Pros and Cons of Popular Brands [Tulip, Furls, Clover] // Craft Diaries Podcast BONUS Episode

[@elizabethm193]

I own the clover, soft touch as well and they are my number one crochet hooks to work with. They are super lightweight and smooth on the yarn.🤗🤗🤗

[@Tish_Ann77]

I so wish clover amour would make their bigger hooks with the same material as their regular range!

[@meemamakes]

Me too! So annoying

[@wisedakotabear2784]

Me too

[@youllbemytourniquet]

Same!! Although out of all the plastic hooks, they’re definitely the best ones I’ve tried.

[@TheKiwibirder]

Agree!

[@terid3569]

They do make them bigger in 🇺🇸

[@preciousbeautyj1043]

I love the Clover Amour and the Prym hooks, I also have Furls which I like also but my absolute favorite hooks are the Ommi, love, love love, have no problem with them whatsoever. Most of their hooks are resin, a few wood but none are plastic. I clean all my hooks b4 using them to get rid of residue from manufacturing. (Alcohol, warm soapy water, an old tshirt or wax paper, any of them work) Good review.

[@meemamakes]

I still haven’t given the ommi ones a try but I definitely will after your comment! Thankyou ❤️

[@sixfourtyfive]

Isn't resin a kind of plastic anyway?

[@michellewerries7433]

I like your ranking. Absolutely love Clover Amour. But, it's too bad you don't have access to Susan Bates. The in-line hook is wonderful and in the Luxite or Crystalite plastics, they are cheap and great to work with. They are on Amazon. When I was teaching crochet I would buy them for students.

[@tashinamccullough5954]

Wonderful tutorial! Thank you for doing this review on crochet hooks. I also prefer the tapered hook vs inline.

[@rowanhughes8682]

Absolutely agree 🌟 I switched to clover amour and couldn't beleive how much I'd been struggling before. Super glidey ✅ It's strange that the smaller sizes have a smaller handle 🤔 makes no sense at all, but luckily I never use a hook size smaller than 4mm! Thank you for this enjoyable comparison video.

[@meemamakes]

I know, it’s so weird about the handle sizing and defo agree on realising the struggle before using them’

[@geoffashden2]

You are so right! I have always struggled with even tension but after using the Clover Amour hooks, it has transformed the quality of my crochet.

[@darthlaurel]

Tulip Etimo are the hooks I grab when I am having trouble with a hook on a project. I often start with a different hook, but if I'm struggling at all, I grab my red Etimo hooks. Also from time to time my Clover Soft touch. And then there is my set of Susan Bates Soft Ergonomic....I'll stop now. I find the metal Furls a bit too large for my hand though I like the few I have.

[@marceqteje55]

I’m fan of Tulip and Clover Soft Touch, I have other,but rarely use the

[@retrotrix15]

This is perfect timing, thank you! I've told my husband i would like a new fancy set of crochet hooks for christmas but haven't yet decided which ones to go for. So far I've only worked with the cheap colourful metal ones from Amazon and a set of Aero hooks inherited from my Nan. The aero ones are really smooth and nice but don't have the ergonomic handles and I'll only use those in the house for fear of losing/breaking them if I'm taking projects on the go x

[@meemamakes]

I’m so glad this helps and I’m sure it’s given your hubby some great gift ideas. I see hooks as an investment so makes sense to get the ones that work best!

[@rebeccassmith4640]

I have tried these and a few more and my favorite is hands down the Furls Streamline Resin Hook. I think getting accustomed to them is much like how you learn to bowl with gutter guards in place. And then you learn to bowl without the gutter guards in place. Furls, without the thumb rests and stop guards, are like learning to crochet without the gutter guards in place. When I try to use slimmer hooks my hand starts hurting and then hurts for days. I can use a Furls Streamline Resin all day and they don't hurt at all. I think, because we are all different, that each person has their own favorite and that's okay. It is does keeps more folks in business that way. Thank you for spending the time to review and inform and for all you do for the crochet community.

