Types of Crochet Hooks: Inline vs Tapered, Metal vs Bamboo, and When Ergonomic Is Worth It

There are two things that make one crochet hook different from another: the shape of the head (inline or tapered) and the material and handle (aluminium, steel, bamboo, plastic, or an ergonomic grip). Size matters too, but size is set by your yarn. Type is set by your hands, and that is the part most beginners never get told about.

If you have ever wondered why a friend's hook feels so different from yours, or why your hand aches after twenty minutes, this guide is for you.

Inline vs Tapered: The Head Shape

Look closely at the tip of any hook and you will see one of two designs.

• Inline hooks (often called Bates-style) have a head that is the same width as the shaft below it. The throat, the little groove that catches the yarn, is cut straight into the shaft, so the whole thing looks flat and even from the side.
• Tapered hooks (often called Boye-style) have a rounder head that sits a little wider than the throat, which then narrows before widening again into the shaft.

Neither one is better. They just behave differently:

• Inline hooks tend to make very consistent stitch sizes, because every loop slides up onto the same diameter. Many people who crochet tightly, which is most amigurumi makers, find them easy to control.
• Tapered hooks tend to glide in and out of tight stitches more easily, because the rounded head eases into the stitch before the full width follows. People who "scoop" the yarn with a rolling wrist often prefer them.

The honest answer on which to choose: whichever one you learned on usually feels right, and switching can make your stitches a touch looser or tighter for a few days. If you swap hook types mid-project, check your stitch size against the rounds you have already made.

Hook Materials, Compared

The material changes how the yarn slides, how warm the hook feels, and how much it weighs in your hand.

• Aluminium: the most common beginner hook. Smooth, light, inexpensive, and quick. Yarn slides easily, which is great once you are confident but can feel slippery on day one.
• Steel: used for the tiny sizes needed for crochet thread and lace. Very strong at very small diameters. You will rarely need one for amigurumi.
• Bamboo and wood: warm to the touch and slightly "grabby", so stitches are less likely to slide off. Popular with people who find metal too slippery or cold. Thin wooden hooks can snap, so they are best in medium and larger sizes.
• Plastic and resin: light and usually found in the big sizes for chunky yarn. Some have more drag than metal, which can slow you down with cotton yarn.

For amigurumi specifically, a smooth metal head is the usual favourite. You work tight stitches into dense fabric, and a head that slides cleanly makes every stitch a little less of a push.

Ergonomic Hooks: When the Handle Matters

An ergonomic hook keeps a normal head but adds a thicker, softer handle. That extra width spreads the pressure across more of your fingers instead of concentrating it where you pinch a thin metal shaft.

An ergonomic handle is worth it if:

• Your thumb or index finger aches after a short session
• You grip harder when you concentrate (almost every beginner does)
• You live with arthritis, carpal tunnel symptoms, or stiff hands
• You want to crochet for an hour or more at a time

It matters less if you only crochet in short bursts, or you already hold the hook loosely. Even then, many people find that once they have tried a soft grip, a bare metal hook feels uncomfortable to go back to. If hand comfort is a big factor for you, our gentle guide to crochet with arthritis or stiff hands goes into pacing and warm-ups as well.

Your grip style also plays a part. A chunky handle suits the knife grip naturally, while pencil grip holders sometimes prefer a slimmer, tapered handle. Not sure which grip you use? See knife grip vs pencil grip.

Other Hook Types You Might See

• Tunisian hooks: long, like a knitting needle with a hook on the end, for Tunisian crochet where many loops stay on the hook at once. Not needed for amigurumi.
• Double-ended hooks: a hook at each end, used for specific colourwork techniques.
• Interchangeable sets: one handle with swappable heads in different sizes. Handy for travel, but the join can loosen over time.

As a beginner, you can safely ignore all three until a pattern specifically asks for one.

So Which Hook Should a Beginner Buy?

Start with one good hook in the size your yarn asks for, not a 20-piece set. For medium (worsted, number 4) yarn in amigurumi, that usually means a hook around 4 mm. Our beginner hook size guide explains the sizing in detail, and yarn weight numbers explained covers the yarn side of the match.

Then use this quick checklist:

1. Size matches your yarn (check the yarn label).
2. Smooth head with no rough spots or seams that catch the yarn.
3. A handle you can hold loosely for 30 minutes without aching.
4. Inline or tapered: try both if you can, then stick with the one that feels natural.

One helpful note for lefties: hooks are not handed. Any hook works in either hand, so there is no such thing as a "left-handed hook" to hunt down. What left-handed crocheters do need is instruction filmed from their side, which is why our kit lessons are filmed in both right-hand and left-hand versions rather than mirrored.

What Comes in a Yon Crochet Kit

Every Yon Crochet beginner kit includes an ergonomic hook matched to the kit's yarn, so you can skip the hook aisle entirely. It is a 4.0 mm hook with a smooth metal head that slides through stitches without splitting the yarn, and a soft grip shaped to sit comfortably in your hand. If you want a spare for your project bag, or you already have yarn and just need the hook, the Ergonomic Crochet Hook 4.0 mm is also sold on its own.

Once your hook is sorted, the next skill is reading what a pattern is asking you to do with it. Our free Pattern Trainer teaches crochet notation right in your browser, no account needed to start. Still choosing a first project? Browse our beginner crochet kits, or find more answers in the FAQ.