It's no surprise that different crocheters prefer different hooks. Crocheters vary in how we hold a hook and what kinds of hooks work in our hand and with different fibers.
There are two basic grips, "pencil", where you hold the hook like a pencil, and "knife", where you hold it like a knife. Crocheters can be quite passionate on the benefits of each. I use a pencil grip for threads and soft yarns, and a knife grip for rug and basket making.
There is a bewildering assortment of hooks to choose from. Crochet hooks usually range in size from .5mm for fine lace making to 19mm for big blankets and baskets. Considerations include the shape of the hook, the relationship in size between the hook and the shaft, the length of the shaft, whether and where the shaft has a "flat spot" for orientation. Hooks are made from all kinds of metals, plastics, woods, bone and shell. They can be elaborately carved and decorated.
My own favorites:
Vintage steel hooks that have a long slender shaft to make it easier to make long lace stitches.
Vintage Susan Bates bone hooks, in sizes 1 through 6 (2mm - 4.5mm), that I use for fine soft threads and yarns, like silk.
Wood hooks in sizes I through S (5.5mm - 19mm) that were custom carved for me out of lightweight hardwoods with tapered shafts and plain handles that I use for yarns, twines and rope.
If I'm doing very tight stitches for baskets, hats, or sculptures, I sometimes use a #1 steel hook that I've wrapped with duct tape to make a fatter handle.
My favorite hook is a very plain, beautifully balanced size H ivory hook that my grandmother owned over eighty years ago.
:Hook sizing will make you crazy. The measurement refers to the width of the hook as you look at its profile. Many manufacturers and pattern designers now use metric sizing, but you may often find yourself working with an older pattern that recommends something like "size F hook, or size needed for gauge". Or wondering if a really cool hook on eBay will duplicate a size you already own.
Older U.S. steel hooks (for thread) are usually sized from size 00 (the largest) to 14 or 16 (the smallest).
Hooks for yarn are usually letter sized from A (the smallest) to Q (the largest).
Some vintage hooks for yarn are sized 1 (the smallest) to size 11 or more (larger).
A size H hook from one manufacturer will usually not be exactly the same size as another's H hook; there's a range of actual sizes that corresponds to each letter or number size. Here is a chart to help you:
Crochet Hook Sizing Chart
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Last Updated on 5/20/2002
By Judith Combs
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