[@natalies9602]

Thank you for finally talking about how some crocheters(me included) roll the hook with your hand to make efficient stitches!!!🎉….flat crochet hooks like the clover soft touch do not work for me…however, I’ve seen many pencil holders that like them.

[@meemamakes]

I find myself rolling more and more recently, it definitely takes the strain off my wrist

[@scwheeler24]

Also and what most crochet reviewers miss to mention is the way you hold the hook. It seems most hooks are made for those who grip it like yourself and not for pencil type holders. Most pencil holders don’t turn their wrists or the hook. Just a thought. I’ve also found I prefer a shorter neck hook when using a single stitch and longer when using double or triple. A lot depends on those factors.

[@gerrieschreurs-scholtens3376]

It's amazing to see how personal hook preference is. I know Clover Amour is (one of) the most popular crochet hook. But not for me. The handle is too short for my liking and it leaves me with painful hands. My hook is the Addi Swing. My stitches are even and neat and I can crochet for long periodes at a time without pain in my hands.

[@AWovenSoul]

Furls are close to $100 Australian for a single hook. For that much money, they'd want to crochet by themselves. I would never pay that much for a single hook. I just can't see the justification for it. Plastic is a no, too...as you said, the squeak lol I've just started buying vintage steel hooks...tulip & aero. The quality is way better than anything on the market today, though finding larger sizes is harder.

[@mysteriousdays]

I am a ride or die Clover Amour girl and am considering getting a back up set in the red color eventually. I started with a budget ergonomic set and the basic aluminum stick hooks and switched within a few months of really getting into crochet, as a reward for completing a big goal (and getting a deal off of Amazon). I am considering trying one of the Furls hooks because I’m curious at the inline style of hook, but I don’t need a ton and don’t want to switch from the magic of the Amours. I do also have a cheap set of plastic hooks in 12, 15, 18, 20, and 25mm that I got for a project and I’m not a huge fan of them, but they did their job and I have no intention to ever use them again tbh.

[@lorrifreitas4344]

A very thorough review, thank you! I have to say though, probably much comes down to how you crochet. My absolute favorite is Furls resin and their metal hooks. I love the long fat handle (no hand cramps!) and the long neck. I haven’t tried the Prym hooks though, may give them a try.

[@meemamakes]

I’ve used a furls streamline for a blanket recently and they are my new go to for chunky crochet! I like them much better than the odyssey

[@LeahElisheva]

I was on the Furls website I was looking at their metal hooks. Quite expensive but they look quite nice. I’m thinking about getting one of their blanket kits to try, which comes with a metal hook The blanket I was looking at comes with a 6.5mm hook. They send the yarn and email digital pattern. Have you ever tried them? I was just curious. Thanks 😊 ** I haven’t found a 10mm hook for chunky blankets yet that I like, so I may just splurge and go with the Furls metal and try it out.

[@squitten.]

I only have 1 clover amour. It’s a 7mm (literally the only 7mm in the store why is this size so hard to find?) and for whatever reason they made this one of plastic instead of metal. However. It is the smoothest plastic I ever ever had the pleasure of using. I used it to make a top out of sugar n cream yarn (100% cotton, very stiff) and it didn’t even squeak. It slid through like butter. It was absolutely magical. Unfortunately I don’t have a lot of applications for a 7mm hook, but every time I do I jump at the chance to use it. My favorite hooks though, are the loops&threads ones from Michaels. I just adore the handle shape, the metal is so smooth, and they are extremely affordable. I love love love them. I may get more clover amours eventually. But I do have a very similar set already from when I first started. They’re fine. I still use them all the time, but they just don’t compare to L&T hooks in the slightest. Maybe the metal will be better from the name brand, but the handle is exactly the same and it’s nowhere near as comfortable as the L&T handles. I don’t know if you have michaels in the UK, but if you do I cannot recommend these hooks enough and I suggest you give them a try. I don’t know if they’ll beat the amours for you, but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed either! Loved this video, very comprehensive. PS: I can’t stand inline hooks either. They snag on everything. I don’t know how anyone can use them!

