Also on this page:
Wooden Hook in Progress

By making your own straight hooks, you will be able to make custom lengths and sizes.
In my part of the country, commercial afghan hooks larger that 5.5 mm are impossibe to find.

This same method will also make custom crochet hooks and cro-hooks.

MATERIALS:
Very sharp knife (snap blade works well)
Coping or Scroll Saw
Wood Dowel -see list

• 1 1/4 inches = 31 mm.
• 1 1/8 inches = 28 mm.
• 1 inch = 25 mm.
• 7/8 inch = 22 mm.
• 3/4 inch = 19 mm.
• 5/8 inch = 16 mm.
• 1/2 inch = 12.5 mm.
• 7/16 inch = 11 mm
• 13/32 inch = 10.3 mm.
• 3/8 inch = 9 mm.
• 5/16 inch = 7.8 mm.
• 1/4 inch = 6.25 mm.
• 7/32 inch = 5.5 mm.
• 3/16 inch = 4.7 mm.

All these dowels are found at a Hardware Store or Lumber Yard or at most craft stores.

Fashion the Hook end using another hook as a pattern

• Cut an angled slot just a little more than half way through the dowel about 1/2" from the end.
• Shape the throat of the hook using another hook as a pattern.
• Shape sides of the hook using another hook as a pattern..
• After the notch is properly shaped and sized, shape the very front of the hook.
• Carefully and completely scrape the entire hook very smooth.
  Be certain there are no rough spots -especially in the the hook part.
• Cut the dowel to your choice of finished hook length.
• With the appropriate weight of yarn for the hook, work a test swatch in single crochet.
  Pay close attention to how the hook pulls the yarn through the loops.
• Continue to shape the hook -scraping with the knife edge works very well- until it works to your satisfaction.

The finished hook could be sprayed with several thin coats of Clear Coat to make it very smooth
or rub it well with a piece of waxed paper. Waxed paper is used in Grocery Store Deli's and the clerk
will probably be happy to give you an extra sheet with your order.
Tell them what it is for -it'll make their day.

This diagram shows the shaping of the front of the hook and the location of the cuts for the throat.

This diagram shows the side view of the shaping of the hook.

Finished Cro-Hook. This one, about 3 inches long, was made for crohooking in the round. The concept works but needs a lot of refining. The hook was scraped smooth and left bare. It is smooth enough that the yarn does not catch.

Return to Top of Page

---

Steps in Making a Wooden Hook

From the Top of the Picture down:

• Favorite Hook used as a guide.
• Angled slot cut almost half way through the dowel.
• Roughly shape the front and throat.
• Shape sides -note that the bottom of the hook is narrower than the top.
• Begin finer shaping of the hook.