5 Must-Have Crochet Materials for Beginners

Ready to try your hand at crochet?

We know you’re excited to run to the craft store ASAP. But before you start filling your home with all the yarn you can possibly fit, let’s take a moment to talk about the beginner crochet materials worth having.

In this blog, we go over the basic supplies you need, plus some other materials you might find useful.

Let’s get started:

Basic Crochet Supplies for Beginners

If you’re absolutely new to crochet, you’ll want to have these supplies on hand:

Yarn

Yarn is first on our list of crocheting materials for beginners for a reason—you can’t crochet anything without it.

Choosing yarn is also the funnest part of starting a new project. Personally, we can spend hours just picking out ado-wooble color combinations.

But when you’re working on your first crochet creation and see shelves lined with every type of yarn imaginable, your excitement may transform into terror.

So how do you avoid being driven knots by all the variety? Consider the following:

• The project you’re making
• Fiber content (translation: what the yarn is made of)
• Weight (how thick the yarn is)
• Length
• Texture
• Care instructions
• Availability, just in case you run out and need to buy more

If you want beginner-friendly yarn, you can’t go wrong with our special Easy Peasy yarn. It doesn’t fray or split, so it’s forgiving when you make mistakes. Plus, it’s available in 13 different colors like Happy Ever Lavender, Leaf It to Us, and What’s Up Buttercup. You can grab it as part of our Easy Peasy Beginner Bundle or buy it solo.

Crochet hooks

Another thing every crochet supplies for beginners list needs is a trusty crochet hook. Like yarn, you’ll find all kinds of hooks online or at your local craft store. There are plastic hooks, bamboo hooks, steel hooks, aluminum hooks—you name it.

Each material feels different in your hand. Aluminum hooks glide like a dream through most yarns and feel lightweight. Bamboo and other wood hooks have a warm feel and are great for natural fibers, while steel is perfect for more intricate work.

Besides material, other characteristics you want to look at include:

Hook size

Thicker yarn needs a larger hook, while a thinner hook is recommended for finer yarn. Hook sizes are classified according to letter (for example, B or H) or number (e.g., 3.5 mm or 6.0mm).

Grip

You might prefer a longer or shorter handle, a thicker grip over a thinner one, or a specific material. And if you’re looking for something ergonomic, you might want a hook with a rubber grip. It’s all a matter of preference, so try holding hooks at a physical store to find out which one feels the comfiest in your hand.

Head

Crochet hooks can have tapered or inline heads. A tapered hook is more rounded and puts less strain on your hand and wrist. This can make you crochet faster. On the other hand, an inline head has a sharper tip, which helps you create uniform stitches.

Pro Tip: If you’re still not sure which hook size to get, check out the yarn label or the crochet pattern you’re following for guidance. These usually suggest a hook size.

Scissors

You can go with the all-purpose scissors already in your drawer, or if you want to be a little extra, you can get a pair designed specifically for embroidery. It’s up to you. What matters is that your scissors are comfortable and can make accurate cuts. You’ll be using them a lot, after all, to cut yarn for your projects.

Stitch markers

Next on the list are stitch markers.

As you can guess by the name, stitch markers mark sections of your pattern. These babies make it easier for you to remember where you left off and how far along you are. They’re available as split rings, clip-ons, and even charms.

To use a stitch marker, all you need to do is slide it under a specific stitch, or “horizontal V” as we like to call them over at The Woobles, move it as you make progress, and then slide it out once you’re done using it. Easy peasy.

Read more: How to Use a Stitch Marker in Crochet

Tapestry needle

You’ll need a tapestry needle to connect separate pieces, secure loose yarn ends, or touch up some stitches. The needle has a blunt tip so it doesn’t hurt your yarn (or you!). It plays a big role in helping your crochet project look more polished.

Bonus: Optional Supplies

Once you start feeling more experienced with crochet, you may want to look into adding these supplies to your collection:

Row counter

Want to keep track of how many rows you’ve done? Use a row counter. It saves you the hassle of counting from scratch and helps your creation stay uniform throughout.

You don’t even have to spend a dime on one since there are digital row counter apps you can download on your phone or tablet. But if you like to keep things old school, go ahead and buy one!

Blocking mats

You may not need blocking mats if your focus is on amigurumi. But if you’re crocheting a blanket or onesie for your friend’s baby and want your work to look flat and professional, you’ll be glad to have them on hand.

Think of blocking mats as foam puzzle pieces you can arrange and reshuffle based on your project’s shape. After assembling the mats, you can lay your work on them and start manipulating it. You can secure the project using pins once you’re satisfied with how things look.

Needle threaders

This actually depends on the yarn you use.

Our Easy Peasy yarn doesn’t fray, so it’s super easy to work with and you won’t need a needle threader at all. But if you’re working with thick yarns or yarns prone to fraying, you’ll want one in your life. You can save so much time using it to get the yarn through the needle instead of using your bare fingers.

Conclusion

With these beginner crochet materials in tow, you’ll have everything you need to get started on your crochet journey.

But if you want to make things easier, why not go for a crochet kit? It’s the perfect way to learn. Every Woobles kit comes with a needle, stuffing, stitch markers, safety eyes, a hook, and the right amount of yarn. Best of all, we include detailed instructions so you’ll be guided every step of the way. Grab yours now.

FAQ

What are the 5 basic crochet materials?

The 5 most essential crochet materials for beginners are:

• Yarn: What you’ll be crocheting with
• Crochet hooks: What you’ll use to loop the yarn
• Scissors: To cut the yarn
• Tapestry needle: Helps you weave loose ends
• Stitch markers: To help you keep track of your progress

What type of yarn is best for beginner crocheters?

The best crochet yarn for beginners is our Easy Peasy yarn. It’s versatile, comes in all sorts of fun colors, and gives you the perfect amount of thickness, but the main reason we recommend it is because it’s specially made for crochet newbies.

What is the best beginner crochet hook?

The best hook for a newbie Woobler like you is one that’s simple to use and feels comfortable in your hand.

Crochet hooks with soft handles are popular since they’re easier to grip and reduce hand pain. As for the hook size, a good rule of thumb is to pick one that complements your yarn’s weight. An H-8 5mm hook, for example, usually works well with worsted weight yarn while jumbo yarn will need a S-35 19mm hook.

If you’re working on an amigurumi project though, you’ll want to go down a size to make your stitches tighter. Start off by trying a hook that’s about 0.5mm-1.mm smaller than what’s written on a yarn label.

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