame a short verse, with To and From lines for your message. A pale green space on the right holds