Crochet is its own craft, with its own tools, rhythms, and favorite yarns. At Stitch Haven in Westport, we welcome crocheters of every level, from someone holding a hook for the first time to makers designing their own granny-square blankets and garments.
Here you will find comfortable crochet hooks, yarn that shows off your stitches, the notions that keep rounds and seams tidy, and classes that help you grow. Crocheters visit from Westport, Norwalk, Weston, Fairfield, and across Fairfield County.
Clover Amour hooks pair a smooth aluminum head with a soft, rounded handle that sits comfortably in the hand. Each size has its own handle color, so finding the right hook in your bag is quick. A comfortable grip matters for long blanket sessions and for hands prone to strain.
A set gathers a range of Amour hooks in one case, which is useful once you start working with several yarn weights. It means you can swatch up or down a size whenever gauge is off, and it keeps everything together for classes and travel.
In crochet, markers do a lot of work: marking the first stitch of a round, holding a live loop when you set work down, and pinning pieces together before seaming. Openable markers are the most useful style for crocheters.
Smooth, plied yarns give crochet stitches crisp definition. Malabrigo Rios brings saturated hand-dyed color in washable merino, and Berroco Vintage is an easy-care blend that suits blankets, baby items, and amigurumi.
Hooks differ in size, head shape, and handle. Size controls stitch size and should match your yarn label as a starting point. Head shape affects how easily the hook catches yarn: some are more pointed, others rounder. The handle affects comfort, and an ergonomic grip like Clover Amour can make a big difference for anyone who crochets for hours or has sore hands.
Many crocheters eventually keep two or three favorite hooks within reach: one for worsted blankets and amigurumi, one a size or two larger for drapey shawls and garments, and a smaller one for finer yarn and edgings. Trying a few handles in person is the easiest way to learn what your hands prefer before investing in a full set.
If your fabric feels stiff, go up a hook size. If it looks loose and holey, go down. A quick swatch tells you more than any chart.
Crochet fabric is thicker and uses more yarn than knitting, so fiber and structure matter. Plied yarns resist splitting under the hook. Washable merino and blends are practical for blankets and gifts. Cotton and linen create crisp, cool fabric for summer bags and tops. Fuzzy mohair is beautiful, but it hides stitches and is hard to rip back, so many crocheters save it for later projects.
Our yarn guide covers weights, fibers, and how much to buy for a project.
Every crocheter holds yarn a little differently, which is why two people using the same hook can produce different sized fabric. For blankets and dishcloths a small difference rarely matters, but for garments, hats, and fitted bags it does. Work a swatch slightly larger than the gauge square in your pattern, block it the way you will wash the finished piece, and measure in the center.
Comfort matters as much as accuracy. Take short breaks, keep your wrist relaxed, and let the hook do the work rather than squeezing it. If you notice tension creeping into your hands, an ergonomic handle and a slightly larger hook can both help, and our staff are glad to watch you work a few stitches and offer suggestions.
Beyond the hook, a small kit makes crochet more enjoyable. Keep locking stitch markers for rounds and seams, a blunt tapestry needle such as a Clover tapestry needle for weaving in ends, small scissors, and a tape measure for checking gauge and length. A project bag keeps everything together for classes and commutes.
If you are just starting, keep it simple: one comfortable mid-size hook, one skein of smooth, light-colored worsted-weight yarn so you can see your stitches, a few markers, and a tapestry needle. Avoid dark, fuzzy, or very thin yarn for your first project. A dishcloth, scarf, or simple granny square is a great place to practice.
The fastest way to build confidence is with a teacher beside you. Our beginner classes cover foundation chains, single and double crochet, and reading basic patterns.
Ready to go further? Seasonal workshops introduce new techniques and projects, weekly groups offer company and quick fixes, and private lessons give you focused one-on-one time for a tricky pattern or a skill you want to master. Many crocheters also try knitting eventually, and our knitting supplies guide covers needles and notions when you do.
Stitch Haven is at 420 Post Road West in Westport, close to the Norwalk border and across from Whole Foods. Crocheters from Westport, Norwalk, Weston, Wilton, Fairfield, and around Fairfield County can stop in to try hooks, compare yarns, and ask questions.
Want to look first? Browse current inventory online, and call or email if you are looking for a specific hook size or yarn.
Our recent catalog includes Clover Amour crochet hooks, sold individually and as a set. They have soft, color-coded handles and smooth aluminum heads, which makes them a comfortable choice for long projects and for new crocheters.
A mid-size hook paired with smooth worsted-weight yarn is the friendliest place to start, because you can see each stitch clearly. Check the yarn label for its recommended hook size and we will help you match them in the shop.
Smooth, tightly plied yarns show crochet stitches beautifully. Malabrigo Rios and Berroco Vintage are good examples from our recent catalog. Fuzzy mohair is lovely but harder to see and rip back, so we usually suggest it after you are comfortable.
Yes. We offer beginner crochet instruction, seasonal workshops, weekly groups, and private lessons at our Westport shop. Visit our classes page for the current schedule.
Locking stitch markers to hold your place and mark rounds, a blunt tapestry needle for weaving in ends, small scissors, and a tape measure. CocoKnits markers and Clover tapestry needles appear in our recent catalog.
Looking for a specific hook size, a comfortable grip, or yarn for a crochet pattern? Call or email us, or stop in and we will help you put together exactly what you need.
We are close to the Norwalk border in Westport, across from Whole Foods. Hours, directions, and parking notes are on our store information page.
See store hours and directions