The Boye aluminum crochet hook was the very first crochet hook that I ever owned, so of course it is near and dear to my heart. This post is not sponsored by anyone. I purchased these hooks on my own, and wanted to provide an honest review of them to my readers who might be looking to purchase their first crochet hook. I’ve included my affiliate links below if you’d like to purchase one of these hooks from Amazon.
About Boye
Boye is a brand name owned by the Simplicity Creative Group. You may recognize the Simplicity name, as they also produce sewing patterns and other popular brands in the arts and crafts industry. Boye has been producing and selling crochet hook sets since 1917 in America. Boye was originally known as Boye Needle, founded in 1906 and entered the marketplace in the sewing industry. They originally created a cabinet to house needles, and other sewing accessories for sewing machines. You can find out more about the history of this brand by visiting the about page for the Simplicity Creative Group.
Crochet Hooks: Review of Boye I/9 5.25-5.5mm
Boye currently sells steel, aluminum, and plastic crochet hooks. The very first hook that I purchased was a size I/9 5.5mm aluminum hook to match the requirements on my medium weight yarn label. One thing that I’ve noticed recently is that the Boye hooks being sold have 5.25mm as the hook size (a bit smaller than the one I originally purchased). This number is the metric diameter for the hook. So far, the small difference in size hasn’t made much of a difference in the crochet patterns that I follow, however it is something to note when you are purchasing a hook.
Boye hooks have a rounded head, which I’ve always found to be very comfortable to stitch with when I make crochet kitchen items, baskets, and blankets. These hooks don’t have a pointed end, however I’ve not found that to impact my work in any way, as I feel that the pointed head is more convenient for a closer, tighter stitch.
The throat on these hooks are tapered, rather than inline. Since this was the type that I learned with, I find that this type of throat tends to give me more speed when I’m working on projects now.
Another visual comparison is that the shaft is longer than some of the same sized hooks in different brands. Personally, I like this feature. It allows me to comfortably hold more yarn on my hook when I perform advanced stitches.
There is one thing that I will recommend when using a Boye hook. The butt of these hooks typically have a point. I hold my crochet hook much life a knife, with the butt of it resting in my palm. With this type of hold, after a while the point begins to rub against my hand and cause some discomfort. So, if you opt for this type of hook, I strongly recommend either purchasing the version with the ergonomic handle already on it, or purchasing some to slide over the end yourself.
Overall, I highly recommend these hooks. They were great to learn with as a beginner, and they provide me with good speed and accuracy as I become more advanced. The hooks last and are very easy to store.
Where to Purchase
Boye hooks can be purchased at Walmart, JoAnn Crafts, Amazon, and many other retailers both online and near you. To purchase on Amazon, please navigate using my affiliate links below: