Essential crochet tools for beginners include a 5mm crochet hook, worsted-weight yarn, stitch markers, scissors and a measuring tape. These basic supplies are affordable, easy to use and suitable for most beginner crochet projects.
Starting crochet is exciting, but choosing the right tools can feel overwhelming. The good news is that beginners only need a handful of essential crochet supplies to get started, and they really aren't expensive.
If you've tried knitting in the past, you probably have most of them already in your kit!
If not, then most crochet tools for beginners can easily be found in craft stores or online. Your local yarn store staff will be more than happy to talk you through the tools that suit you best.
A comfortable crochet hook, beginner-friendly yarn, scissors, stitch markers and a measuring tape are enough to complete your first projects successfully.
Crocheting is a fun and affordable hobby that is great for your mental health. Be warned, though, once you call yourself a crocheter, you will become addicted very quickly!
Are you more of a visual learner?
Table of Contents
- Essential Crochet Tools for Beginners
- Best Crochet Hook Size for Beginners
- Choosing Beginner-Friendly Yarn
- Helpful Crochet Accessories
- Crochet Tools You Can Skip at First
- Common Beginner Crochet Mistakes
- Budget Crochet Starter Kit
- Free Crochet Beginner Checklist
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What to Learn Next
Essential Crochet Tools for Beginners
If you're wondering what crochet supplies you actually need, start with these essentials.
1. Crochet Hooks
Let's start at the very beginning. Do you need 1 or 2 needles for crochet? Crocheting is done with one hook (unlike knitting, which uses two needles). Crochet hooks are the most important tool in your crochet kit.
Hooks come in all shapes, sizes and materials ranging from plastic through bamboo, wood and aluminium.
Hook sizes can be referred to as a letter (the US system uses this) or a circumference in mm (this is known as the metric system).
For beginners, a 5mm (H-8) crochet hook is usually the easiest size to learn with because it works well with medium-weight yarn and allows stitches to be seen clearly.
Look for:
- Smooth hook surface
- Comfortable grip
- Lightweight construction
- Easy-to-read size markings
Recommended Beginner Hook Size
- 5mm (H-8)
- 5.5mm (I-9)
These sizes work well for most beginner projects.
Did you know that there are over 30 different sizes for crochet hooks?
Yikes! But don't worry, there's an easy way to find out which is best for you as a beginner crocheter.
Now I know you hear that size isn't important in many conversations, but in terms of crochet, it definitely is!!
You see, yarn comes in a range of thicknesses, from the most delicate fingering weight yarns through to my faves, the super chunky yarns.
You can always tell which size yarn you have by looking at the label. It will give you a number from 1-6, where 1 is the finest fingering weight, and 6 is the super chunky yarns.
The yarn label will also tell you which hook size is recommended for the yarn you are hoping to work with.
It's important to remember, though, that this is only a recommendation; sometimes you may want a looser, more drapey project and prefer to work with a larger hook, or if you're like me, you may crochet quite tightly, so I often size up to a slightly larger hook than is recommended on the yarn label.
Alternatively, if you want to crochet something quite dense, like a dishcloth for instance, then a smaller hook may work better for that project.
You certainly don't have to have a full set of hooks to start crocheting. If you already have your yarn, then check the label for the recommended hook size.
This chart might help you when you are trying to work out which yarn you have and which size hooks are best to start with:
Crochet Hook Conversion Chart
So now you know what size hook to look for, the other thing is what material you might want to use.
The material you choose is really down to what you prefer to work with, although as you become more proficient, you might like to build a collection of hooks in different materials depending on the yarn you are working with.
The hook I would recommend for beginners is the bamboo hook, mainly because the fibres of the bamboo mean that it grips onto the yarn slightly, there's less slip on the hook, so you're less likely to drop your hook!
If you're just learning how to create the basic stitches, using a chunkier yarn also helps you to work out different parts of the stitch; you can see the stitches very easily, and it can help you to see where to insert your hook, which can be a bit difficult if you're using a finer yarn.
