Gift guides
Best Gifts for Crocheters: Hooks, Yarn and Tools
A crocheter's hands do a lot of repetitive work, and their projects eat yarn. The best gifts help with both: a hook that's kinder to the wrist, yarn that suits blankets and wearables, and the finishing tools that make granny squares lie flat.
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For a gift that does not depend on a yarn weight or tool size, consider a sweater-design mug. These are ready-made drinkware gifts, not knitting or crochet kits.
Hooks: the gift crocheters notice first
Most crocheters start with plain aluminum hooks and never upgrade, because a good hook feels like an indulgence. That makes it an ideal gift, whether you choose an ergonomic everyday hook or a true heirloom.
$26FurlsStreamline Metal Crochet HookWeighted and ergonomic with a smooth throat: the upgrade crocheters notice in a single row.Shop at Furls 
$21FurlsStreamline Wood Crochet HookThe same Streamline shape in hardwood that grips the yarn just enough.Shop at Furls 
$28addiSwing HooksA curved handle shaped to keep the wrist straight, with addi's smooth head.Shop at Jimmy Beans Wool 
$86FurlsAlpha Series Handmade Wood HookTurned by hand in the USA from American cherry, maple or walnut.Shop at Furls
Don't know their hook size? Buy the set
Single hooks are sold by size, and a 5 mm hook is no use to someone working in 4 mm. Worsted yarn usually calls for I-9 to K-10½ (5.5–6.5 mm) and DK for 7 to I-9 (4.5–5.5 mm), but tension varies from person to person. If you can't sneak a look at their hook case, the Clover Amour Crochet Hook Set ($79.95 at Knit Picks) covers the range in comfortable, color-coded handles, so they'll always find the size they need. Our guide to crochet hook types explains the differences between materials and shapes.
Hooks worth giving
Furls
Streamline Metal Crochet Hook
at Furls
Furls
Streamline Wood Crochet Hook
at Furls
addi
Swing Hooks
at Jimmy Beans Wool
Knit Picks
Amour Crochet Hook Set
at Knit Picks
Furls
Alpha Series Handmade Wood Hook
at Furls
Knit Picks
Caspian Tunisian Hooks, In the Round
at Knit Picks
Curious crocheter? The Caspian set ($89.99) opens up Tunisian crochet worked in the round.
Yarn crocheters love to work with
Crochet stitches are thick, so a project uses more yarn than the same piece knitted. That makes value per yard important, especially for blankets; for anything worn, softness and easy washing matter more.
$10Knit Picks · Worsted · 217 yds / 100 gHigh Desert Worsted217 yd of American wool grown, spun and dyed in the US: a whole blanket is realistic.Shop at Knit Picks 
$22.25Malabrigo · Worsted · 210 yds / 100 gRiosSofter and machine washable, so it's the better choice for anything worn.Shop at Jimmy Beans Wool 
$19.53Rowan · Aran · 218 yds / 100 gCreative LinenHalf cotton, half linen, softening with every wash: made for market bags, tops and placemats.Shop at Rowan 
$25Malabrigo · Super Bulky · 90 yds / 125 gNoventaSuper-bulky superwash merino that turns into a cozy cowl over a weekend.Shop at Jimmy Beans Wool
Yarn for crochet gifts
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+4How much yarn to give
Buy for a project, and buy every skein at once so they share a dye lot. These figures are worsted-weight starting points for crochet; the pattern's yardage always wins.
| Crochet project | Typical yardage | Skeins of High Desert Worsted (217 yd) |
|---|---|---|
| Hat or beanie | 200–300 yd | 1–2 |
| Cowl | 250–350 yd | 2 |
| Scarf | 500–700 yd | 3–4 |
| Throw blanket | 1,800–2,500 yd | 9–12 |
Finishing and storage gifts
Granny squares and motifs need blocking to line up before they're joined, and a growing hook collection needs somewhere to live. These gifts handle both.
$90.75CocoknitsKnitter's Block KitInterlocking foam blocks with a grid, so every granny square dries to the same size.Shop at Jimmy Beans Wool 
$54.99Knit PicksBendable Blocking CombsFlexible combs that hold an edge with four pin tips at a time.Shop at Knit Picks 
$140della QHook & Needle NotebookA bound book of pockets, one per hook, for the whole collection.Shop at Jimmy Beans Wool 
$40LemonwoodYarn Box & Mini MinderA yarn box with a spinning Mini Minder that keeps the ball from rolling away.Shop at Jimmy Beans Wool
Finishing touches
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What to skip
- A single hook in a guessed size. Choose a set, or check their hook case first.
- Novelty and eyelash yarn. The stitches disappear in the fluff, and crocheters can't see where to insert the hook.
- Splitty yarn. Loosely plied yarns split on a hook. Smooth, round plies like High Desert or Rios are easier to crochet.
- Knitting needles. It happens more often than you'd think. Check which craft they do.
Questions
What is the best crochet hook to give as a gift?
An ergonomic hook is the upgrade most crocheters notice. If you know their size, a Furls Streamline or Odyssey II; if you don't, a full set such as Clover Amour.
What yarn should I buy for a crocheter?
A smooth, plied worsted in a solid or tonal color shows crochet stitches best. Buy enough for a project, all from the same dye lot.
Does crochet use more yarn than knitting?
Generally, yes. Crochet stitches are taller and denser, so the same area takes more yarn. When in doubt, buy one extra skein.
