I learned to crochet with a pencil grip as well. But stopped crocheting for almost two decades because I would get hand cramps and my hand would go numb too. That is until I rediscovered crochet recently and retaught myself to do the knife hold! It made all the difference and now I don’t have any issues at all. I started with Susan Bates hooks, which I still love for certain yarns but about 95% of the time, I’m using Clover Amour hooks.
Exactly!And it is way more relaxing as a procedure to crochet with a knife hold!Love it!Same as you,I started with the pencil grip and had the same issues
I am a crocheter with 60 years experience. I started off with metal hooks because then there wasn't anything else. Then came Prym with a plastic handle and that was very nice to work with. These days I work with a look-a-like tulip hook that was so cheap that it's almost embarrassing and it works just as a real tulip. I crochet a lot and have no fatigue in my hand despite having artritis. So , it's not a good thing to buy the dearest hooks but there is nothing against it either if you can afford it. My hooks cost 2€ for three in small sizes and for two in bigger sizes also 2€,
I have the clover amour and the tulip etimos and while the clover are great the tulip etimos are the best.I love them!I have the pink ones and one in black that I could find the size in pink
Hi Irene! So are the tulip etimos gray ones the same as the pink? (Or is their a slight difference...besides the obvious: color. lol 😂) (i.e., handle texture, bumps on handle, hook-finish, etc.)
i would hold out for a good price on the Clovers, as you will definitely upgrade if you spend on a lesser quality.. better to get accustomed to hooks less likely to cause fatique and/or injury. i found Amours recently on Amazon for $40,,, that's only 4 dollars per hook! I stopped my project after noticing fatique working with cotton yarn, waited for the Clovers to come, and what a difference! get good ones, their worth it!
Thank you for this review. I was trying to decide which to get first, the cheap set or one clover. I'll still get the cheap set. And maybe put a little glue in the handle. But first I'm getting one clover from the fabric store. 😊
I like the clover hooks. My husband bought me a set of the wood streamline furls and I still reach for clovers. They pretty much glide through almost every yarn.
I never advise a beginning Crochet to start out with the Chiffy hooks. This is because I want their experience to be the best possible, and that means using a quality hook. I would start them out on a clover, or a tulip. I recommend starting out With an H hook, or an eye, because they are the most often recommended sizes for weight yarn. One good hook can make all the difference. I bought my clover for more hooks one or two at a time, until I have all the sizes that I wanted. I bought my tulip set when it was on sale. My hands are very small, so I definitely prefer these hooks. They fit comfortably in my hand, and work well with most yarn.
I have been eyeing the clover amour hooks. I do have the Amazon specials in two sets, and i rather like them. I have one clover soft touch, but haven't used it in over a decade. I think i may give it a go on my next sport weight project. It's a 4mm which is my favorite. I still dont feel as if i would like to part with $50 for a hook set, but everyone is just raving about the amour. Gonna watch more videos....lol! Taks for the content!!😊
You have to try to know which one suits you. I like handle and colours of Clover Amor but the head of Tulip etimo is better, especially for amigurumis.
Thanks for the review. I do love my tulips and I prefer the Boye type hook heads and use the pencil grip. I have not yet tried the clovers. Would like to find a longer shaft hook for multiple loops since the original alum Boye hooks do fatigue my hand.
Thank you very much for this review and comparison! I would like to ask if the rubber on the Clover hooks (either on the Soft Touch or the Amour hook) became sticky or tends to become sticky... I have a Prym hook with a hard plastic handle, but it had a rubber layer on it to make it more comfortable. After 3-4 years this coating became very sticky and I had to do something with it, because I hated to use it. Fortunately I managed to rub it off with rubbing alcohol, so I can use it now. But this is why I try to avoid such rubbery things, be it a crochet hook or a computer keyboard and mouse... Thanks a lot in advance for the answer!
I love my Clover Soft Touch hooks. I tried the Amour but the rubber grip is too thick when I use it with the pencil grip and the rubber handle tends to rub against my hand creating a rash. And when I use it with the knife hold the rubber handle feels too harsh and I do not like the rubber texture in my hands. I tried to love the Amour as everyone seems to love it but it’s not for my small sensitive hands.
