What Do You Need In A Crochet Starter Kit?
Would you know where to start if you wanted to gather a crochet starter kit for beginners? We’ve been on the crochet wagon for a while around here, so we’d love to help you pull together your perfect kit.
We’ll help you decide on a crochet hook and tell you which yarn, yarn weight, and fiber work best for beginners.
Here’s a hint (it’s worsted)! But there’s more info to come.
So here are a few tips for gathering your own unique beginner crochet kit.
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Crochet Starter Kit Basics
There are several things you just can’t live without as a crocheter. We’ve listed here the ‘must-have’ pieces for your crochet kit. We’ll also let you know what’s nice to have but not essential.
- Crochet Hook – You can’t crochet without a crochet hook!
- Yarn – MUST have!
- Scissors – For snipping yarn close to your fabric.
- Tapestry Needle – For weaving in ends.
- Sewing Needle – For sewing on buttons or any time you need to use thread.
- Stitch Markers (removable) – To mark the end of a row, a specific stitch, sleeve placement, etc.
- Tape Measure – Retractable ones are nice and neat, but a regular old-fashioned tape measure works just fine too.
- Paper and pencil – For marking off rows and keeping count even if you get interrupted.
Now let’s work down this list and give you some great options.
Whether you want to try amigurumi, granny squares, or a shawl for your first crochet project, your journey must start with a crochet hook.
Which Crochet Hook Is Best For Beginners?
Great question! And we answered this with our awesome guide to crochet hooks we shared during Bi-Crafty Bootcamp. You MUST check that out if you want the complete lowdown on crochet hooks.
We cover hook sizes, crochet hook anatomy (yes – that’s a thing!), materials (what they’re made of), crochet hook handles (including ergonomics), and even how to hold a crochet hook!
It’s all there, so click over and check it out, but be sure to come back here to find out what else you need in your crochet starter kit.
Best Yarn For Beginner Crocheters?
Thankfully, the answer to this one is affordable and probably the most common yarn in big box stores: worsted weight acrylic yarn. Nothing fancy, just your standard smooth, solid-color yarn with several plies.
What about cotton? Though cotton yarn is usually well-plied, it has no stretch, so it’s not an ideal choice for beginner crocheters.
What are plies, and why is working with plied yarn easier?
Basically, plies are the number of strands twisted together. Single-ply yarn splits very easily, and it’s much harder for beginners to use for learning crochet.
2-ply yarn is a little better but still splits easily, which leads to frustration.
4 plies is probably the best since it results in a nice rounded yarn strand with more twist, so pushing your crochet hook between the plies is much harder.
Which Scissors Are Best For A Crochet Starter Kit?
I love using a pair of kid’s scissors because they’re small and fit nicely in my needle case. Since they don’t have sharp points, they won’t poke through a bag either.
You won’t need a fancy pair of snips, or anything too large, just something lightweight you can safely drop in a bag.
Why Use A Tapestry Needle or Yarn Needle?
Tapestry needles have a more blunt point so they tend not to split the yarn as easily as sharp needles. Sharp needles can damage the yarn, especially if you tend to push the needle through the yarn rather than go for the gaps between crochet stitches or under yarn strands.
What Kind Of Sewing Needle Do I Need?
A sewing needle is most often used in crochet work to sew on a button or closure. A basic household general-purpose needle will do, as long as the eye end isn’t too thick. Before you thread the needle, you must make sure you can get the whole needle through the hole in the button you’re sewing on!
What Kind Of Stitch Markers Should I Use?
In crochet, you’ll need removable stitch markers. That’s not the solid ring, but the kind that can open up so you can clip them to, or hook them into, your work. There are many different kinds of stitch markers, in fact, we even have a post that shows you how to make your own stitch markers (such fun!)!
Here are a few types that we particularly like:
- These basic plastic safety-pin-style stitch markers will work fine. Just don’t squeeze them too hard or open them too far or they can snap.
- If you love beads and don’t want to make your own, these beaded and numbered stitch markers are for you. Seriously, there are so many styles you’ll be spoiled for choice!
- This set of bee stitch markers is just adorable!
