DIY Ergonomic Crochet Hook

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Whether you crochet for many hours a day, suffer from repetitive stress injuries, or you just want to have a more comfortable experience with your craft, using an ergonomic hook can make a huge difference! In the last few years, there have been many different kinds of ergonomic hooks made available at craft retailers and local yarn stores. My absolute favorite crochet hook is this Clover Amour style. I use them for nearly everything as they fit my style of crochet perfectly, but these special hooks can be a bit expensive.

For some people, switching hooks to another style is a big deal. Maybe they’re used to the hooks that they already own and love how the head of the hook is shaped. If only it just had a more comfortable handle…

I’ll show you how I updated my old metal hooks to make them more comfortable to work with!

All you need is:

• • A metal or plastic hook with a thin handle
• • A foam rod for curling hair (a long, flexible, hair roller from a beauty supply store). See notes below.
• • A pair of craft scissors
• • Pliers (optional; they’re are helpful, but I did it without them)

Notes: These foam rods come in lots of different colors and sizes. I noticed that the thicker rods had slightly larger holes compared to the thinner rods. As the rods grew larger in size, the holes inside them grew proportionately as well. You can buy a small pack from a local store to try this out, but if you think you will be converting many hooks, it would be more economical to purchase a variety pack like this one.

One rod will most likely be enough for two hooks (it can be cut in half). The green rod that I used measured 3/8” in diameter and had a hole that measured slightly less than 1/8” in diameter. I used this for my smaller metal hooks (3mm-3.75mm). I used the pink and blue rods for my medium sized hooks (4-5mm). The pink and blue rods measured ½” in diameter with a hole of just slightly more than 1/8” in diameter. These rods are squishy and the hole inside will accommodate a variety of hook sizes, but it would be best to have different-sized foam rods on hand so that you can use what seems to fit best.

1. First, squish the foam piece vertically until you can see the wire on the inside of the roller. Remove the plastic stopper piece from the end by sliding it off of the wire.

2. Next, use the side of your craft scissors or a pair of pliers to bend the hook at the end of the wire closed. This will help you to slide the wire back through the roller and pull it out. If you do not bend the end of the wire, it might get caught on the inside of the foam and tear it.

3. Remove the wire and discard or save for another use. (I saved mine for future use in amigurumi projects.)

4. Place the foam rod next to your hook to determine the desired length of the foam piece. I wanted my foam to end just below the sizing information on the hook, so that I could still tell what size it was. It didn’t bother me to rest my thumb on the metal hook, I just wanted the cushion to be where my fingers were on the handle. Use scissors to cut the foam to size.

5. Slide foam onto the hook. This might be a tight fit, but it’s good to have a close fitting foam piece since it will not slip on the hook. The foam is sticky enough so that it stays in place without any adhesive!