I love my clover amore hooks. I don't mind tulip and I'll grab one of those if my dogs got my hook and I'm waiting for a new clover to come in the mail lol. I was also a pencil grip until I started learning Tunisian crochet. Now I'm a knife grip and I can't go back!
Bar none Tulip is the best hook....i am very picky about my hook Clover is another favorite...same smooth as butter glide but i like the tulip handles better...if you crochet once you try these 2 you won't go back....
Hello, well I bought the clover armour set of hooks and started my project. I love it but the green handle is twisting as I work…is this normal? Thank you in advance for any info you can provide. 🙂
Have you tried any wood or bamboo hooks? I find bamboo hooks to be especially nice in the larger sizes (10mm & up), because aluminum hooks (even with ergonomic grips) get too heavy in those sizes. Alternatively, those Clover Amours do also come in the larger sizes, but with resin hook heads instead of aluminum.
Die hard amour user here. I've looked at other hooks and I can't justify them over my amours. I've looked at Tulip and they seem similar to amours but just more expensive. I have bought the 6.5mm hook from them tho. That one is still aluminum instead of plastic.
I tried clover amour, tulip etimo and cheap ergonomic, did not try clover soft touch. My favourite and the most comfortable for me so far is the clover amour, tulip etimo is not the best for me but I find it very good quality would highly recommend it if the clover amour is not an option. The cheap knock off ergonomics is not good or comfortable at least of me, it’s just a little better than the old style metal hooks with no handle, I try to avoid using those like never ever, I pencil hold the crochet hook. Thank you, your video review helped me before trying the amours and the etimos.
Hi again. By chance, do you know if the gray Tulip hooks are the exact same as the Pink series of Tulip hooks? (body style, handle texture, etc..) Just wondering if you've ever tried the pink ones...and how they compare...other than the color difference. Thanks.😊
Ny advice to beginners is ti buy one goid hook.. A Clover Amour H-8 is a great choice, You will love how it feels in yiur hand, and yiur experience wok=ll be better, Son;t waste your money in the cheap hooks.
My inexpensive Amazon hooks are just fine. Unless you are crocheting with stainless steel wire, I don't think the tensions involved would cause the handle to loosen. My Amazon hooks came with a storage pouch. Apparently, you are not familiar with #0000 Steel Wool to address scratches on your hooks -- which mine do not have. I agree with you regarding Boye vs. Susan Bates style hook design. I returned everything I got from Walmart, including the wooden hooks, and upgraded to the Amazon hooks. Once I determine which hook size I use the most, I may try one Clover hook -- to see if the sun rises and sets on one of those hooks.
I disagree that beginners should buy cheap, no name…or store brand…hooks. Those hooks could totally turn a beginner off… My suggestion would be to buy one good hook…A Clover H-I would be perfect yo learn on. C;overscare sooo comfortable, light, and they glide through yarn… Thiscway, the beginner will have a much more pleasant first experience.
I really do NOT recommend that beginners buy cheap ergonomic hooks… That’s because their first experience with crocheting will not be as pleasant as it couid be. If yiu can afford only one or two hooks, buy a Tulip, or a Clover..,or one of each..in different sizes… it’s so important to use the best tool you can afford … Don’t waste your money on cheap lookalikes…
![Pros and Cons of Popular Brands [Tulip, Furls, Clover] // Craft Diaries Podcast BONUS Episode](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Th9Bb1zAqPU/mqdefault.jpg)
![Pros and Cons of Popular Brands [Tulip, Furls, Clover] // Craft Diaries Podcast BONUS Episode](/img/tr.png)
![Reviewing EVERY Tunisian Crochet Hook (That I Own) [YARN SNOB REVIEWS]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_nD9W2lgne4/mqdefault.jpg)
I learned to crochet with a pencil grip as well. But stopped crocheting for almost two decades because I would get hand cramps and my hand would go numb too. That is until I rediscovered crochet recently and retaught myself to do the knife hold! It made all the difference and now I don’t have any issues at all.
I started with Susan Bates hooks, which I still love for certain yarns but about 95% of the time, I’m using Clover Amour hooks.
Exactly!And it is way more relaxing as a procedure to crochet with a knife hold!Love it!Same as you,I started with the pencil grip and had the same issues
I have the Clover amour and the tulip etimos and while the clover are reaaly good and ergonomic and fine,the tulip etimos ones are my favourite!
