I’m pretty handy with a crochet hook, and Tunisian crochet (also known as afghan crochet) has been at the top of my must-try list for months. So, when I spotted the Boye Artisan Tools CrochetMaster Plus Crochet Hook Set in the Simplicity booth at both CHA and VOGUEknitting LIVE, it was love at first (and second) sight. The hooks are absolutely gorgeous—the warmth of the wooden hooks look fantastic next to the shine of the metal handles—and I jumped at the chance to give the whole set a test run!
According to the Simplicity site:
Features Include:
- Nickel-Plated Handles & Natural Wood Hook Heads To Quickly Glide Over Yarn
- Handy Carrying Case That Keeps All Components Organized
- Hook Sizes F to Q (3.75mm-15mm)
- Two 3″, Two 5″, One 9″, One 12″ & One 18″ Flexible Cables That Do Not Kink
- Two Joins So The Cable Length Options Are Endless
- Smooth Joins That Will Not Snag
- Two Natural Wood Caps So The Set Can Be Used For Traditional Crochet
- Two Keys For Easy Tightening Of The Cables To The Hooks & Stoppers, Allowing Hooks To Be Converted From Traditional to Afghan Crochet Hooks
30 piece set.
Retail price: $149.99
What I loved:
1. Attaching the cables to the hooks was simple and intuitive.
2. The cable keys made the cables easy to tighten. The cables held securely until the cable key was used to loosen them again.
3. The set included 2 cable extenders, which allowed for great flexibility in length for Tunisian crochet.
4. The handles were smooth, had a nice weight and feel to the hand, and had deep, sharp hooks that grabbed the yarn well.
5. Two wooden caps were included so that each hook could be converted into a traditional crochet hook.
6. The cables and connectors were smooth, felt seamless, and did not snag or catch the yarn, even when stitches were tight.
7. The hooks were packaged in a durable case with extra room for storage.
What I didn’t love:
1. The hooks weren’t labeled with sizes and the set did not include a size gauge. I had to dig out my own gauge to make sure that I was selecting the correct size. (Not the end of the world, but having a gauge included in the set would have been nice.)
Note: I didn’t have any issues with the hooks and accessories that were actually included in the set.
Overall impressions:
The tools included in the Boye Artisan Tools CrochetMaster Plus Crochet Hook Set were high quality, versatile, and met all of my expectations for crochet hooks. I loved that the set included such a wide range of hook sizes, and that the wooden caps allowed each hook to be transformed from a Tunisian crochet hook into a traditional crochet hook. (As a gal living in an NYC shoebox apartment, it’s wonderful to find one easy-to-store set that meets the majority of my crochet needs!) I’m looking forward to using these hooks for many years to come, and would definitely recommend this set to anyone who crochets.
Disclosure: Samples provided for review, but my opinions are honest and my own!
- Craft Tool Review: AccuQuilt GO! Baby Fabric Cutter - November 25, 2013
- Craft Tool Review: Clover Weaving Sticks - September 17, 2013
- CHA Summer 2013: Tools for Custom Fiber and Fabric Projects - August 14, 2013
- CHA Summer 2013 Booth Love – Haley’s Favorite: Bottle Cutting Inc. - August 3, 2013
- CHA Summer 2013 Fabric and Fiber Trends: Back to the Basics - July 26, 2013
- Craft Book Review: Crochet One-Skein Wonders - June 18, 2013
- Craft Tool Review: Clover USA Pin ‘n Stow - April 23, 2013
- Craft Tool Review: Nancy’s Hobo Tote Collection Trace ‘n Create Bag Templates from Clover USA - March 26, 2013
- Craft Product Review: Boye Artisan Tools CrochetMaster Plus Crochet Hook Set - February 18, 2013
- CHA Winter 2013: Getting Groovy in the iLoveToCreate Booth - January 22, 2013
Too bad the sizes aren’t printed on the hooks, I hate when I get sets like that!
Otherwise, it looks like a gorgeous set!
OK I was all about the review until I saw your hook gauge. WHERE DID YOU GET THAT??? I NEED IT!!
I couldn’t help but think (after I finally dragged my mind away from the TARDIS hook gauge) of the new Harmony crochet hook set that Knitpicks has released and wondering how this stacks up to that. Is this sturdier because of the heads only being wood? I know I have bought a set of the Harmony wood knitting needles and have had them break several times right on the grain so I’m wondering how these hold up.
Thanks for the crochet hook info. I have a special request. I would like to use some of the beautiful digital papers but my printer doesn’t do them justice. Have you ever tested the different printers to see which produces a pretty print of the digital papers? I have a Kodak and the results are a dull look. Thanks heaps.
First things first, I got my TARDIS gauge here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/100971093/police-box-knitting-needle-gauge-laser
Now, in response to your question about how this set compares to the Harmony crochet hook set from Knitpicks, unfortunately, since I haven’t tried those particular hooks, I can’t really weigh in. I can say that, after working with several gauges and yarn types, the Boye Artisan Tools hooks never felt fragile, and I didn’t notice any movement from the wood while I was using them. For what it’s worth, I’ve been playing with the Boye set for about a month, and I’m not exactly gentle when it comes to using tools. 🙂
Hi Carol. I haven’t tried to print digital papers myself—I don’t do much paper crafting—but Jenny reviewed the Epson Stylus Photo R2000 Color Inkjet Printer here. Hope that helps!
Karen: The set definitely is lovely. And, as long as you have a gauge on hand, the lack of sizes on the hooks really isn’t too much of a problem.
What a cinvient way to travel with your crocheting!
I recently purchased a set (got a deal at Tuesday Morning for $29.95). I haven’t used them yet but noticed that the heads are almost square. Is your set the same and if so, does that fact bother you or impact your work?