Are Wooden Crochet Hooks Better? Pros+Cons You Need to Know

Crochet hooks seem simple on the surface, but any beginning crocheter knows they get complicated really fast. 

What size do you need? What brand? And, importantly, do you choose metal, plastic, or wood? 

In this post we’re going to dive into everything you need to know about wooden crochet hooks so that you can decide for yourself if they’re better than the rest.

Wooden crochet hooks are better for slippery yarn that’s prone to slipping off the hook. That said, the way the wood grips the yarn makes them hard to use on small, tight stitches. Wooden crochet hooks are lightweight and easier to hold, making them a good choice for those who struggle with manipulating their hooks. 

Personally, I have a collection of different types of hooks. That way, I can pick the right hook for the right project. 

This is REALLY important to keep in mind as we move through the pros and cons of wooden crochet hooks in this article. You may decide that wooden crochet hooks are better than the others, or you may not.

Or, like me, you may decide that they’re better for certain things, but not others. I believe that every type of crochet hook has its time and place depending on the project you’re working on.

Let’s walk through the pros and cons of wooden crochet hooks and you’ll see why.

The Pros of Wooden Crochet Hooks

The wood composition of wooden crochet hooks gives them a better grip on yarn than metal hooks, while not getting sticky, as is common with plastic hooks. Wooden crochet hooks are often comfortable to hold given their lightweight nature and smooth texture.

There’s a lot to like about wooden crochet hooks. Here are specific instances when I consider using them for my projects.

1. I’m using slippery yarn that needs slightly more grip

Wooden crochet hooks have a smooth, polished texture that plays nicely with yarn. When using slippery yarn, it offers just the right amount of grip.

With slippery yarns, metal hooks can be a challenge. You may find that your yarn is always sliding off your hook and not ending up where you need it to be. 

This can really slow down your work process and make crocheting less enjoyable.

With wooden crochet hooks, your yarn won’t won’t slide around as much. This isn’t great for stiff and coarse yarn, which we’ll talk about in the cons section, but it is great for slippery yarn that can’t seem to stay in the right spot on your hook.

If you ever find that your wooden crochet hooks are wearing out and getting too sticky, all you need to do is apply a little wax to them to liven them up again. 

By using wax, you can determine how “grippy” they are and how much they glide, which is a nice freedom to have.

2. I’m using a large hook and gauge

For reasons I’ll talk about in the cons section, I like to use wooden hooks for projects that are larger. Given that wooden crochet hooks are a bit stickier, it can be tricky to push them through smaller stitches.

I like how wooden crochet hooks navigate through larger stitches without any pushing or struggle.

3. I want a more comfortable crochet hook

Wooden crochet hooks are just…nice. There isn’t another word to describe them. They’re just nice. They feel smooth, lightweight, and soft.

Sometimes, I’ll choose a wooden crochet hook primarily because it feels good in my hands. As long as it works with the texture of my yarn and the stitch size I’m using, I can then prioritize comfort.

Alright, now that we’ve talked about my top 3 pros for using wooden crochet hooks, let’s talk about the cons.

The Cons of Wooden Crochet Hooks

Wooden crochet hooks may grip your yarn too much if the yarn is more stiff and coarse. This can make it tricky to move your yarn on and off your hook. Also, depending on the type of wooden crochet hooks you have, navigating them through smaller stitches can be challenging.

There are 3 cons that I think of when choosing a crochet hook for my next project. Here are instances where I wouldn’t use a wooden crochet hook.

1. My yarn is stiff and coarse

Wooden crochet hooks have more grip than metal crochet hooks. This makes them better for slippery yarns that tend to fall off your hook, but worse for coarse yarns that are tricky to move.

You don’t want to be struggling to move your yarn on and off your hook. Be aware that some yarns with more “grip” to them may be harder to use with wooden crochet hooks than you’d like for them to be.

2. I’m using small stitches and gauge

When I’m working on projects with smaller stitches and gauge, I like to use a crochet hook that glides more easily. Even if I’m using slippery yarn. That’s because I have a hard time getting my wooden crochet hook through my smaller stitches without it sticking too much.

I also tend to find that wooden crochet hooks have sharper tips at the ends of their heads. If this helps you get better at your crochet, that may be a perk.. Review the parts of the crochet hook, if you need to 🙂

If you look at the wooden crochet hooks I have, the tip comes to a sharp and rough point. With smaller stitches, I struggle with getting this point hooked on my yarn on accident, which just leads to mess and frustration.

Because of this, I find that I can’t use wooden crochet hooks on smaller projects without looking or paying extra attention to what I’m doing.

That’s why I like to stick to my metal crochet hooks when working on my smaller projects.

3. I don’t want to spend time on maintenance

To keep wooden crochet hooks in good shape, it’s a good idea to wax or polish them every 6-12 months. This will keep them in beautiful, tip top shape. 

Of course, this type of maintenance isn’t a big deal. It’s not like maintaining a car or something. That said, if you don’t want to wax your wooden crochet hooks every once and a while, it might be a reason to go with a metal or plastic hook that only needs to be washed if it gets dirty.

As you’ve seen in this article, wooden crochet hooks aren’t always better. There are certain cases where they’re better, and certain cases where they’re worse. 

It depends on your project and your needs. Whichever you choose, have fun crocheting!

Sharing is caring!