Next up in terms of price are acrylic hooks; these ones are kind of an intermediary hook, some people prefer these to the wood or the bamboo, just because they work slightly faster but not quite as fast as the aluminium.
I started my crochet journey with a basic set of aluminium hooks of different sizes, which range from teeny tiny 0.5 millimetre hooks that are used for working lace through to one of my most often used 6mm size.
You'll find with aluminium that the hook does slip quite easily through the yarn, so when you're just learning to work with your crochet, it can be a little bit slippery and you can lose your loops quite easily.
Eventually, as you become more proficient and work more quickly you may prefer to move to an aluminium hook because it does slip so much more easily and you can work faster.
Whichever material you decide to begin crocheting with, they're very cheap, so it's worth just having a little play around and see what you prefer.
2. Medium or Chunky Weight Yarn
Now the best bit!! Yummy yummy yarn, I can't get enough of the stuff :o)
So, if we're thinking of the best crochet tools for beginners, what type of yarn is best for crochet?
Not all yarn is beginner-friendly.
As we said before, yarn comes in a range of sizes (or diameters) from 1-6, and your label will tell you which you have - or which you should buy if you already have some hooks to play with.
A smooth, light-coloured worsted-weight yarn (or a chunkier weight) is the easiest option because stitches are easy to see and count.
Now, you may already have your hooks, and you know what size yarn you'll need, but what material should you choose?
Yarns come in such a HUGE range of materials, blends, textures, levels of durability and of course, price!
A quick search online and you'll find cottons, linens, bamboo, animal wool and man-made fibres, not to mention the infinite number of blends out there, so which yarn is best for a beginner crocheter?
As a newbie crocheter, don't go overboard with the fluffy, bobbly textured yarns until you're more confident with your stitching.
Most of the time you would choose a yarn depending on the project you will be working on so, for example, you may want a cotton or bamboo yarn for dishcloths, but you would want a softer easily washable acrylic for baby blankets.
The best yarn for beginner crocheters is a soft, smooth yarn that is not too slippery, so often man-made fibres work well and are less expensive to replace if you get knotted up!
Choose:
- Worsted weight (#4) or a thicker weight
- Acrylic or cotton blend
- Light colours
- Smooth texture
Avoid:
- Black yarn
- Fuzzy yarn
- Eyelash yarn
- Highly textured novelty yarn
3. Stitch Markers
Stitch markers help track stitch counts and identify the beginning of rounds.
You may need a stitch marker when you need your hook to start work on other projects, and these can be handy for marking the edge of your work as well.
If you're not sure where your first stitch is going to be when you turn your work, I would recommend just marking your first stitch with a stitch marker, so when you get to the end of the row, you know where to insert your hook.
Locking stitch markers are the best for crochet, as you want to insert the marker through your stitch to hold it. If you can't get your hands on stitch markers and you're itching to get going, then a safety pin works just as well.
They're also invaluable for inserting through your stitch if you have to put your project down for a while to deal with children/pets/couriers delivering more yarn, as it stops all of your hard work from unravelling.
Benefits:
- Prevent counting mistakes
- Help maintain consistent stitch counts
- Make learning patterns easier
They are inexpensive but extremely useful for beginners.
4. Small Scissors
Every crocheter needs a pair of sharp scissors for trimming yarn ends neatly.
Any scissors will do the job of snipping your yarn when you get ot the end of your project, BUT a small pair of craft scissors with a sharp end are perfect......and who can resist having a delicate little pair in their craft bag?
Or is it just me who smiles whenever I get them out? They're soooo pretty!
Choose:
- Compact size
- Sharp blades
- Comfortable grip
5. Measuring Tape
Crochet projects often require accurate sizing.
A flexible measuring tape helps ensure:
- Correct project dimensions
- Consistent sizing
- Better finished results
Once you're a pro at your stitches and have moved on to working on your first projects, you might see that the pattern mentions gauge.