[@meemamakes]

Unfortunately we don’t have Michaels or any of your craft store chains over here. We just have Hobbycraft and local stores. With the clover amour 2-6mm are brushed aluminium, 6.5 are plastic. I have not tried the plastic ones but I will definitely give them a go on my next chunky project after reading your comment. Thankyou so much!

[@lindaallen4288]

I love the Clover Amour hooks as I can crochet longer without pain in my hands

[@meemamakes]

They are amazing hooks

[@charliecormack1545]

Great video - however have to disagree on Pony - absolutely love them for the glide.... used them for years until I discovered clover red 😁

[@veroniquecastel9582]

Clover armour gets my vote :)

[@themathomhouse]

I just found your channel looking for a UK crochet hook review - apparently we have the same hands!! I was not aware that hitchhiker's thumb was what I had, I honestly thought that everybody's thumb bent like that. I have only my 4mm pony hook (purchased to learn to crochet from a local shop the day before our first lockdown started), one of the aluminium sets, and an "ergonomic set" from Amazon. I've bought a Sirdar hook after watching your video, it was so helpful to help me choose a better hook! I want to do some experimenting to figure out what I like. I'm tempted by the lantern moon set - mostly I want their tunisian hooks, but their regular hooks are also just so pretty! I probably won't like to crochet with them, but at least they will look nice on my shelf hahaha

[@Sarah_bagsofhistory]

I bought my clover amour in America and I’m looking at 2.0mm hook (lime green one) and the 5.5mm (dark green like in your video) and I can tell you they are exactly the same length. I checked all the metal hooks I had unfortunately I’ve mislaid the orange one but I have all the rest all the metal hooks are the same length regardless of size. I did not check the micro hooks because well I never use them once you get to 6.5mm though they are plastic which I don’t like and each size goes up in length. So possibly try buying amour hooks from the US and seeing if the handles are different. One other thing I noticed one day I had two lime green hooks exactly the same colour but one is 2.0mm and one is 2.25mm it explained an issue I had once where the hair wig did not fit my dolls head by a very tiny amount. When I went to Amazon to replace my missing orange hook I found the same thing orange comes in 3.0 and 3.25 maybe all of them do I haven’t checked but something to be careful of.

[@sarahjs]

Thank you for this amazing and comprehensive review of so many type of crochet hooks. I agree on the Clover Amour but for larger gauge, they sadly do not make metal. I'm making a blanket with double strand of 4 worsted and am using a 7mm. It could go L but I've found 7 to be good for this project. I am using a Prym hook at the moment and really like it. However, since the hook is longer so it's starting to irritate the skin at the edge of my palm, about an inch up from my wrist. I think I'm going to have to order a 7mm Clover but it's plastic. Anyhoo, thanks again for a helpful video! 😊

[@sandygrogg1203]

I don’t like plastic Cook either. However, the exceptions are the beautiful large.Clover crochet hooks. I really didn’t think I would like them, but they glide through the yarn like butter and they’re very comfortable to hold. They are the only plastic hook I would ever use. Most of the others are just too grippy.

[@carpediem.9]

I am a total clover amour girl too absolutely love them 🤍🤎 in fact I only have an almost full collection of clover amour hooks and several Furls resin hooks, I don't even want to buy any more other brands because I am satisfied with my clovers so much. I almost always go to my clovers and from time to time I use the Furls just because they are pretty to be honest haha I only have several resin ones and one wooden hook from Furls but I would have to agree with you they do catch the yarn compared to my clovers that just fly through ANY yarn. What I found helps with less yarn catching with the Furls, when I crochet with them I use a bit of a different technique than with the clovers, I try to hold only that fat part and I roll and turn the hook if that makes sense :)

[@psjz]

I love my Clover amors. I have also made Fimo handles that echo that shape. The hand made grips are stiffer. Won’t use a plastic hook. I also don’t like the wood hooks, mainly because with out a flat spot, I keep spinning them. I won’t use an inline hook. And I also have hitchhikers thumb. 29:55

[@meemamakes]

Good to know about the grips being stiffer, Thankyou! Did you make them yourself? Was it difficult?

