Crochet is enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. Whether you are just learning to crochet out or you’ve been crocheting for years, one of the most important things to consider when starting a new project is the size of your crochet hook. The size of your hook will not only affect the size of your stitches but also the overall look and feel of your finished crocheted project.
With so many different crochet hook sizes out there, it can be overwhelming to know which one to choose when you need to change the size of the hook that the pattern calls for or if you’re just making up your own design. In this blog post, we’ll go over the different crochet hook sizes and give you a guide to choosing the right hook for your project.
How Do You Know What Crochet Hook Size To Use?
Most often, yarn labels will have a recommended hook size. Also, pattern designers will have a recommended hook size for their pattern. You will want to follow the pattern recommendation if it is different from what the yarn label recommends.
Just because the yarn label has a recommended hook size, does not mean that you have to use that size. And the same goes for the pattern recommendation. You will want to use the size recommended if you want to achieve the same look and size (for the most part, swatching is still needed) that the pattern designer has.
Crochet Hook Size Chart In mm
| Millimeter Size | US Size | UK Size |
|---|---|---|
| 2.00 mm | 14 | |
| 2.25 mm | B/1 | 13 |
| 2.50 mm | ||
| 2.75 mm | C/2 | 12 |
| 3.00 mm | 11 | |
| 3.125 mm | D/3-3 | |
| 3.25 mm | D/3 | 10 |
| 3.50 mm | E/4 | |
| 3.75 mm | F/5 | 9 |
| 4.00 mm | G/6 | 8 |
| 4.50 mm | 7 | 7 |
| 5.00 mm | H/8 | 6 |
| 5.50 mm | I/9 | 5 |
| 6.00 mm | J/10 | 4 |
| 6.50 mm | K/10.5 | 3 |
| 7.00 mm | 2 | |
| 8.00 mm | L/11 | 0 |
| 9.00 mm | M/13 | 00 |
| 10.00 mm | N/15 | 000 |
| 11.50 mm | P/16 | |
| 12.00 mm | ||
| 15.00 mm | P | |
| 15.75 mm | Q | |
| 16.00 mm | Q | |
| 19.00 mm | S | |
| 20.00 mm | ||
| 25.00 mm | T/U/X | |
| 35.00 mm | T/X/Y |
Steel Crochet Hook Size Chart
| Millimeter Size | Size |
|---|---|
| 0.60 mm | 12 |
| 0.75 mm | 14/10 |
| 0.85 mm | 13 |
| 0.90 mm | 14/8 |
| 0.95 mm | 13 |
| 1 mm | 12/6 |
| 1.05 mm | 11 |
| 1.10 mm | 11 |
| 1.15 mm | 10 |
| 1.25 mm | 9/4 |
| 1.3 mm | 10 |
| 1.4 mm | 9/8 |
| 1.5 mm | 8/7/2 |
| 1.6 mm | 6 |
| 1.65 mm | 7 |
| 1.70 mm | 5 |
| 1.75 mm | 4/0 |
| 1.80 mm | 6 |
| 1.90 mm | 5 |
| 2.00 mm | 4 |
| 2.10 mm | 3 |
| 2.20 mm | 2 |
| 2.25 mm | 2 |
| 2.35 mm | 1 |
| 2.55 mm | 0 |
| 2.70 mm | 00 |
| 2.75 mm | 1 |
| 3.25 mm | 0 |
| 3.5 mm | 00 |
How Many Crochet Hook Sizes Are There?
There is no exact number given for how many crochet hook sizes there are. As you can see from the charts above, there are quite a few. But even with this, some probably aren’t listed that you will find out there for sale. It really depends on the manufacturer as to what is made and what is available to crocheters. I know on Amazon, I find kits that have multiple sizes with some odd sizes I’ve never seen before popping up in these.
Should you use US or UK sizing?
It is up to you as to what sizing convention you want to call your hooks by. Personally, I just use the millimeter size to avoid any US/UK size confusion. But it is all personal preference.
Also, as you can see from the charts above, the sizing is sometimes repeated where the millimeter size is different, this can become very confusing if the millimeter size is not stated in addition to the numerical size. And on top of that, some don’t even have a numerical size.
Manufacturers also use different sizing sometimes, so this is yet another reason to just stick to millimeter sizes.