- Metal stitch markers are also great! We LOVE this set of rainbow-colored stitch markers! These simply hook through the stitches, like a paper clip. They’re great for marking sleeve placement when you make a sweater.
You Need A Tape Measure To Get Gauge!
The need to get gauge is ever-present in the crochet world, especially when you get to make garments. To get gauge, you must measure and calculate your stitch and row count within a specified, measured area. Enter the tape measure.
You can get some really unusual tape measures these days, Check out what we found for you!
- This is a really classy leather-covered tape measure. It’s a real keepsake, and useful too!
- Celebrate spring or summer with these floral tape measures.
- And these crocheted animal tape measures are the cutest!
I actually like a ruler to measure a gauge swatch since it doesn’t move.
The choice is yours. Give both a try and see which you like best
Why Do I Need Paper And Pencil?
It’s always great to note what you do as you craft. If you change something, you MUST make a note, especially if you intend making the same pattern again exactly as you did the first time around.
For consistency, and sanity’s sake, a better idea is to dedicate one notebook to all your notes and label it so you know where all your crochet notes are – in ONE place.
Here are some fantastic special notebooks we know you’ll love:
- Keep all your pattern notes in one place with this craft project journal.
- I think we ALL need one of these “Stop Talking, I’m Counting” notebooks.
- Or one of these “Post-Apocalyptic Life Skills” notebooks! Perfect!!!
Nice To Have In Your Crochet Starter Kit
Here are some bits and pieces that you may not need, but it’s nice to have them handy, just in case.
Gauge measuring tool – these nifty little characters only show you an ‘L’ shape of your crochet fabric so you can count stitches and rows without distraction.
Row Counter – A step up from paper and pencil (if you remember to use it). We found so many very different options for counting rows. Here are a few of the coolest:
- What an awesome way to count rows with this mindful row counter ring.
- Here’s a sleeping kitten row counter made from wood.
- This clicker-style row counter has a pretty mandala.
- We think this pendant row counter is a fantastic choice!
The Perfect Crochet Bag
You need something to carry all your crochet gear so you can take it everywhere! These are some bags we love that would make amazing carryalls for your crochet starter set.
- Here’s a fantastic organizer bag for crocheters. This one has separate spots for hooks, tools, yarn, and more.
- This option is an open top craft bag with space for hooks, yarn, and other bits and pieces. Great choice of colors!
- Here’s an awesome crocheter’s tote bag with a crochet quote. You can personalize this bag with your name or as a gift. There’s more colors to choose from too.
- This one is another crochet organizer bag. It has a drop-down pocket flap for ample crochet hook storage and a boxy shape – great for fitting in lots of yarn
- An organizer bag for crochet is a great option for yarn storage. This one has holes you can feed your yarn through to keep your ends ready when you need them. No more yarn juggling!
Best Crochet Set For Beginners
So we’ve covered everything there that you need in your starter kit, but if you want your kit ‘done for you,’ we tracked down some ideal ready-made options for you.
If you’re hunting for the best crochet kit for beginners, here are a few that might fit the bill.
- We found an awesome beginner crochet kit on Etsy. It includes hooks, yarn, a book, stitch markers, and more.
- Then we found more…here’s another great crochet kit option including yarn, hooks, and much more!
- This also looks like a fantastic option for a crochet kit for beginners.
- This childrens crochet set contains all you need to make a sweet little octopus.
- This cute turtle amigurumi beginner kit would be great for getting kids interested in crochet.
Now, what if you don’t already know how to crochet? You’ll need some tutorials, and we can help you with that, too!
My Marly Bird channel has a fantastic selection of YouTube videos. So, click on over there and learn to crochet to your heart’s content!
Need Crochet Tutorials For Beginners?
My Crochet Slanted Shell Super Scarf is an ideal beginner project. Using bulky yarn, it’ll work up pronto!
If you’re an ambitious beginner and want to try a blanket, here you go. This Beginner Shells Blanket will also work up quickly!
And, here’s a beginner crochet poncho to get your crochet juices flowing!
If you want more, scroll back to the top and hit the search button at the top left (the magnifying glass icon). Type in what you’re looking for, and hit enter to search the whole site for more crochet fun.