I love my Clover 🍀 soft touch it is super smooth and lightweight 🙂🙂🙂
I am a crocheter with 60 years experience. I started off with metal hooks because then there wasn't anything else. Then came Prym with a plastic handle and that was very nice to work with. These days I work with a look-a-like tulip hook that was so cheap that it's almost embarrassing and it works just as a real tulip. I crochet a lot and have no fatigue in my hand despite having artritis. So , it's not a good thing to buy the dearest hooks but there is nothing against it either if you can afford it. My hooks cost 2€ for three in small sizes and for two in bigger sizes also 2€,
I tried the cheap ones, look alike, and there REALLY is a difference. Real Tulip etimo and Clover are better.
I have the clover amour and the tulip etimos and while the clover are great the tulip etimos are the best.I love them!I have the pink ones and one in black that I could find the size in pink
Hi Irene! So are the tulip etimos gray ones the same as the pink? (Or is their a slight difference...besides the obvious: color. lol 😂) (i.e., handle texture, bumps on handle, hook-finish, etc.)
@@sylvia4425it's the same. I bought the grey gold ones, great. I bought 1 pink, the handle is hart. Pink set is more expensive.
i would hold out for a good price on the Clovers, as you will definitely upgrade if you spend on a lesser quality.. better to get accustomed to hooks less likely to cause fatique and/or injury. i found Amours recently on Amazon for $40,,, that's only 4 dollars per hook! I stopped my project after noticing fatique working with cotton yarn, waited for the Clovers to come, and what a difference! get good ones, their worth it!
Thank you for this review. I was trying to decide which to get first, the cheap set or one clover. I'll still get the cheap set. And maybe put a little glue in the handle. But first I'm getting one clover from the fabric store. 😊
I like the clover hooks. My husband bought me a set of the wood streamline furls and I still reach for clovers. They pretty much glide through almost every yarn.
I have never tried Furls. I am a little skeptical that they live up to the hype... And I don't like in-line hooks. 🤷
I never advise a beginning Crochet to start out with the Chiffy hooks. This is because I want their experience to be the best possible, and that means using a quality hook. I would start them out on a clover, or a tulip. I recommend starting out With an H hook, or an eye, because they are the most often recommended sizes for weight yarn. One good hook can make all the difference. I bought my clover for more hooks one or two at a time, until I have all the sizes that I wanted. I bought my tulip set when it was on sale. My hands are very small, so I definitely prefer these hooks. They fit comfortably in my hand, and work well with most yarn.
I have been eyeing the clover amour hooks. I do have the Amazon specials in two sets, and i rather like them. I have one clover soft touch, but haven't used it in over a decade. I think i may give it a go on my next sport weight project. It's a 4mm which is my favorite. I still dont feel as if i would like to part with $50 for a hook set, but everyone is just raving about the amour. Gonna watch more videos....lol! Taks for the content!!😊
You have to try to know which one suits you. I like handle and colours of Clover Amor but the head of Tulip etimo is better, especially for amigurumis.
Thanks for the review. I do love my tulips and I prefer the Boye type hook heads and use the pencil grip. I have not yet tried the clovers. Would like to find a longer shaft hook for multiple loops since the original alum Boye hooks do fatigue my hand.
I started with Primn then Knitpro hooks, they are both rounded, so I soon ditched them for Clover and anything with a thumb grip I hold it like a pen.
Thank you very much for this review and comparison! I would like to ask if the rubber on the Clover hooks (either on the Soft Touch or the Amour hook) became sticky or tends to become sticky... I have a Prym hook with a hard plastic handle, but it had a rubber layer on it to make it more comfortable. After 3-4 years this coating became very sticky and I had to do something with it, because I hated to use it. Fortunately I managed to rub it off with rubbing alcohol, so I can use it now. But this is why I try to avoid such rubbery things, be it a crochet hook or a computer keyboard and mouse...
Thanks a lot in advance for the answer!
I love Clover Amour hooks.
I’m a clover armour user. I’ve tried just about all types, I crochet loosely and the clover are just Devine.
I love my Clover Soft Touch hooks. I tried the Amour but the rubber grip is too thick when I use it with the pencil grip and the rubber handle tends to rub against my hand creating a rash. And when I use it with the knife hold the rubber handle feels too harsh and I do not like the rubber texture in my hands. I tried to love the Amour as everyone seems to love it but it’s not for my small sensitive hands.
