How to Choose the Best Crochet Hook Sizes

Having the correct hook can mean the difference between loving or hating the project.

We used to use any crochet hook we could find whether it was from Wal-Mart or our local Department Store.

One day, I brought home a set of Addy hooks.  Well the difference was between Night and Day.  They were so smooth and easy to work with that it made the project go so much easier and a lot more fun.

This is a great article on choosing the right hook.

For many, crochet is quite a relaxing and stress-free hobby– once you know what you’re doing.

Here, you will learn everything you need to know about crochet hooks. Scroll down to learn about the different types of hooks, the different sizes of each, and when you should be using which hook.

Types of Crochet Hooks

1. Steel: Usually reserved for fine thread crocheting, such as doilies.
2. Aluminum: This is likely the most “generic” hook choice. Aluminum hooks are available in a large range of sizes.
3. Plastic: Another popular choice and generally the most cost-effective.
4. Bamboo: Llightweight and warm in the hand; these are available in all sizes except the smallest and jumbo sizes.
5. Tunisian: These are longer than regular hooks, and sometimes have a hook on each end.  Like a knitting needle, you keep your stitches on a tunisian crochet hook as you create the fabric.
6. Ergonomic:  Designed to reduce the strain in your hands as you crochet, these hooks usually have larger soft handles or handles you can insert a regular hook into.
7. The Knook: A long crochet hook with a hole running through one end. You thread a piece of yarn through the hole in the knook needle, and you can create stitches that look like knitting, but with a single crochet hook rather than with knitting needles.

Crochet Hook Sizes

Crochet hook sizes vary based on the material, brand, and country that the hook was produced in. You can usually find the hook size directly on your crochet hook. There will either be a number or a letter, or sometimes both.

The number represents the diameter of the shaft (in millimeters), which is the part of the hook between the point and the handle. The size of the shaft is what determines how large your stitches will be. Crochet hooks made and sold in the USA use a lettering system for their sizes. The letters represent hook size from smallest to largest (“B” is usually the smalled and “Q” is the largest). As the letter gets further into the alphabet, the hook gets larger.

Steel hooks are also known as “thread hooks” and should only be used for fine lace thread. They come in numbered sizes that get larger as the number gets smaller. The sizes vary from the 0.6 mm thickness of the size 14 to the 3 mm thickness of the size 00.

Thread Hooks vs. Yarn Hooks

Crochet hooks are usually separated into two categories: thread hooks and yarn hooks. Thread hooks are made from steel and yarn hooks are usually made from plastic, aluminum, or even wood.
Steel are for the smallest sizes and are often used in projects with fine thread. Below, you’ll find charts for both that will help make it easier when converting millimeter hook sizes to popular letter and number sizes. We’ve included both US and UK yarn hook sizes.

Yarn Hooks:                                                           Thread Hooks:  

                                                                                                                                                

Metric	US	UK
2.25 mm	B/1	13
2.75 mm	C/2	—
3.25 mm	D/3	10
3.5 mm	E/4	9
3.75 mm	F/5	—
4.0 mm	G/6	8
4.5 mm	—	7
5 mm	H/8	6
5.5 mm	I/9	5
6 mm	J/10	4
6.5 mm	K/10.5	3
8 mm	L/11	0
9 mm	M/13	00
10 mm	N/15	000
15 mm	P/Q	—
16 mm	Q	—

Metric	US
3.5 mm	00
3.25 mm	0
2.75 mm	1
2.25 mm	2
2.1 mm	3
2 mm	4
1.9 mm	5
1.8 mm	6
1.65 mm	7
1.5 mm	8
1.4 mm	9
1.3 mm	10
1.1 mm	11
1 mm	12
.85 mm	13
.75 mm	14

Choosing the Right Size Crochet Hook

On most yarn you buy, the suggested hook size should be right on the label, as well as an estimated number of stitches per inch (or 4 inches).

Read more at https://www.allfreecrochet.com/Tutorials/How-to-Crochet-Choosing-the-Best-Crochet-Hook-Sizes#6L5JSjR0pL7SPrJA.99