[@psjz]

@@meemamakes Yes. It was easy. Bake flattened side down. I anticipate making more with a silicone blend. I think they will be more comfortable. I will let you know.

[@tinasmith9967]

I hold my crochet hook like a pen, and I love my pony soft grip hooks, they have longer shafts from the handle, I do have clover hooks, not the type you have in your video, that hook reminds me of a millward hook, which is way too short for myself. I also have prym hooks, which I can't use. Thank you for showing us the hooks that are out there and that you use ❤😊

[@meemamakes]

I did want to talk about pencil grip but I didn’t feel experienced enough to comment as I can’t crochet with a pencil grip, only knife! I have seen the pony ones with the soft grips, they seem to be made of a different metal so I wonder if they would “glide” better 🤔

[@elizabethburnett2486]

I have all three of them

[@hittingthewall]

I just placed an order for a J/6mm Clover Amour hook and am really curious to see how smoothly it glides. I never graduated myself to better hooks, and my fave-size J hook is made of bamboo and sticks something awful, so I think it's about time I started investing in better materials. Thanks for the video, it was very informative. :)

[@meemamakes]

I do hope you like it!

[@fayeanderson5893]

I have clover amore, and Tulip etimo are better than clover. Will try prim ergonomic hooks.

[@Jill703]

My favorite hooks are the Tulip hooks I got last year. They’re charcoal gray with brushed golden aluminum hooks. You wouldn’t like them because there is a dent for the humb.

[@hsiaolinwang3606]

Great reviews! I thought I am the only one dislike Furls hook. I am so frustrated as they keep catching the yarn. Tulip is my favorite, but they don't make size above 6.5mm. Do you have recommendation for hook size >= 7mm? Thanks.

[@meemamakes]

I’ve actually given the streamlines a proper go with a blanket recently and I like the ebony ones. It was no where near as “catchy” as the smaller sizes. Other than that I just used the coloured aluminium ones as I don’t do much chunky crochet

[@vanessaolinger3901]

I love pony hooks, but I like the Tunisian version.

[@DOSBoxMom]

The KnitPro Waves hooks remind me a lot of the Clover Soft Touch hooks, but with a softer handle.

[@xyzetc1150]

I would never buy another Knitpro item - they were my first hooks and the coating on the handles started to peel off so quickly - really poor quality. I moved on to Clover Amour and Tulip Etimo Red and have never looked back. I wish I could combine the comfort of the Clover Amour grip (for me) with the amazing silky smoothness of the Etimo Red hook though - that would be my dream crochet tool 😊

[@LeahElisheva]

I cannot believe how different it feels when I crochet with clover amour. It shaved off minutes for each row of my blanket. Far superior- slides into the yarn like butter. Doesn’t snag. Works like a dream! Yes. So comfortable - like an extension of my hand. I find the Furls to be completely overrated - I learned with Susan Bates aluminum- they always hold a special place in my heart- but… they can snag occasionally… - and the drag is noticeable when comparing to clover amour. But they are a Fantastic value and definitely recommend for beginners to see if they even enjoy crocheting. Once you get into it and crochet all the time, then I suggest upgrading to clover amour. - I agree where the tapered part of the hook and the wide spot where you put your thumb is much too close together. What a lovely comprehensive review thank you so much!