I love my clover amore hooks. I don't mind tulip and I'll grab one of those if my dogs got my hook and I'm waiting for a new clover to come in the mail lol. I was also a pencil grip until I started learning Tunisian crochet. Now I'm a knife grip and I can't go back!
Impressive that you switched. I have not heard of people doing that very often.
Bar none Tulip is the best hook....i am very picky about my hook Clover is another favorite...same smooth as butter glide but i like the tulip handles better...if you crochet once you try these 2 you won't go back....
Hello, well I bought the clover armour set of hooks and started my project. I love it but the green handle is twisting as I work…is this normal? Thank you in advance for any info you can provide. 🙂
*Hi. I just subbed because you are phenomenal with explaining things. I like your teaching style.* 👍😊
You're so sweet!! ❤️😊 Thanks your your support Sylvia!
Have you tried any wood or bamboo hooks? I find bamboo hooks to be especially nice in the larger sizes (10mm & up), because aluminum hooks (even with ergonomic grips) get too heavy in those sizes. Alternatively, those Clover Amours do also come in the larger sizes, but with resin hook heads instead of aluminum.
Die hard amour user here. I've looked at other hooks and I can't justify them over my amours. I've looked at Tulip and they seem similar to amours but just more expensive. I have bought the 6.5mm hook from them tho. That one is still aluminum instead of plastic.
My favorite hooks are also the Clover Amour hooks.
I tried clover amour, tulip etimo and cheap ergonomic, did not try clover soft touch.
My favourite and the most comfortable for me so far is the clover amour, tulip etimo is not the best for me but I find it very good quality would highly recommend it if the clover amour is not an option.
The cheap knock off ergonomics is not good or comfortable at least of me, it’s just a little better than the old style metal hooks with no handle, I try to avoid using those like never ever, I pencil hold the crochet hook.
Thank you, your video review helped me before trying the amours and the etimos.
I am so glad this was helpful Alshimaa! I don't like the knock offs either. They just don't glide well or feel good to use. 🤷
Does the length of the clover hook bother you. They are shorter than other hooks, but are great hooks.
Hi again. By chance, do you know if the gray Tulip hooks are the exact same as the Pink series of Tulip hooks? (body style, handle texture, etc..) Just wondering if you've ever tried the pink ones...and how they compare...other than the color difference. Thanks.😊
I own both sets, and they are the same besides the color.
Ny advice to beginners is ti buy one goid hook.. A Clover Amour H-8 is a great choice, You will love how it feels in yiur hand, and yiur experience wok=ll be better, Son;t waste your money in the cheap hooks.
I do love a good crochet hook myself.
I found them very catchy
I want a Tulip handle with a Clover Amour hook head!!
Tulip etimo reds
For me the opposite. Etimo heads are better
I’m interested in seeing the metal prym hooks. The plastic prym hooks are not ideal, they flex way too much.
Thank you shopping now.
My inexpensive Amazon hooks are just fine. Unless you are crocheting with stainless steel wire, I don't think the tensions involved would cause the handle to loosen.
My Amazon hooks came with a storage pouch.
Apparently, you are not familiar with #0000 Steel Wool to address scratches on your hooks -- which mine do not have.
I agree with you regarding Boye vs. Susan Bates style hook design. I returned everything I got from Walmart, including the wooden hooks, and upgraded to the Amazon hooks.
Once I determine which hook size I use the most, I may try one Clover hook -- to see if the sun rises and sets on one of those hooks.
I disagree that beginners should buy cheap, no name…or store brand…hooks. Those hooks could totally turn a beginner off…
My suggestion would be to buy one good hook…A Clover H-I would be perfect yo learn on. C;overscare sooo comfortable, light, and they glide through yarn… Thiscway, the beginner will have a much more pleasant first experience.
I really do NOT recommend that beginners buy cheap ergonomic hooks… That’s because their first experience with crocheting will not be as pleasant as it couid be.
If yiu can afford only one or two hooks, buy a Tulip, or a Clover..,or one of each..in different sizes… it’s so important to use the best tool you can afford … Don’t waste your money on cheap lookalikes…
How about hamanaka brand for beginner? Have u tried them? Because they are more cheaper with 2 in 1 size.