I have this Tulip Sucre Bead Crochet Hook set for awhile. I bought it when I had the “lace crochet” phase, when I wanted to crochet using threads. But it’s really meant for crochet pieces that have bead works.
I got a chance to go to Vietnam last November. Husband was there for work so I had some time to roam the city on my own alone. This was not a planned trip for me so I had no expectation or set some “101 things to do.” So with no particular itinerary, I naturally went looking for a yarn shop the first time I was alone.
But first coffee…
Unlike in Hanoi, finding yarns in Da Nang was closed to nothing. The google search results were useless. It was purely out-of-luck that I stumbled on a small stall among the hundreds of stalls in Con Market.
Con Market is like a public market or “tabo sa banay” or bazaar place where you can find detergent powders to underwears, party favors, along side with fruits, vegetables, meat, etc.
Unlike the shop I found in Hanoi, Vietnam, there was nothing much new type of yarns in the shop in Da Nang, Vietnam. There is the milk cotton yarn, the fingering-weight cotton I really love (which I hoarded a bit back in Hanoi), the soft acrylics, and wool (which I’m not really sure because the store staff could not converse in English, as well as I could not do Vietnamese). I noticed that milk cotton yarns is really abundant in Vietnam.
But it’s just so hard to resist so I picked out a few of the fingering weight yarns, few acrylic (or maybe they’re wool), and a big crochet hook (size 6). The crochet hook reminds of the black special edition of clover.
Quick review on the hook: This actually feels nice and light. It’s so light that it feels like it’s hollow, and I’m afraid that it might easily get bent when a strong force hit it. But it’s really nice. The black color is cool but the downside is it can be hard to find the hook when being used especially when it’s used with dark color yarns. I got this for 15000VND (which is around 30Pesos) so it’s not that bad. =)
For those who wanted to visit this yarn store in Da Nang, Vietnam, following is the address. The yarn shop owner gave me her “receipt” as her business card, so I have reference when I need to find her again.
To celebrate my discovery, I got myself a legit streetside dining. =)
I think this was Mi Quang. Mi Quang is pho equivalent of Da Nang, Vietnam. If it’s your first time in Da Nang, please don’t make the mistake of finding pho; look for mi quang instead! =) Pho is Hanoi’s specialty.
So I’ve been really wanting a Tulip Etimo crochet hook set. I have only one, a 2.5mm. And, it’s one of my petty biggest regrets of my crocheting career (more details about it later in this post)…
I’m kinda desperate of getting a set of Tulip Etimo but I just cannot justify spending that much for yet another set of crochet hooks when I already have more than enough (from my mother’s). But there are ways of getting them for “free” (sort of). So I’m always on the lookout for Tulip crochet hook giveaways. There’s this one instagram account, @byhaafner, who has promo from time to time, which I always joined but never have the luck yet. Her last giveaway promo was a fun one because she it required submitting a “tulip inspired crochet item.”
This way my entry, a crochet Tulip Mandala (pattern design by @trollgarnet). This is my first mandala, and it’s actually fun to make.
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So now on my to crochet hooks, I’m going to share here my crochet journey, my favorites, and what works for me.
The first batch of hooks I bought; I got over excited! @.@ When I bought them, I did not know a thing about crochet. I was buying it for my mother. So I was really not particular with it except that we opted to for big hooks because my mother’s right arm was a bit wonky when she had a stroke years ago. Big hooks were easier for her to handle.
I got this from amazon online when a friend had a shipment. I just picked those hook sets with low prices.
SUSAN BATES Fan.
Anyhow, When I started learning to crochet, the biggest problem is the “tension.” I ended up with tight stitches that it’s just hard to crochet on top of it because I could no longer find the “stitch holes” and it’s just generally difficult to “poke” the holes.
But Susan Bates kind of solve the super tightness of my stitches. That’s when I learned that the tip of the hooks have different designs: inline vs the taper hooks. Susan Bates and Lion brand hooks are inline.
It was Susan Bates for me for quite some time until I tried amigurumi. Susan Bates hooks usually give a looser even stitches because if you look at the tip of the hook, it’s even from the throat to the tip. Amigurumi is better with very tight stitches, the smaller the “holes.”
I picked up one of those other generic hooks I got for the mother (the one on the left side of the photo below). Maybe I was not using it the right way, there was just no connection between me and that hook unlike Susan Bates. But I got not choice, so I just made use of it.
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I highly recommend Susan Bates for the beginners, and for those wanting to relieve their very tight tensions. It’s also one of the hook brands which are available locally.
Generic Double-Ended Hook
I forgot to bring a hook one time but I got yarns so I bought from a craft store this double-ended hook. It’s kind of a “copycut” of a the classic Tulip double-ended hook (I noticed later).
And, I was pretty surprise, crocheting amigurumi using this feels way better.
