# What's the best material for making handles for crochet needles?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Tags:** tennis, golf
**Created:** [May 29, 2024, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213 "2024-05-29T04:50:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2024, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213/1 "2024-05-29T04:50:13Z")
So, I make lace shawls with small (3mm diameter) crochet hooks. It’s possible to buy hooks with handles, but they don’t really fit my hand, and tend to be hard plastic. I’ve made them in the past from sugru, and that works pretty well. But it takes a LOT of sugru, which is not cheap, and ideally I’d like a result with a little more give. I don’t want it squishy, but a bit softer. More like a rubber pad than a memory foam one.
Some people stick the hook through a tennis ball, but that is much too big for my hands. If I could find a rubber golf ball, that would be about right. If I could squish it out more oblong in shape, that would be even better.
Any ideas for material I could use that would stick well to metal and give a bit of respite to my fingers?
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2024, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213/2 "2024-05-29T04:54:24Z")
There are tiny(too tiny for most dogs) tennis type balls in the pet department.
Gum eraser?
Pink rubber balls?
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### Author:  [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2024, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213/3 "2024-05-29T04:55:19Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#):
>
> tiny(too tiny for most dogs) tennis type balls
Ooh! interesting, I’ll go look.
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2024, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213/4 "2024-05-29T04:59:08Z")
I looked on Amazon they’re about a million listings for pink rubber balls in many sizes
They cut easy. We used to carve them for weird printing in art class.
The tiny tennis balls look just like tennis balls. Packs of 4. Cheap.
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### Author:  [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2024, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213/5 "2024-05-29T06:15:26Z")
> [@TruCelt](#):
>
> If I could find a rubber golf ball, that would be about right. If I could squish it out more oblong in shape, that would be even better.
My cats own some foam rubber golf ball toys, but those might be a touch too squishy for your purposes. You might want to take a look if you’re near a pet supply that has those.
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2024, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213/6 "2024-05-29T13:42:21Z")
Would this vape pen holder work? I love mine.
> **[Amazon.com: Hide & Drink, Pen Case Handmade from Full Grain Leather -...](https://www.amazon.com/Hide-Drink-Protector-Electronic-Cigarette/dp/B09FBLKKR5)**
>
> Amazon.com: Hide & Drink, Pen Case Handmade from Full Grain Leather - Charcoal Black : Arts, Crafts & Sewing
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### Author:  [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2024, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213/7 "2024-05-30T07:53:39Z")
> [@kayaker](#):
>
> Would this vape pen holder work? I love mine.
No, but I hadn’t thought of leather. It’s a good idea. Maybe just wrap it in a few layers of leather. Hmmmnnn.
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### Author:  [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2024, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213/8 "2024-05-30T07:54:33Z")
> [@Seanette](#):
>
> You might want to take a look if you’re near a pet supply that has those.
I definitely will be checking out the local PetCo for possibilities, thanks!
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### Author:  [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2024, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213/9 "2024-05-30T07:56:32Z")
I wonder if I could build up a handle with rubber cement. Like dipping a candle? Anybody know if rubber cement sticks to metal?
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### Author:  [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2024, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213/10 "2024-05-30T07:58:19Z")
I’d be more worried about it sticking to the user’s hand.
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### Author:  [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2024, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213/11 "2024-05-30T08:09:30Z")
Good thought. I suppose I could wrap the last layer in cloth or something. . .
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### Author:  [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2024, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213/12 "2024-05-30T09:04:52Z")
Plasti Dip Blue [https://a.co/d/2RkAxeX](https://a.co/d/2RkAxeX)
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### Author:  [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2024, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213/13 "2024-05-30T09:12:00Z")
Oh wow, this sounds perfect!
From the FAQs:
HOW THICK CAN I APPLY PLASTI DIP?
When following the directions, you can apply as many coats of Plasti Dip protective coating as you like.
And Beck, they have a “craft” version with tons of colors and finishes. . .
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### Author:  [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2024, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213/14 "2024-05-30T12:23:24Z")
> [@TruCelt](#):
>
> I wonder if I could build up a handle with rubber cement. Like dipping a candle? Anybody know if rubber cement sticks to metal?
Try wrapping layers of self-amalgamating silicone tape around the handle. You probably won’t need any adhesives in that case.
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### Author:  [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2024, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213/15 "2024-05-30T12:39:58Z")
I use that stuff to weatherproof cable connections. After a few days you’ll need to cut it to remove.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2024, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213/16 "2024-05-30T12:43:19Z")
You can get [moldable plastic](https://www.amazon.com/Polly-Plastics-Cosplayers-Hobbyists-Accessories/dp/B00WRWKM6G/ref=asc_df_B00WRWKM6G/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693446849938&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15762177802844383037&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9002215&hvtargid=pla-307549516926&mcid=c00b50ec9c8337b5b63757a600eeef04&gad_source=1&th=1) and shape it into anything you like and embed a crochet needle in it. You may have to bend the needle so it doesn’t come loose inside your handgrip. You can warm up the stuff with hot water or even a hair dryer and shape it with your hands or push into some kind of mold like one of those plastic eggs.
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### Author:  [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2024, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213/17 "2024-05-30T14:56:08Z")
Yes, PCL. You heat it to about 60C and mold it however you wish. After it cools it’s as hard as a rock, though, not soft or flexible.
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### Author:  [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2024, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213/18 "2024-06-03T08:55:33Z")
> [@DPRK](#):
>
> PCL. You heat it to about 60C and mold it however you wish
Isn’t that the same stuff you get by heating up old grocery bags? I would love an upcycling solution.
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### Author:  [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2024, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213/19 "2024-06-03T15:02:12Z")
If they are polypropylene bags then they would melt at 170ºC or so; I am talking about this polymer:
> **[Polycaprolactone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycaprolactone)**
>
> Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a synthetic, semi-crystalline, biodegradable polyester with a melting point of about 60 °C and a glass transition temperature of about −60 °C. The most common use of polycaprolactone is in the production of speciality polyurethanes. Polycaprolactones impart good resistance to water, oil, solvent and chlorine to the polyurethane produced.
> This polymer is often used as an additive for resins to improve their processing characteristics and their end use properties (e.g., i...
which is not toxic, andd at least slightly biodegradable, but I don’t know what the environmental footprint of its industrial manufacture is.
One _can_ make compostable plastic bags out of it, but I would triple-check if that is what your old grocery bags are actually made from (do they melt in boiling water?)
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2024, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-material-for-making-handles-for-crochet-needles/1002213/20 "2024-06-03T15:15:54Z")
Old enough grocery bags don’t melt. They do burn at a high enough temperature because they were made out of paper. More recent versions have been made of polyethylene and the biodegradable versions are PVA based. I don’t think they’ll be moldable in the same way as PCL, although you could make them into something but I think higher temperatures would be required for the result to have useful mechanical properties, which will be quite limited.
ETA: My state has decided the world has too many trees and plastic bags can no longer be provided by stores so paper bags have to be used if you don’t bring your own containers.
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