However, there is one important difference between the hooks themselves! The Amour has a slightly deeper bowl (the groove of the hook itself) than the Soft Touch. But what does that mean for you? Well, it depends on exactly how you crochet. Left: Amour with deeper bowl, Right: Soft Touch with shallow bowl To cover a range of designs, choose the Clover soft touch steel crochet hook set. Providing customers with a variety of sizes, this product ensures maximum productivity and gives customers the support required to bring each and every idea to life. For both beginners and experts, Clover crochet hooks are a popular choice. Known for their quality, affordability and bright colours, it is easy to see why Clover has many loyal fans around the world. For a selection of Clover hooks, look no further than Knitting Co. That’s not to say the Soft Touch is by any means uncomfortable, or should only be used if you’re a more experienced crocheter. I learned on the Soft Touch, and there’s a reason I’ve used them for so long.

I’m naturally a very twitchy person – I don’t sit still for very long – and this behaviour translates with crochet hooks as well. If I’ve been using a Clover Amour all day designing something in the Crochet Coach studio and I want to switch to another project, I’ll often change to a different style of hook too just to mix it up. It’s like exercise – if you run 5km every day your body eventually gets used to it and you need to change your exercise routine to incorporate something different. The length of the Clover Amour is longer than the Soft Touch, both in handle and overall length. I can’t say which is better. It really comes down to personal preference. I will say the longer handle on the Amour felt strange at first, but that’s likely because I’m just used to a shorter hook. After using them a bit, I don’t notice it nearly as much. I will do a full post on the whole shebang of hooks but for now you just need to know that there are basically two kinds of hooks and most brands are based on these kinds of hooks. Another little note, the aluminum shaft of the Amour does not go all the way to the end of the handle. The tip has a small amount of flex to it, but it’s not floppy. I’m applying some pressure in the photo below. To be completely honest, I don’t know if there is a particular advantage/disadvantage to this, or if it’s simply to save on weight or cost. Pencil Grip vs. Knife Grip In fact, you can see in the picture below the only difference between my most used (left) and least used (right) Soft Touch hooks is a very slight fading of the gold shaft. I have had no issues with handles splitting, size markings wearing off, or decrease in smoothness.Since the Soft Touch are all the same color, you have to pull them all out of your bag to find the right hook. However since they’re clearly marked, you can easily see what size they are. The Amour hook has an elastomer handle. It’s basically a nice smooth rubber that feels very soft in your hand, but still provides excellent grip and control. Side note: I actually think it’s kind of ironic that the Amour isn’t called the Soft Touch. Each size is a different colour which is great when you’re trying to remember what hook you were using for which project I can’t speak to the longevity of the Amour hooks, as I’ve only been using them for a couple of weeks, however Clover is known for making quality hooks. There isn’t anything that immediately stands out to me as an area of concern. I also haven’t heard of any complaints in the crochet community about the quality. Materials

I didn’t take very well to using the Addi Swing . I’m very glad I tried it and after a while it was quite comfortable but it took some practice. I personally don’t rotate my hook very much, so I have no issues with the shallower bowl of the Soft Touch. One caveat though: I do find I drop more stitches with the Soft Touch than the Amour when I’m using a chunkier weight yarn.My personal preference shouldn’t really come into anyone else’s crochet hook experiences but I’m a Clover Amour gal through and through. I use and love a variety of crochet hooks but if I have the choice, I generally reach for a Clover every time!

They look like toothbrushes to me. I know I’m fussy but I look at crochet hooks for about 8 hours a day and I like them to look nice. I don’t think these are the worst looking ergonomic crochet hooks by a long shot (the earwax coloured Clover Soft Touches are pretty hard on the eye) but there’s something very medical about the way they look. That being said, if you’re considering upgrading from a standard plastic or steel hook, these are absolutely worth the investment. The ergonomic handles will save you so much hand and wrist pain in the future. Not to mention, they will both last a very long time. I’ve been using the same Soft Touch hooks for a literal decade, and they show almost no signs of wear. Clover is known for its quality, affordability and vibrant colours and their hooks are designed with comfort in mind. A reliable, trusted brand - it is easy to see why Clover has many loyal fans in Australia and around the world.Both the Clover Amour and Soft Touch have a tapered hook. There are many great debates on whether tapered is better than inline hooks (and vice versa), but it truly comes down to personal preference. There are pros and cons to both (that’s another post entirely), but my personal preference is tapered. Very smooth metal shaft and throat – I have a cheap ergo hook and the metal is kind of bubbly which is endlessly annoying when my yarn snags on it For purely aesthetic purposes, the Amour wins hands down. If you haven’t noticed, I really love color, and these are just so much more fun to look at. Plus, like I mentioned, each hook size has a different colored handle. Consider the different materials; for smooth crocheting choose Aluminium; for finer stitches steel is a better choice; for a lightweight hook choose bamboo or plastic. Understanding your project and equipping yourself with the best-suited Clover crochet hooks is a key element to successful crocheting.