Crochet hooks - aluminium or bamboo or carbonised bamboo?

[PurpleFrog]

I have recently restarted crocheting again. I have a variety of odd hooks, most of which belonged to my mum. I have just been into town to get a 3.75mm hook but the local shop doesn't stock that size - they have "Pony" hooks and there is no mention of 3.75mm on the card. (I am using a US pattern.) So, I have looked on eBay, and for the price of about 3 individual hooks I could get a set of 12. So, what do people prefer - aluminium, bamboo or carbonised bamboo ? I have used aluminium, steel and plastic, but never bamboo.

FYI, the bamboo set are 3-10mm, the aluminium 2-8mm.

Thanks.

Am using my first bamboo hook for a ripple pram blanket and it's lovely - but it was quite expensive.

Until I treated myself to that, I've been using these - they seem fine for the granny squares etc that I tend to do.

Am sure Pony hooks say the size on the card though - how strange!

I will look at the reviews of the bamboo hooks on eBay before buying - £6.63 for the set of 12 from Canada seems pretty cheap!

I have now found the "Pony" website and they don't appear to do the 3.75mm size - here. It jumps straight from 3.5mm to 4mm.

I got these crochet hooks as a set for Christmas. I haven't used them that much (been knitting) but they are very comfortable to handle, much nicer than the ordinary aluminum ones. I haven't tried bamboo ones although I did get some free with a magazine but with my shiny new set I haven't tried them out. I was a bit worried that the hooks weren't that smooth but that maybe because they were just freebies and therefore not top quality.

Looks like these Clover ones come in 3.75mm

Thanks Niecie - I saw these in passing on eBay but didn't have a close look at them. Now that I see them enlarged, they do look nice to hold, especially if you are doing a lot at one time. I think I will get some to try.

My immediate 3.75mm problem has disappeared, as I decided just to do the straps of the bag I am crocheting with the 4mm hook I used for the bag itself and keep the tension fairly tight. In this case, the dimensions were not critical.

But it looks like I will have to splash out on some more hooks sometime soon. I don't have anything bigger than a 5mm hook, so I think I might get a set of carbonised bamboo ones to cover the large sizes - they look much nicer to use than the plastic ones. And, perhaps fill in the gaps I have left with the clover hooks?

Thanks again.

Does anyone else have any recommendations?

I don't crochet that much but my favourite knitting needle manufacturer makes crochet hooks too. knitpro

I've got quite a few of their needles and they are absolutely lovely to use.

Thanks everyone. I have now ordered a set of 12 carbonised bamboo ones from Canada via eBay. 9 of the 12 are sizes I don't already have. Once I have tried these I may fill in some of my remaining gaps with some of the other suggestions. I still like the look of the clover hooks.

Incidentally, I looked on Ravelry to see if I could find any recommendations there. It looks like it is a very personal thing, with different people preferring different things. I guess things like your individual grip and hand size play a big part in it. It also seems to be the case that some people change their type of hook depending on the yarn they are using, as different hook materials "grip" the yarn differently.... a good excuse to splash out on many different crochet hooks!

imho it depends what yarn you are using. For standard cotton etc bamboo works best but for rougher stuff like plarn or string aluminium is better.