Beside hooks, you also need to choose yarns.  I've found that I like some yarns better than others by far. As a beginner, I am warming up to the threads and finer yarns. It may have something to do with the pattern designs of my choice. I have tried cotton, mercerized cotton, and acrylic. Although the pattern may call for a different fiber, I always go for the cheaper yarns for practice sake. Not that the quality is cheap, just that the price is cheap. I've seen silks and other pricier fibers sold at comparable prices by Asian merchants on eBay. One day I'll try them.