Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Before trying these hooks, I was a diehard Susan Bates/inline fan. No offense to anyone -- I know there are a lot of Boye users out there -- but I just can't stand Boye/tapered hooks. I almost gave up trying to learn to crochet because of Boye hooks. I do a LOT of amigurumi and my hands get sore from making tight sts. I think the animals turn out better, and hold the stuffing better, when using a smaller hook and making tight sts. I usually use an E or an F for ww yarn such as Red Heart Super Saver, just to give you an idea, and those little metal handles start hurting after awhile. I have avoided making Barbie clothes with crochet thread because of this. I tried the bamboo handled Susan Bates and they were okay, but still not what I was looking for. Too much metal before the bamboo. I tried those foam cushion things, but didn't care for them. I even tried baking poly clay handles onto a couple of my hooks, but my hands still hurt. The Clover Amour hooks are the tapered style, so I was very reluctant to try them. I saw them in the new craft store in town, but dismissed them due to the tapered throat. No way. I'm an inline girl... however... after being "commissioned" by my daughter to make 6 tiny kittens as last minute party favors, my aching hands begged me to try them anyway. And I love them! The actual hook/head/point portion isn't as bulbous and... fat?... as a Boye hook. Because of this, I think it's easier to insert the hook into the sts. It isn't so pointy that it splits the yarn, though. The groove isn't as shallow as a Boye (but not as deep as a SB), which means I'm not as likely to drop a loop. The metal is super smooth; yarn glides easily. There isn't too much metal before the cushion, which was the problem with the SB bamboo, so the Amour works nicely with how I hold my hook. The cushioned portion itself is super dreamy. I really, really love how it feels when I'm crocheting. My hands don't hurt and my sts are nice and tight. Although my SB hooks are all vintage and made in the US, I have to admit that I don't miss them one bit. All in all, a well-deserved 5-star rating for these hooks. Oh, and I got all of the kittens done in time!