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One of the great things about crochet is that you need very few things to get going — just a crochet hook and some yarn and you are ready to go!

Like knitting needles, crochet hooks come in various sizes (diameters) — you’ll find the size stamped on the flat thumb rest area around the middle of the hook. Hooks can come in wood, plastic or metal, and are also available with “comfort” handles — a soft area to grip around the middle of the hook — which are popular for those with arthritis, or who find their hands tire during long crochet sessions.

The size of the hook, as well as the yarn you use with it, will determine the size of the stitches it produces. The most common hook sizes are from 2-8mm, but finer hooks are used for intricate lace crochet work, while thicker hooks can be used in combination with thick jumbo yarn to crochet chunky items.

Most beginners will start with a size 4 or 5mm hook and a medium weight yarn — but for other projects see the chart for which hook to use with which yarn weight.

Other equipment:

It’s always a good idea to have your sewing basket handy, with a pair of sharp scissors and some large darning needles for sewing up projects.