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When you first enter a craft or specialty yarn
store to purchase a crochet hook, you may begin to feel
overwhelmed by all of the choices. First, it is important to
realize, that not all crochet hooks are the same. If you
have taken a look at the "Crochet Hooks Conversion
Chart", then you are already familiar with the differences
between crochet hooks from the United States, the United Kingdom,
and Canada. Additionally, there are also many variations
amongst crochet hooks depending upon the type of material used to
construct the hooks, and the inherent size and style of the hook.
Crochet hooks come in varying sizes to produce
different stitches. Likewise, you can purchase yarn in
different textures, styles, and thickness and this will also
impact your choice of crochet hook for your project. Generally,
projects that require the use of very thick yarns, will require
larger hooks. Projects consisting of very fine yarn will
require a smaller hook. Many crochet patterns will recommend
a yarn type as well as the best suited crochet hook to complete
your project, yet what are you to do if you really want to make
the project in a different yarn? Fortunately, there are ways
to determine your gauge for each project and choose the hook size
as well as yarn style that you would like to use. But before
we get into that, let's take a look at some of the different
styles, sizes, shapes, and materials used to manufacture crochet
hooks, so that you will have an understanding of why there are so
many to choose from.
Crochet Hooks: Steel, Aluminum, Bamboo, Plastic
Steel crochet hooks are smaller and thinner then
other types of crochet hooks. They are designed to be used
with crochet thread. This type of hook and crochet thread is
suitable for thread projects such as doilies, cotton bedcovers,
and filet crochet. Cotton thread comes in numbered sizes, and the
guidelines specify that you will select a steel crochet hook
according to the size of the crochet thread that you are using for
your project. It is important to realize that when using Steel
crochet hooks, the higher the number of the hook, the smaller the
hook will actually be. When working with a pattern, you will
be given recommended thread and crochet hook size to use.
However, it is also important to realize that you always need to
check your gauge and use the crochet hook that best meets the
gauge of your project.
Steel Hooks
| Millimeter |
U.S. Sizes |
| .75 mm |
14 |
| .85 mm |
13 |
| 1.0 mm |
12 |
| 1.1 mm |
11 |
| 1.3 mm |
10 |
| 1.4 mm |
9 |
| 1.5 mm |
8 |
| 1.65 mm |
7 |
| 1.8 mm |
6 |
| 1.9 mm |
5 |
| 2.0 mm |
4 |
| 2.1 mm |
3 |
| 2.25 mm |
2 |
| 2.75 mm |
1 |
| 3.25 mm |
0 |
| 3.5 mm |
00 |
There are basically two styles of crochet hooks,
inline and tapered. The two main companies that produce
these style aluminum crochet hooks are known as Bates and Boye.
Bates produces inline crochet hooks, where as Boye produces
tapered. Basically, it is a matter of personal preference
which style you prefer.
The difference between inline and tapered crochet
hooks is that the head of the hook is "in line" with the
body of the crochet hook for inline hooks. The tapered
crochet hooks become thinner or "tapered" right below
the head of the hook. Again, personal preference determines
which type of hook is best.
Whether you choose a tapered or inline crochet
hook, the size of aluminum crochet hooks remains the same.
The sizes for aluminum hooks are as follows:
| Millimeter |
U.S. Sizes |
| 2.0 |
|
| 2.5, 2.75 |
B/1 |
| 2.75, 3.0 |
C/2 |
| 3.25 |
D/3 |
| 3.5 |
E/4 |
| 3.75, 4 |
F/5 |
| 4.25, 4.5 |
G/6 |
| 4.75, 5 |
H/8 |
| 5.5 |
I/9 |
| 6 |
J/10 |
| 6.5, 7 |
K/10 1/2 |
| 7.5 |
|
| 8 |
L/11 |
| 9 |
M/13 |
| 10 |
N/15 |
| 16 |
P/16 |
| 16 |
Q |
| 19 |
S |
Bamboo crochet hooks are made from Bamboo and come
in the same size format as aluminum hooks. You can also find
bamboo crochet hooks that are made from aluminum, but just have a
bamboo handle.
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