[@meemamakes]

Yay another Clover Amour fan and glad you enjoyed the video! I agree with everything you said although I've not tried Susan Bates before

[@DOSBoxMom]

I've used the KnitPro/Knitter's Pride Waves hooks, and found that they're too heavy in the larger sizes (pretty much anything beyond 7mm). I love my Laurel Hill wood hooks, and have a LOT of the Furls Streamlines (both wood & resin). For a larger hook (10mm is one size I use a lot), I like the Furls Streamline, Clover Amour (they come with resin hook tips in those sizes), or an inexpensive bamboo hook (lightweight, and it's not that hard to sand any rough bits smooth).

[@darthlaurel]

I have a couple Laurel Hill and do like them.

[@MsSaka100]

Why did Clover decide to make those flat hooks so ugly? 😂 For me, part of the enjoyment of crochet is the esthetics of the hooks. My favorite Clover Amour and Tulip Etimo hooks not only feel good, they are pretty! 😊

[@meemamakes]

Yes this is so true!

[@bungan7197]

I bought Clover Amour set, but used the G size much longer than the other. Problem is at the beginning of the handle (the one that touch the actual hook) there is white stuff appearing and the surface of the handle becomes not so smooth. Like insect bite marks, but very small in size. Has anyone experienced a similar problem?

[@meemamakes]

I think you may have a faulty or broken crochet hook there. It might be worth sending a photo to the seller and asking for a replacement.

[@maggiecritchley7282]

The simple hook of the 70’s. Perfect. Still use today.

[@triciabarone7829]

I spent the ridiculous amount of money on the Furls and I hate them. Clover Amour, Tulip Etimo red and pink and the We Crochet Dots are my faves.

[@Mel-sj3sd]

Clover forever. I wanted to love furls, but I don’t think they lived up to the hype. They’re too sharp and the lack of taper was a pain. So it’d split the yarn, then I have to use extra “umph” to pull the yarn through. Hard to explain. And the hook is too deep. They’re beautiful but not worth over $20... and the 4mm odyssey I got was so heavy. Not comfortable at all. Addi no bueno, Boye no bueno, Susan Bates definitely no bueno. For my “flow”, clovers are the Goldilocks of hooks for me. Not too sharp not too deep not too wide. Tulips are close second, but the hooks aren’t quite as deep and I sometimes would drop my loop.

[@meemamakes]

Forever grateful I found clover hooks ❤️

[@patpowell6684]

Loved this review and completely agreed with you about the Clover Amour though I recently started to notice that if I crocheted for longer than normal my hand started cramping. I’ve an older hook that I’d tried with a beech wood handle (I love all things wooden) that I loved the handle very much but the hook was not good! I told my husband that if only l could combine the wooden handle with the clover amour hook I’d be in heaven….and I found just that on Etsy 🎉the ones I got have a rose wood handle shaped like the odyssey and the hook is the clover amour and I am in heaven. Custom tax and VAT took me by surprise but I will never have to buy an other hook because I splashed out and bought the full set.

[@meemamakes]

Omg this sounds PERFECT!!! Can you link it for me?

[@Ghellia]

You are showing only one plastic Pony hook and none of their metal teflon coated ones which are quite good in terms of weight, gliding and tapered heads.

[@sixfourtyfive]

She said she has a similar opinion about their metal hooks. I like them too though, they slide really well! The only downside is they catch the yarn quite often because they have a sharp edge.

[@shahsaeed5993]

Please make Bavarian stitch on crochet

[@Karen-uo3ep]

Do you find the Clover hook shorter than other brands? Does it make a difference for you?

[@PandoraBear357]

Plastic hooks aren't bad. Neither are uncoated wood. If you have a looser tension and use a lot of slippery yarns, they are very good.

[@meemamakes]

Definitely agree with this!

[@ishiidanne8922]

what's funny is that i am using a plastic hook rn and im working with polyester and yes, i am fighting for my light right now lmao

[@normanshadow1]

Please, Clover make a rounded handle. I like to roll my hook rather than twist my wrist so much.

[@dozergetscrafty]

I use regular old boye hooks. I have no issues. Don't see why I would ever pay so much for a hook. I'd rather save my $ for a nice yarn.