Learn · Getting Started
A no-fluff guide to crochet hook sizes, yarn weights, fibers, and the small tools that matter, plus a simple chart matching yarn to hook size.
Walk into any craft store and the crochet aisle suggests you need forty hooks, six gadgets, and a yarn in every fiber. You don’t. Choosing crochet hooks and yarn for beginners comes down to three decisions: one good hook, the right weight of smooth yarn, and a few small tools that genuinely make crochet easier. This guide covers all three, plus a chart you can come back to every time a pattern says “worsted.”
Hooks come in three common materials, and all of them work.
What matters more than material is size. A hook’s size is the diameter of its shaft, the part your loops sit on, and it’s printed on the thumb rest in millimeters (and often a US letter).
Our recommendation: buy one 5 mm (US H-8) hook to learn with. Add a 3.5 mm for keychains and amigurumi, and a 6 mm for faster, drapier wearables, once a project asks for them.
“Weight” means thickness, not grams. Yarn weights are numbered 0 to 7 on the label using the Craft Yarn Council system.
| Number | Name(s) | Typical crochet hook | Great for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Lace, thread | 1.5–2.25 mm | Doilies, fine lace |
| 1 | Super fine, fingering, sock | 2.25–3.5 mm | Socks, lightweight tops |
| 2 | Fine, sport | 3.5–4.5 mm | Baby items, amigurumi |
| 3 | Light, DK | 4.5–5.5 mm | Tops, keychains, flowers |
| 4 | Medium, worsted, aran | 5.5–6.5 mm | Blankets, bags, beanies |
| 5 | Bulky, chunky | 6.5–9 mm | Quick scarves, cozy hats |
| 6 | Super bulky | 9–15 mm | Chunky blankets, rugs |
| 7 | Jumbo | 15 mm and up | Arm-knit-style throws |
These are starting points. Amigurumi deliberately uses a hook one or two sizes smaller than the label suggests, so stitches are tight enough that stuffing doesn’t show. Drapey summer tops often go a size or two larger.
Always buy enough yarn from the same dye lot: the batch number on the label. Two skeins of “the same” color from different lots can look noticeably different side by side in a blanket.
What to skip for now: fuzzy mohair, “velvet” chenille, eyelash yarn, and very dark colors. They’re beautiful, but they hide stitches, which makes counting and fixing mistakes much harder when you’re learning.
You need four small things, and a fifth only if you make toys.
A row counter is nice but optional. On this site, every pattern has a built-in row tracker that remembers your progress, so your phone can do that job.
That’s it. Take your haul straight to how to crochet for beginners and make your first square today.
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A smooth, light-colored worsted-weight (#4) cotton or acrylic. It's thick enough to see each stitch, doesn't split easily, and holds its shape so you can spot mistakes. Avoid fuzzy, dark, or novelty yarns for your first few projects.
A 5 mm (US H-8) or 5.5 mm (US I-9) hook for worsted yarn. If you'll mostly make amigurumi or keychains, a 3.5 mm hook with DK cotton is the classic combination.
Crochet Keychain Ideas (with a Strawberry Pattern) →No, but if your hand or wrist aches after 20 minutes, an ergonomic handle is the most effective upgrade you can make. Many crocheters buy one ergonomic hook in their most-used size and keep cheap aluminium hooks for the rest.
Many labels are written for knitters first. Look for the small crochet hook icon; if it's missing, use the chart in this article. Crochet generally uses a hook about 0.5–1 mm larger than the listed knitting needle.
Yes, as long as they're the same weight and care instructions. Mixing a machine-washable acrylic with a wool that felts in the wash will distort the piece the first time you clean it.
Crochet Blanket Ideas & Yarn Tips →
Beginner ProjectsLearn
Easy crochet ideas for beginners, sorted by time and skill: quick 30-minute makes, cute gifts, small projects for yarn scraps, and first wearables.
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Decode any crochet pattern: abbreviations, stitch counts, repeats, brackets, rows vs rounds, symbol charts, and grid/pixel charts, with real examples.
TutorialsFlowers
Learn how to crochet a flower in two rounds with this free beginner pattern: a five-petal flower with a contrast center, plus easy variations and ways to use it.