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This hook feels comparable to the branded ones I got except that it does not have the ergonomic grip. Just make sure when you buy one to double check the head and shaft of the hook (tip) is smooth. Sometimes with generic hooks, the tip is not smoothly even out. It’s still usable but it would split the yarn from time to time. (Anyhow, you can find some online sellers selling the original Tulip double-ended hook, and it’s very affordable like almost the same price as the generic ones.)
Lazada-bought Plastic Crochet Hooks
NOOOO!!! Just don’t bother with it even if the colors are just so fancy. These were pretty useless.
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Boye Crochet Hook
I just do not have connection with it. I got 2 sets of this. The first one was I bought it for the mother, and gave it away. Then, the second one was a gift so I could not give it away. I really tried liking it but we’re just not meant to be. I guess it has to do that its hook’s tip are extra larger; I need some extra effort of pulling it out from a stitch.
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Clover Amure vs Tulip Etimo Crochet Hooks
So when I was in the amigurumi phase, I kept looking around what were other amigurumi crocheters were using. And, it’s always Clover hooks they would recommend. I don’t know if they were sponsored or not.
Clover
Anyhow, I went for Clover Amure hook set, then I bought one Tulip Etimo to try it (I think the color made me do it.). Honestly, the Clover Amure feels like the generic double-ended hook except that it has this fancy “rubber” grip. But no regrets.
Tulip Etimo
When I bought them, I was clueless with hook sizes. When I picked up the number 4 of Tulip Etimo, I thought it meant 4MM. But the #4 was more of a label, and I should pay attention to the other number which was 2.5MM (the actual size of the hook).
So when I got the Tulip, I was not able to use it right away because I’m worsted yarn user. I only got to use it later when I finally tried the mercerised thread. And, I fell inlove with Tulip! There’s that certain glide that I’m only able to experience in Tulip. It just feels like extra smoother!
That’s when I realized my biggest petty regret. I should have not let the blogger reviews swayed me too much. Anyhow, no regrets with the Clover Amure.
PRYM Crochet Hook
I bought it because I want to have the 4.5 and 5.5mm sizes (because I had no idea about the hook sizes when I got my previous ones so I missed out to buy the set with the 4.5 & 5.5. Boo me!). Just like Boye hooks, there’s just connection between I and the hooks. The packaging says it’s for “wool” yarn though that can be the reason why.
On a more specific note, it’s tip / head is slightly bigger than the clover or the generic hooks so there’s that need of extra wiggle to pull it out from a stitch. So I just can’t slide my way in and out of a stitch. But if you come from the Boye camp, using Prym crochet hooks might not be a big problem.
CLOVER SOFT TOUCH Crochet Hooks
As I said, I lack the 4.5 and 5.5 mm sizes. I was not so happy with the Prym. I found a Clover hooks in 4.5 and 5.5mm at a lower price from The Attic Yarn & Craftery. I think from the local online sellers, they have the slightly lower prices of branded hooks (Correct me if I’m wrong).
When it comes to the “feels,” I think there’s no difference between Clover Amure vs Soft Touch. But I love the gold color of Clover Soft Touch compared to the boring silver color of Clover Amure. It looks so classic and romantic when the gold color of Soft Touch is with a classic yarn color too. It just feels cooler to the eyes.
On the grip handle, I could feel there’s an extra “turn” with the Clover Soft touch because it has a rectangle-ish shape, unlike with the round handle of Amure which you can just roll it in your hands. But it’s unnoticeable though for me.
Yabali Crochet Hooks
I bought this together with the Clover Soft Touch to maximize using the shipping fee. I just use the 2.5mm because I’m scared using any thing smaller size than that.
I think this is the first steel hook that I get to really use. And, surprisingly I love it! =) I realized that there’s a certain “classic” feel when I use the steel hook.
Generic Double-ended Steel Hook
To make up for not winning the Tulip giveaway, I bought these when I stumbled on it when I was buying fabrics my kids’ uniforms.
These are steel hooks I think, and they’re actually good except that the tip / shaft of these hooks have some tiny extra bits, not evenly smooth out. I really forgot to check on that.
To summarize my thoughts all over this post:
1. Susan Bates hooks if you’re a beginner who is struggling with very tight tension. But I believe that tension gets better with more hooking whatever crochet hook we’re using.
2. If you’re confused between Tulip and Clover, get both! @.@ Kidding! I think you should pick Tulip Etimo. If you don’t like the Tulip, you can give it to me. @.@
3. Branded or generic crochet hooks? I love having them all. @.@ On a serious note, when you get the generic hooks, make sure to check shaft / head of the hook to be smooth, no rough edges. The pricier Japanese brands really have that slight good feeling in using them that it might improve your experience crocheting so it’s not that all a waste to get them. But as they said, “It’s not with the arrow; it’s the Indian.”
4. With crochet hooks and yarns and crochet patterns, I could say that I’m CONTENTED not being contented. @.@ I want to have them all and more, but I will never have them all; and that’s fine that I will always be pining over having them. @.@
