Apr
okay so the clover amour hooks
I bought this set back in spring 2022 when I was working on like three blankets at once and kept losing my individual hooks everywhere. my cat would knock them under the couch and I’d be there with a flashlight at 11pm trying to fish out my 5mm hook because of course that’s the only size I needed right then.
The Clover Amour set comes with hooks from 2mm to 6mm I think? maybe it’s 10mm depending on which set you get. there’s different versions which is annoying because you gotta figure out which one actually has the sizes you use. I got the one that goes 3.5mm, 4mm, 4.5mm, 5mm, 5.5mm, 6mm because those are what I actually reach for when I’m making stuff.
what makes these different from regular hooks
The handle is this rubbery soft grip thing. it’s shaped kinda ergonomic I guess? fits in your hand weird at first but then you get used to it. the rubber part is color coded which honestly is the best feature because you can just grab the purple one and know it’s 5mm without squinting at tiny numbers engraved on metal.
I was making this baby blanket for my friend in summer 2024 using Bernat Baby Blanket yarn and my hands were KILLING me with my old aluminum hooks. switched to the amour hooks and could actually finish more rows without my hand cramping up. that yarn is so thick and chunky that it really tests your grip strength or whatever.
The actual hook part is metal. it’s super smooth, like almost slippery smooth. this is good and bad depending on what you’re working with. when I used Red Heart Super Saver it glided through really nice, barely any drag. but when I tried it with some cotton yarn I got from Hobby Lobby I can’t remember the brand maybe Lily Sugar n Cream? it was almost TOO slippery and stitches kept sliding off when I didn’t want them to.
the sizes and colors thing
Each hook is a different color which seems dumb until you actually use them. then you’re like oh okay I see why people like this. you start remembering “I need the teal one” instead of trying to read millimeter measurements. the colors are:
- 2mm is like a pink/mauve situation
- 3.5mm is blue I think
- 4mm might be purple? or is that 5mm
- honestly I mix them up sometimes but the point is they’re different
- the bigger sizes are green and orange-ish
they also have the size printed on the handle in white letters which actually stays readable. I’ve had hooks where that rubs off after like six months but these have held up.
using them for actual projects
so when you’re working on something the grip is comfortable but it’s also kinda thick? if you have small hands it might feel bulky. my hands are pretty average I guess and sometimes I feel like I’m holding a marker instead of a crochet hook. doesn’t really affect the stitching though.
I made a whole corner to corner blanket with the 5mm hook watching that show Severance which was wild btw highly recommend. used Caron One Pound in like cream or off white. the hook handled it fine for weeks of crocheting. the rubber grip never got sticky or gross which I was worried about because I’ve had other rubber grip things that get nasty.
one thing that annoyed me is the hook itself isn’t very long. like the metal part. if you’re doing tunisian crochet or anything where you need length forget it. these are strictly for regular crochet. I tried to do a tunisian stitch sampler and could barely fit like 15 stitches on the hook before running out of room. had to switch to a different hook entirely.
the throat depth or whatever it’s called
the hook has a pretty deep throat I think that’s what it’s called? the curved part under the actual hook tip. this means yarn doesn’t fall off as easy but also means you gotta kinda angle it more to catch the yarn. when I first started using them I kept missing the yarn or hooking it weird because I was used to my old boye hooks that have a shallower curve.
took maybe a week of regular use to adjust my muscle memory. now I don’t even think about it but that learning curve was frustrating when I just wanted to crochet and instead kept fumbling stitches.
specific yarn experiences
with Lion Brand Wool Ease these hooks are perfect. the yarn has a little grab to it and the smooth metal just lets it flow through. made a scarf in like four days because I could work so fast.
with Red Heart With Love also really good. that yarn can be kinda splitty sometimes but the smooth hook didn’t catch on the plies or make it worse.
with Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/4 which I ordered online thinking I’d make dishcloths it was too slippery. the cotton plus the smooth metal meant stitches would just slide around. had to tension my yarn tighter than normal which made my finger hurt where the yarn wraps around.
I also used them with some acrylic scraps I had, no idea what brand probably just whatever was on sale at Michaels over the years, and they worked fine. the hooks don’t really care what you’re using they just do their thing.
the case situation
the set comes in a little zippered case. it’s fine I guess. has individual slots for each hook so they don’t bang around together. the case is kinda cheap feeling like it’s not gonna last forever but it’s held up for two years now so maybe I’m wrong.
I don’t actually use the case anymore because I keep my current project hook in my project bag and the rest in a cup on my craft shelf. but if you travel with your crochet or whatever the case would be useful. it’s flat enough to fit in a bag without taking up tons of room.
comfort level for long sessions
okay so the ergonomic thing. I can crochet for like 3 hours with these without my hand seizing up. with my old hooks I’d get maybe an hour before needing a break. the soft grip definitely distributes pressure better or something I’m not a doctor but it feels better.
but and this is important the grip adds width to the handle. if you already have issues with hand pain or arthritis or carpal tunnel or whatever you might find the thick handle makes it worse not better. everyone’s hands are different. I’d recommend trying one single hook before buying the whole set if you have any hand problems.
there was this one time I was trying to finish a temperature blanket square a day project in december and my hand was so tired but I pushed through with the 4mm hook and honestly it was fine. a metal hook would’ve destroyed me.
durability questions
I’ve had mine for two years like I said. the rubber hasn’t degraded or gotten sticky. the metal hasn’t bent even though I’ve definitely dropped them on hardwood floors multiple times. the printing on the handle is still totally readable.
