What yarn and hook to buy first
For your first crochet project, buy a smooth, light-colored medium-weight yarn (category #4, often labeled worsted or aran) and the hook size printed on its label, usually 5.5 mm (I-9). That combination lets you see each stitch clearly and is easy to hold.
The yarn
Medium weight (#4). Thin yarn makes tiny stitches that are hard to see; very thick yarn is clumsy to hold. Medium sits in between and is what most beginner patterns ask for.
Smooth and tightly twisted. Cotton, acrylic or a blend. Fluffy yarns (mohair, chenille, bouclé) hide the loops, and loosely twisted yarn splits on the hook.
A light, solid color. Cream, pale gray, light blue. Dark yarn makes it hard to see where the hook should go, and variegated yarn disguises the V's you count.
The hook
Match the label. Every ball band gives a recommended hook size. Use it for your first swatch; go up half a size if your stitches are tight.
Aluminum or a soft grip. An aluminum hook lets loops slide easily. A rubber or plastic grip is kinder to your hand on long sessions.
Read the millimeters. US letter sizes are not consistent across brands, so the Craft Yarn Council advises trusting the mm size printed on the hook.
Hook size chart
| Millimeters | US size |
|---|---|
| 3.5 mm | E-4 |
| 4 mm | G-6 |
| 4.5 mm | 7 |
| 5 mm | H-8 |
| 5.5 mm | I-9 |
| 6 mm | J-10 |
| 6.5 mm | K-10½ |
| 8 mm | L-11 |
Yarn weights and the hook to use
| Category | Weight | Hook (mm) | Hook (US) |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Super Fine (sock, fingering) | 2.25–3.5 mm | B-1 to E-4 |
| #2 | Fine (sport) | 3.5–4.5 mm | E-4 to 7 |
| #3 | Light (DK, light worsted) | 4.5–5.5 mm | 7 to I-9 |
| #4 | Medium (worsted, aran) | 5.5–6.5 mm | I-9 to K-10½ |
| #5 | Bulky (chunky) | 6.5–9 mm | K-10½ to M-13 |
| #6 | Super Bulky | 9–15 mm | M-13 to Q |
Source: Craft Yarn Council, Standard Yarn Weight System and hook size chart, checked 28 September 2026.
Where to buy
LoveCrafts
A large online yarn shop with hooks from Clover, KnitPro and others, and beginner-friendly medium yarns.
We have not tested these shops' products ourselves; we list them because they carry the yarn weights and hook sizes above. Some shop links may earn us a commission; see our affiliate disclosure.
What else helps
Scissors, a blunt tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and a few stitch markers (a safety pin or a scrap of contrasting yarn works). That is the whole kit for your first square and your first magic ring.
Ready? Start with how to crochet.
How to read a yarn label
The paper band around a ball tells you almost everything you need. Look for a small yarn symbol with a number from 0 to 7: that is the weight category, and for your first project you want the one marked 4. Next to it you will usually find the fiber content, the weight of the ball in grams or ounces, and its length in yards or meters. The recommended hook size is often shown as a small hook icon with a millimeter number.
There is also a dye lot number. Balls from the same dye lot match exactly; two lots of the same color can differ slightly. It does not matter for practice pieces, but for a blanket or a sweater, buy every ball you need from one lot.
Cotton or acrylic?
Acrylic is inexpensive, soft, comes in every color and forgives uneven tension because it has a little stretch. Cotton has no stretch, so it shows every stitch very clearly and holds its shape well, which is why it is used for dishcloths, bags and amigurumi. It can feel harder on the hands over a long session. A cotton and acrylic blend sits in between and is a good choice if you cannot decide.
How much to buy
A 100 g ball of medium yarn is usually around 150 to 200 meters (165 to 220 yards). One ball covers every practice piece on the stitch pages here, from the first chain to the little ball on the invisible decrease page, with some left over. Buy two if you want to make the first square from the how to crochet guide as well as the practice pieces.
Questions
- What size crochet hook should a beginner use?
- The size printed on your yarn label. For medium (#4, worsted) yarn that is usually 5.5 mm (I-9); the Craft Yarn Council range for #4 is 5.5–6.5 mm.
- What is the best yarn for beginners?
- A smooth, light-colored medium (#4) yarn in acrylic, cotton or a blend. It shows every stitch and does not split easily.
- Should I buy a beginner crochet kit?
- A kit is fine if it includes a medium-weight yarn and the matching hook. Avoid kits built around thin, dark or fluffy yarn for your first project.
- Is cheap yarn good enough to learn with?
- Yes. For practice pieces, all that matters is that the yarn is smooth, light-colored, medium weight and does not split. Save natural fibers and more expensive yarn for the first thing you make to keep or give away.