Tunisian Crochet Hooks: Types, Lengths and Sizes

A Tunisian crochet hook—also called an Afghan hook—is an elongated crochet hook with a stopper or flexible cord at the back end designed to hold all the active loops of a row at once, just like a knitting needle. To choose the right tool, match the hook type and cord length to your project's width (a straight stick hook for scarves, a cabled hook for blankets, or a double-ended hook for working in the round) and choose a hook diameter 1 to 3 sizes (1.0 mm to 2.0 mm) larger than your yarn label recommends.

US vs. UK terminology note: Both US and UK patterns use the terms Tunisian crochet hook and Afghan hook interchangeably, and hook diameters are measured in the same millimeters (mm) worldwide—see our complete hook size chart to convert between US letters, metric millimeters, and UK numbers.

The 4 Types of Tunisian Crochet Hooks

Because every row of Tunisian simple stitch picks up loops across the entire width of the fabric on the forward pass before working them off on the return pass, your hook must prevent stitches from sliding off the back end. Tunisian hooks solve this in four ways:

Want to explore two-color reversible fabric and working in continuous spirals? Read our dedicated guide to double-ended hooks.

Choosing a Tunisian Hook Size (The Size-Up Rule)

The single most important rule in Tunisian crochet is to go up 1 to 3 hook sizes (1.0 mm to 2.0 mm larger) than the hook size printed on your yarn band for regular crochet.

Why? In Tunisian crochet, every stitch has both a vertical bar and a horizontal return-pass chain running through it, making the fabric naturally twice as thick as standard crochet. If you use a regular-sized hook, the forward-pass loops pull tight on the front of the fabric, causing the bottom edge to roll up like a window shade and making the fabric stiff.

Use this reference chart to pick your starting Tunisian hook size for any yarn weight:

Tip: Stitches that naturally curl heavily—like Tunisian simple stitch (tss) and Tunisian knit stitch (tks)—benefit from sizing up a full 2.0 mm (for example, using a 7.0 mm or 8.0 mm hook with worsted-weight yarn). Low-curl stitches like Tunisian honeycomb or Tunisian purl stitch only need 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm larger.

Choosing a Hook or Cable Length by Project Width

Because yarn loops bunch comfortably together along a Tunisian hook shaft or flexible cord, your hook and cord do not need to be as long as your finished blanket is wide. As a rule of thumb, your total tool length (hook + cable) should be 30% to 50% of your project's finished width:

To calculate the exact stitch count, yarn yardage, and recommended cord length for your custom project dimensions, enter your gauge into our interactive Tunisian calculator.

Hook Materials and Tip Shapes (Wood vs. Metal vs. Plastic)

Because Tunisian crochet requires sliding dozens of loops along the shaft and dipping the hook tip behind vertical bars, the material and head shape of your hook make a noticeable difference:

• Laminated Wood & Bamboo: Warm in the hand, lightweight, and provides a gentle natural grip ("surface drag") that keeps slippery cotton, bamboo, or silk loops from sliding off the hook prematurely. Best all-around choice for interchangeable sets.
• Anodized Aluminum & Hollow Metal: Ultra-slick surface lets wool and acrylic loops glide rapidly during the return pass. However, solid metal 14-inch straight hooks can feel heavy on the wrist during long sessions—if you prefer metal, look for hollow aluminum tips paired with a flexible cord.
• Acrylic & Plastic: Lightweight and budget-friendly in jumbo sizes (10.0 mm+), though thin plastic shafts (4.0 mm–5.0 mm) can flex or squeak when loaded with tight acrylic loops.
• Pointed vs. Rounded Hook Tips: Look for a Tunisian hook with a slightly pointed (hybrid) tip rather than a blunt sphere. A tapered point slips effortlessly behind the front vertical bar of each stitch without splitting the yarn.

Can You Use a Regular Crochet Hook for Tunisian Crochet?

Yes—as long as your project is narrow (up to 12 to 18 stitches wide) and your regular hook has a uniform cylindrical shaft with no ergonomic thumb rest or thick clay handle.

• Why ergonomic handles don't work: If your regular hook has a thick rubber or silicone grip, sliding more than 6 or 7 loops back onto the handle stretches those back loops wider than the loops near the tip, creating uneven tension.
• The Rubber-Band Stopper Trick: Take a plain, straight aluminum crochet hook (6.0 mm or 6.5 mm) and wrap a small rubber band or hair elastic tightly around the end of the shaft 4 or 5 times. That rubber band acts just like an Afghan hook stopper, letting you practice a 10-to-15-stitch Tunisian simple stitch swatch, headband, or join-as-you-go blanket strip tonight without buying a new tool.

Brand-Neutral Buying Checklist: 5 Features to Check Before You Buy

Whether you are buying a single cabled hook or a complete interchangeable set, check these five details before checkout:

1. Check the maximum hook size in the set: Many standard interchangeable sets stop at 6.0 mm (J-10) or 6.5 mm (K-10.5). Because you must size up 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm for Tunisian crochet, a worsted-weight (#4) yarn project often needs a 7.0 mm or 8.0 mm hook—make sure the set includes 7.0 mm and 8.0 mm tips!
2. Look for swivel cords (360° rotating joints): Fixed plastic cords twist against your wrist on every forward pass. A cord with a 360-degree swivel metal connector lets the hook rotate freely in your hand while the blanket rests still in your lap.
3. Inspect the cord-to-hook join: Run your fingernail across the joint where the hook base meets the metal ferrule. It should be completely flush so yarn loops never snag when sliding from the cord back onto the hook during the return pass.
4. Memory-free nylon or coated steel cables: Stiff, coiled plastic tubes fight your hands on narrow rows. Look for flexible coated stainless-steel or memory-free nylon cords that hang straight out of the package.
5. Cord connectors (couplers): Good interchangeable sets include a small threaded metal coupler that lets you screw two shorter cords together into one extra-long cable for king-size blankets.

Frequently Asked Questions