Susan Bates and Boye Crochet Hooks

[Jean Marie]

I can crochet faster with the aluminum crochet hook than I can with the hook that has a cushioned handle. I have put crochet grips on sometimes on the Boye hooks. I'm crocheting with and aluminum Susan Bates hook now. I always or most of the time crocheted with Boye hooks and only used Susan Bates a little bit mostly to pull the yarn through if I couldn't get the yarn through with the other hook. I thought I liked Boye hooks and I think I still do but I like Susan Bates hook I'm using. I had tried it before and thought it would be good to help a person to not look at their crocheting work. But I'm finding I like the Susan Bates. Oh, I already said that.

Jean Marie

[Nova55]

I've always preferred Boye because they have a much longer shaft than the Bates hooks. I'm very dependent on the shaft to make my stitches even (guess it was the way I was taught). The bottom line is what ever works for you!

[Jean Marie]

I just held the Boye and the Susan Bates side by side and mmm I guess they do. I didn't realize that Boye has a longer shaft on the hooks. When crocheting with Susan Bates hook I noticed I have the yarn over the thumb rest but it doesn't make the stitch much bigger. I'll still use the Boye hooks too. By the way the ones with the cushion handle are Boye hooks but the shaft is not quite as long as I'd like; the cushioned handle is nice though. I don't crochet as fast with a cushioned handle but it still works to crochet with.

[spoula]

I am jumping into this conversation about hooks. I must be really old as most of my hooks say U.S.A with just a letter on them. My other hooks are from England and the name on those are Aero some others that say Hero. I have some Boye, Susan Bates and a lot with no name on them.

I never paid any attention to the length of the shaft or anything else on a hook except if it felt good in my hand and it was the right size for the item I wanted to make. There is so much thought that goes into todays hooks and new designs and ways to use your hooks. It's a great time to be living in.
Spoula

[spoula]

I've always preferred Boye because they have a much longer shaft than the Bates hooks. I'm very dependent on the shaft to make my stitches even (guess it was the way I was taught). The bottom line is what ever works for you!

I like the longer shaft too when it is too short I find myself pulling on the yarn and my hands get tired.

I found this interesting...…..

I just read this on the Internet. The Boye hook has a tapered throat. (I am thinking this is the top of the hook where you catch the yarn) I think that is one of the hooks I use the most it has a sharp head that catches the yarn better for me that is. The round heads on the other hooks are hard to get through tiny chains I have to rotate them to get them through some times.

For the Susan Bates hooks it said this:
These hooks have in line heads to help to reduce wrist motion for fatigue free crocheting and helps you maintain a more consistent gauge.


Spoula

[Nova55]

I can use a Bates hook. One time I needed a size E and that was all that Joann's had so I bought it. I've used it, but it's not my favorite. If they had longer shafts, maybe I'd like them better.

[Jean Marie]

The Boye hooks seem to be smoother in that the yarn seem to slide on the hook and the hook slides right through the loops. Susan Bates can slide too.

[Nova55]

The cushioned handles are nice, but you're right - the manufacturers cover some of the shaft with the cushion. The only one that finally figured this out was Addi. First they made the Swing hook with a short shaft, but then they came out with the Swing Maxi that has a longer shaft. At least I think that's the order they came to the marketplace in.

[Jean Marie]

Addi looks like nice crochet hooks.

[Jean Marie]

I have some hooks that say U.S.A. but they also say Boye. I have a Susan Bates hook that says Mexico and on the other side of the hook it says USO/2.55MM I thought there was only the Susan Bates and Boye hooks. I didn't know there was Aero and Hero hooks. I don't pay much attention to the shaft of the hook either. If I'm using an aluminum hook and the yarn goes near or on the thumb rest, it doesn't bother me.