I am a crocheter. I most use aluminum hooks (I like the smoothness and durability; don’t need to worry about them getting broken when stuffed in tote bags and banged around), second hooks of various woods (I like the naturalness, historical aspect; do worry about taking my more expensive wood hooks away from house due to possible damage out in the world). I do not like plastic hooks, although do own some in larger sizes (above K) (they are not as smooth, can get scratched and snag on yarn, don’t feel as comfortable).

Regardless of the hook material, I always prefer the type of hook shape that is found on the Boye brand hooks (this hook style is called a non-inline hook, as opposed to the Bates type of hook which is called an inline hook).

I prefer wooden needles. I find them the easist to use to controll the yarn and keep the stitches even.

I like my Surina needles for knitting, or the bamboo I love Knitting..I have tried the plastic but they are slippery & bend over time with heavy projects. I like the teflon coated metal crochet hooks by Susan Bates…smoother than regular metal & more durable than plastic. However you cannot find the real large hooks other than plastic.

I prefer metal crochet hooks for all projects. I have used metal and bamboo for knitting and feel I have better control/tension on my yarns with the metal. I do like to try differnt things though!

Metal for everything, always.

I’ve been knitting/crocheting 49 years (learned at age five!), and the plastic needles have never been any good for me.

We’re ALL correct — our choices are part of what makes US crafters.

For me, I need to feel the needles in that metallic way (hope that makes sense). I usually make things with size 2 to 4, so plastic needles can break in my tighter grip.

Susan Bates always — the heads are much different than Boye and work excellently for my crocheting style, yet I have always loved both Boye and Susan Bates circular knitting needles — excellent products, both!

The Susan Bates greyish-Teflon needles (can’t think of the name!) are wonderful, but the very small multiple sock needles slip out of my grip; here’s where the Boye product works better for this arthritic.

Plastic knitting needles and crochet hooks? As my late mother, she who infected me with the joyous gift of CRAFTING, always said, “FEH!”

I got a big splinter from the only bamboo knitting needles I ever bought and never looked back again. Suppose they’re much better now, but…

Tunisian/Afghan hooks MUST be metal, preferably Boye for the aluminum.

And what’s with not being able to get instruments in colors/multiple colors in metal like the old days? Now they use one color for each size. There was a REASON we bought needles for different-colored projects: contrast.

I tried those bright plastic crochet hooks in the kit and didn’t like the plasticky feel even more than usual.

To sum up: Boye for sock needles, either Boye or Susan Bates for knitting depending on the project, Susan Bates for crocheting.

And color choices and metal all the doggone WAY.

Thank you. *curtseys to Craftdom Assembled*

I love the Brittany wood crochet hooks (walnut and birch) and the Artwood rosewood hooks. I have arthritis in my hands, and when I use metal hooks I end up with aching hands. The plastic ones, for some reason, cause sore spots on my hands. For anything from F to L it’s wood all the way.

I prefer metal needles. I find the wooden ones good for something slippery or making lace but other than that they are too slow. Metal is definately faster for me to knit with.

Interestingly, I can’t say metal are my favorites anymore. I’ve been noticing that the glare that can shine off of many metal hooks actually hurts my eyes and gives me a headache. I’m ordering a hodge podge of hooks, will post which variety wins my preference!

It depends on the size of whatever hook or needle I’m using. I pefer using plastics when it is 5mm and above and metal for smaller sizes. But I like bamboo in ALL sizes, it just feels good in the hand.

I love the metal addie turbo circular needles and I also have tried Bamboo straight needles. The last I like because they are nice & light. Although occasionally they break.

When I started crocheting I used metal because that’s what I was given. A couple of years later I noticed that my hands were cold, especially when crocheting. Then it occurred to me that maybe the metal hook was sapping all the heat out of my hand, so I tried plastic. That was better, but there was something about the feel of the plastic hook, it felt like, well… plastic. Then I found bamboo. Bamboo was better, but I still wasn’t completely satisfied. Then I found Palmwood hooks, which I LOVE! The wood is silky smooth and they were available at a local yarn shop. So, I prefer wood and hope to someday find double-ended crochet hooks in wood too!

Boye hooks are my personal faves, but I don’t mind plastic all that much; just got the LB ones and so far so good

I really like ergonomic handles, especially the Crochet Lites by Clover

Zontee says: Hi phillygirl64, don’t forget to check out the Ergonomic Crochet Hooks, available both online and at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio, that are designed to spread out the tension in your hand.

I much prefer wood to plastic or metal for knitting. It has a warmer feel and is a little flexable in my hands. Of course for the really small needles (0, 00,…) you need to have metal or they wouldn’t last at all.

For crochet I like the metal ones.

DPN definitely bamboo.  Not crazy about metal

I have circular knitting needles. For some reason, the yarn sticks to the plastic. Am I doing something wrong or how can I tell what is wrong with the plastic needles?