Steel Crochet Hooks vs Regular Crochet Hooks
Steel crochet hooks are generally smaller sized than the more common crochet hook sizes that you find in craft stores.
For the most part, sizing for steel crochet hooks is also different. With steel crochet hooks the numerical size goes down as the millimeter size goes up, and sometimes the numerical size is repeated for different millimeter sizes. But with regular crochet hooks the numerical sizing goes down as the millimeter size goes up (This is mainly for UK sizing).
What Are Steel Crochet Hooks Used For?
Steel crochet hooks are smaller in size, and are used for crochet threads ore lace weight yarns most of the time. These are yarns that are used most often to make doilies and sometimes lacey shawls.
Most Commonly Used Crochet Hook Sizes
Many people ask what are the most commonly used hook sizes so they can get a starter set going. And the answer is it really depends on what you want to crochet.
Which crochet hook for which yarn?
Most yarns that you purchase will list a recommended hook size on the label. But I have always considered this just a suggestion and not a be-all end-all rule for the hook to use with that yarn. The size of the crochet hook that you should use with a project will depend on the project, your tension, and the look that you are trying to achieve with your stitches.
If you are following a pattern it is best to start out with using what the designer recommends for hook size and then make your swatch to see if the gauge matches then adjust accordingly.
But if you aren’t following a particular pattern and are wanting to create your own design there are some common size suggestions for hook sizes.
If you are wanting to crochet things such as throws/blankets, scarves, and home decor items then 4.0 mm, 4.5mm, 5.0mm, 5.5mm, and 6mm crochet hooks should be enough to get you started for many patterns.
If you would like to crochet more delicate items then you are going to want smaller hook sizes such as 2.25 mm, 2.75mm, 3.25mm, 3.75mm, and 4.0mm.
However, if you aren’t sure and want to get a good range of hooks then grabbing a hook set on Amazon can be a good start. My favorite set is the Clover Crochet Hooks, but they can be a bit out of the price range for some. You can also get a cheaper set, such as the BeCraftee set, to get started and upgrade later on.
What Happens If You Use Too Big of a Crochet Hook?
Using a crochet hook that is too large for your project can fundamentally alter the characteristics and outcome of your work. It can cause inconsistent stitches, altered texture and drape, an increase in gaps and spaces, a change in the amount of yarn needed, tension difficulty, and finally altered size.
Inconsistency in Stitches: Oversized hooks may lead to disproportionate and irregular crochet stitches. This can significantly affect the overall look of your project.
Altered Texture and Drape: A bigger crochet hook will create larger loops and stitches, which can alter the texture and drape of the finished piece, making it looser than intended, and in some cases, too flexible or limp.
Increased Gaps and Spaces: The change in the size of the stitches will lead to increased spaces between them, potentially making them unsuitable for some designs.
Yarn Consumption: The amount of yarn needed to complete the project will be highly altered from what the design called for. This can go either way, you may need less yarn as you will reach the intended dimensions faster. Or you might need even more yarn because to finish the entire pattern each stitch now being larger will require more yarn than was intended.
Difficulty in Maintaining Tension: Maintaining consistent tension can be challenging with larger crochet hooks. Uneven and uncontrolled tension can lead to irregularities throughout your crochet project.
Altered Sizes: The dimensions of your project will be different when you are using a bigger hook. This might lead to unintended modifications in the scale of the finished product, making it potentially unfit for its intended purpose.
While oversized crochet hooks have their place in creating specific textures and effects, it is crucial to pair the right hook size with your project and yarn to ensure consistent stitches, accurate detailing, optimal drape, and a harmonious overall appearance.
It depends. Hook material is all up to the individual. The texture of your yarn will interact with the different materials in different ways. Wooden hooks will grip better than metal hooks, so if you are using an acrylic yarn that is scratchy a metal hook might be better for you. But if you are using a silky yarn then a wooden hook might work better for you than a metal one since the yarn won’t slip around as much on wood.
Plastic crochet hooks are in between metal and wood for how much the hook will grip the yarn.
Yes, but just remember that if you change the hook size this can cause the project to change size. Yarn weight and hook size both will change the look and texture of crochet projects. But that is the beauty of making your own stuff, you can change out what you want and personalize it to fit your likes.