I did have one hook where the rubber grip started separating from the metal part a tiny bit? like I could feel a gap. but I just pushed it back down and it’s been fine since. might’ve been from temperature changes I keep my craft stuff in a room that gets cold in winter.
my cat chewed on the 3.5mm hook once and left little teeth marks in the rubber but it still works fine. the teeth marks are actually kinda helpful for grip now that I think about it.
comparing to other hook brands
I’ve used regular aluminum Boye hooks, some Susan Bates ones, and these Clover Amours. the Boye hooks are fine but plain metal hurts after a while. Susan Bates have that inline head shape which I never really got used to I prefer the tapered head style.
the Clover hooks are definitely more expensive than basic metal hooks. the set cost me like 35 dollars I think? maybe 40? you can get individual metal hooks for like 2 bucks each. but the comfort factor is worth it if you crochet regularly. if you only crochet once in a while maybe just get one or two individual hooks in the sizes you use most.
there’s also those Furls wooden hooks that everyone raves about but those are like 20 dollars for ONE hook which is just insane to me. I’m sure they’re nice but I can’t justify that when the Clover ones work great.
what sizes you actually need
honestly most people probably only need like three sizes. I use 4mm, 5mm, and 5.5mm for 90% of my projects. the 3.5mm I barely touch unless I’m doing amigurumi which isn’t often. the 6mm gets used for chunky blankets sometimes.
you can buy the hooks individually for like 7 or 8 dollars each I think. so if you only need a couple sizes that might make more sense than the full set. but I like having all the options even if I don’t use them constantly because then when I DO need that random size for a pattern I’m not scrambling to find it or order it online and wait.
the actual hook shape and how it works
the point is pretty sharp not like dangerous sharp but sharper than some hooks. this is good for getting into tight stitches. when I made a moss stitch blanket with Loops & Threads Impeccable from Michaels the sharp point helped me get under both loops without fighting.
but the sharpness also means you gotta be careful with splitty yarn. if your yarn tends to split easily a sharper hook can make it worse because it’s more likely to pierce through the yarn strand instead of going around it. I noticed this with some cheap acrylic yarn I got from Walmart the hook would split the yarn and I’d end up with messy stitches.
the throat is deep like I mentioned which creates really uniform stitches. all your loops end up the same size basically because they’re all sitting in that same curved spot. this is great for even tension but if you’re someone who likes to vary your tension for effect it might fight you a little.
learning curve stuff
if you’re switching from inline hooks to tapered or vice versa there’s gonna be an adjustment period. the Clover hooks are tapered style. your hands need to relearn where to position the hook and how to scoop the yarn.
I remember being frustrated for like the first two projects because my stitches looked different than usual. not bad just different. once I got used to it everything evened out. if you’re just starting crochet and these are your first hooks you won’t have that problem obviously.
random practical notes
the hooks don’t roll off tables as easy as round metal hooks because of the grippy rubber and the flattened handle shape. this is actually super convenient I used to chase hooks across my desk constantly.
you can’t use these in super hot environments because I imagine the rubber might get weird? I’ve never tried but it seems like it could get soft or sticky if it got really hot. haven’t had any issues with normal room temperature or even sitting outside crocheting in summer.
they’re lightweight which is nice for travel but also means they feel kinda insubstantial compared to all metal hooks. not in a bad way just different. sometimes I want that heavier solid feeling and sometimes I want lightweight and easy.
the color coding is genuinely more useful than I expected. I thought it was just a gimmick but now when I’m reading a pattern and it says 5mm I automatically reach for whatever color that is without thinking. saves time.
things that annoyed me
the set doesn’t include really small sizes like 2.25mm or really big sizes like 10mm or 12mm. so if you do thread crochet or super bulky yarn projects you’ll need other hooks anyway. kinda defeats the purpose of having a complete set.
also the sizes jump by 0.5mm in most of the range but some patterns call for weird sizes like 3.75mm and then you gotta decide if you’re gonna use 3.5mm or 4mm and hope it works out. not really the hook’s fault but still annoying.
the rubber grip can pick up lint and fuzz from yarn over time. not a huge deal but sometimes I notice my purple hook has little fuzzy bits stuck to it and I gotta pick them off. takes like two seconds but it’s mildly irritating.
I wish the case had a spot for scissors or a yarn needle or something. it’s just hooks. would be nice to have an all in one storage solution but whatever I can use a separate pouch.
sometimes when I’m crocheting really fast the rubber grip can feel a tiny bit sticky against my skin? not like actual sticky but just more friction than bare metal would have. usually only notice it if my hands are warm or slightly sweaty which sounds gross but like it happens when you’re crafting for hours.
would I buy them again
yeah probably. they’ve lasted well and made crocheting more comfortable. if I lost the set tomorrow I’d rebuy it or at least get the individual sizes I use most.
but I’d also tell someone that if they’re happy with their current hooks there’s no urgent need to switch. these are nice but they’re not like revolutionary or gonna suddenly make you a better crocheter. they’re just comfy hooks that do the job well.
if you’re getting hand pain definitely try them. if you crochet multiple hours a day definitely worth it. if you crochet casually like an hour a week maybe not necessary unless you just want to treat yourself.
the price point is mid range not cheap but not luxury expensive either. reasonable for what you get especially since they seem to hold up longterm. I’ve definitely wasted money on cheaper hooks that I ended up not liking and replacing so spending a bit more upfront for something decent makes sense.
