Buy Crochet Supplies and Yarn Online 

A fun, relaxing, and relatively low-cost hobby, crochet has become a popular crafting activity throughout Australia. Perfect for keeping the mind and hands busy, crochet is fairly easy to learn, and comes with the added benefit of allowing you to create all kinds of functional items, including garments, accessories, and toys.

If you’re just learning to crochet, read on to find out about the crochet supplies you’ll need to get started, and how, with the right materials, you can go from beginner to pro in no time! 

Getting Started with Crochet: Supplies and Materials

Good news for beginners on a budget, there are very few materials you’ll need to get started with crochet. Here are the ‘must-have’ crochet supplies we recommend:

• Crochet hooks: these come in a range of sizes and are often made from plastic, bamboo, or aluminium.
  
• Crochet yarn: popular crochet yarn fibres include cotton, wool, bamboo, acrylic, recycled fibres, and even jute for non-wearable items.
  
• Scissors: your scissors may just become your best friends, so make sure they’re comfortable, sturdy, long-lasting and clean-cutting. You may wish to purchase a large pair for thicker yarn, as well as a small pair for delicate and more precise cutting.

If you haven’t purchased any crochet supplies yet, we recommend starting off with a crochet kit. Containing all the tools and materials you’ll need, these kits come with a beginner crochet project to help you master the basic techniques while creating your own, DIY crocheted item.

We have a range of beginner crochet kits for making cushions, bags, rugs, and even cuddly toys.

A Beginner’s Guide to Crochet Hook Sizes

Crochet hook sizes are determined by the diameter of the shaft in the area between the hook and the flattened section where your thumb sits.

Depending on the manufacturer, you may find your hook sizes are labelled using numbers and letters, or metric units. This can become confusing if your pattern uses a different system of measurement to your crochet hooks. At Riot Art & Craft, all our crochet hooks are labelled using the metric system.

For your convenience, we’ve included this handy guide to hook size conversion.

• 25mm = B/1
• 75mm = C/2
• 25mm = D/3
• 5mm = E/4
• 75mm = F/5
• 4mm = G/6
• 5mm = H/8
• 5mm = I/9
• 6mm = J/10
• 5mm = K/10.5
• 8mm = L/11
• 9mm = M/N-13
• 10mm = N/P-15

Which Crochet Hook Size to Use

If you’re a crochet beginner, we suggest you start with a ‘middle-of-the-road’ crochet hook.

A 5mm (H/8) hook is a great beginner tool as it’s comfortable in the hand, and easier to manoeuvre than very small or very large hooks. We recommend using this crochet hook with 4-ply worsted weight yarn.

You’ll find that the size of your crochet hook should somewhat correspond with the size of your yarn. A finer crochet yarn, for example, should be paired with a finer hook, whereas chunkier yarn should be paired with a larger hook. If you find that your stitches are too loose, you’ll need to move down a hook size, so you may wish to consider purchasing a set of hooks to cover most of your bases.

Please note that very large or very small hooks can be harder to master.

What’s the Difference Between Crochet Hook Materials?

Crochet hooks can be made from a variety of materials, some of which are more comfortable to use than others. Here are the most common crochet hook materials and their properties:

Aluminium

The most common and widely available type of crochet hook, aluminium hooks are very durable, and are a popular option for beginners as the yarn slides smoothly over the hook surface. However, some people find aluminium to be uncomfortable in the hand, leading to wrist strain, so they may not be suited to everyone

Plastic

A popular and low-cost option, plastic hooks come in a wide range of sizes, and are lighter in the hand, making them ideal for beginners and people who are prone to wrist strain or carpal tunnel syndrome.  

Bamboo

Lightweight, comfortable in the hand, and less slippery than plastic or aluminium, bamboo hooks are a great option for those who find that their yarn regularly slips off their hooks.

Ergonomic

Long hours of crocheting can result in wrist strain and hand pain. That’s why some manufacturers have developed ergonomic hooks with large, soft handles that are more comfortable to hold. These hooks are specifically designed to help minimise strain.  

Share Your Crochet!

If you’ve just completed a project with our fantastic range of crochet supplies, we want to know about it. We love seeing what our customers can do with our art and craft supplies, so if you’re planning on sharing your work on Instagram, don’t forget to share it with us too!

Simply tag @riotartandcraft on your creative posts to let us appreciate your gorgeous creations