Gauge is really important to make sure your finished project is the size you had hoped it would be when you've spent hours creating it... no one likes a scarf that would fit a Barbie doll (except Barbie, of course!)
A measuring tape will help you to ensure you are meeting gauge (essentially this means that your stitches are the same size as the designer's, usually measured in 4"/10cm square).
Personally, I prefer a soft fabric tape as it can be manipulated into whatever shape your project is to give you an accurate measurement.
Helpful Crochet Accessories for Beginners
Ok, so you've got your mid-size hooks, your yarn stash is taking over the spare room, and you keep finding stitch holders in between the sofa cushions, welcome to my world!!
Once you've got your essential crochet tools for beginners and mastered the basics, there are a few other bits and bobs that might make your crochet time easier or more enjoyable:
- Row counters
- Yarn needles
- Project bags
- Blocking mats
- Hook organisers
These tools aren't essential on day one, but can make crochet easier and more enjoyable.
Crochet Tools Beginners Can Skip
Many new crocheters buy too much too soon.
You do NOT need:
- Full hook sets
- Expensive blocking systems
- Yarn winders
- Swift systems
- Large yarn collections
- Premium specialty hooks
Start small and upgrade as your skills grow.
Common Beginner Crochet Mistakes
Avoiding these mistakes will help you learn faster.
Using Difficult Yarn
Dark and fuzzy yarn makes stitches difficult to see.
Buying Too Many Hooks
A single 5mm hook is enough for many beginner projects.
Crocheting Too Tight
Tight tension can make stitches difficult to work into.
Skipping Stitch Counts
Counting regularly prevents projects from becoming uneven.
Starting With Advanced Patterns
Begin with simple scarves, dishcloths or granny squares before tackling complex garments.
Budget Crochet Starter Kit
You can start crocheting for less than £20.
Basic Budget Setup
- 5mm crochet hook
- 1-2 skeins worsted-weight yarn
- Stitch markers
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
This simple kit is enough to complete multiple beginner projects.
Free Crochet Beginner Checklist
Before starting your first project, make sure you have:
☐ 5mm crochet hook
☐ Worsted-weight yarn
☐ Stitch markers
☐ Scissors
☐ Measuring tape
☐ Yarn needle
☐ Beginner pattern
Save or print this checklist before shopping for crochet supplies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size crochet hook is best for beginners?
A 5mm (H-8) crochet hook is often considered the best beginner crochet hook size because it pairs well with medium-weight yarn and produces stitches that are easy to see.
What yarn should beginners avoid?
Beginners should avoid black yarn, fuzzy yarn, eyelash yarn and novelty textures because they make stitches difficult to identify and count.
Do beginners need ergonomic crochet hooks?
Not necessarily. Many beginners learn successfully with standard hooks. However, ergonomic hooks can improve comfort during longer crochet sessions and may help reduce hand fatigue.
How much does it cost to start crocheting?
Most beginners can purchase everything they need for £15–£30 depending on the tools and yarn chosen.
Is crochet easier than knitting?
Many people find crochet easier to learn because only one active stitch is worked at a time.
What to Learn Next
Once you've gathered your crochet tools, continue your crochet journey with:
- How to Hold a Crochet Hook
-
Basic Crochet Stitches for Beginners
You'll build confidence faster by mastering these foundational skills before moving on to larger projects.
Final Thoughts
The best crochet tools for beginners are simple, affordable and easy to use. A quality crochet hook, beginner-friendly yarn and a few basic accessories are all you need to start creating beautiful handmade projects. Focus on learning the fundamentals first, then expand your toolkit as your skills grow.
Now then, shall we get on with some crochet?
Where To Next?
If you're ready to start your crochet journey or you just want to pick up some new skills, then head over to Crochet College so you can become a cro-pro in no time!
If you want to practice your newfound skills, then check out the easy crochet patterns I have written for you. I can't wait to see what you create!