Crochet hooks and how to hold your hook

When you start to learn to crochet it’s a good idea to invest time in finding hooks that work well with your hands and finding a way to hold your hook that doesn’t stress your hands. In this first tips and tricks post as part of my TLC Blanket in which we learn to crochet, I show you different crochet hooks and hook conversion charts.

Resources

• Add TLC Blanket to your Ravelry library
• Full PDF pattern containing all 8 parts plus links to all the videos
• All RIGHT HANDED Video tutorials in one YouTube playlist
• All LEFT HANDED Video tutorials in one YouTube playlist
• Scheepjes Chunky Monkey yarn (100g/107m)
• 5.0mm (US size H/8) and 6.5mm (US size K/10.5) hook
• Find help in my It’s all in a Nutshell Facebook Group
• Nederlandse vertaling HIER
• Social Media #itsallinanutshell

Crochet hooks

The are many, many crochet hooks available on the market. Try to find a balance between what you can afford and what you need. You don’t need to buy 10 hooks for example, start with one and see if you like it. If you don’t, go for another brand. This way you don’t end up with a lot of hooks you don’t use and you spend your money on hooks you actually like. Keep in mind that, generally speaking, good hooks don’t come cheap.

Some hooks that you could try are Clover Amour (my favorite hooks), Clover Soft Touch, Tulip Etimo, Furls Odyssey, or Addi Swing. All yarn shops carry crochet hooks. Some stores that you could consider visiting are Wool Warehouse (UK/Int) or Caro’s Atelier (NL/EU).

How to hold your hook

In general, there are two main ways to hold your hook, the so-called thumb/knife hold (which is the way I hold my hook), and the so-called pen/pencil hold. Within these two methods there are slight variations in where exactly which finger is placed.

When it comes to holding your crochet hook there is no right or wrong way of doing so. What is important is that you find a way that works for you. You are looking for a grip that is comfortable and does not cause any pain or strain on your hands, wrists or fingers. In these videos, both left handed and right handed, I show the two main methods for holding your hook.

Which hook size is which?

Sometimes a pattern will give a hook size in US terminology, sometimes metric or maybe even UK terminology. This can be a little confusing if the pattern uses a size you don’t recognize. I use the metric systems which means I refer to my hook sizes in millimeter, but maybe you live in the US and then you will be used to a different system. Here an easy crochet hook size conversion chart to help you from one system to the next.

This table is by no means water tight nor do I claim that it’s complete. It’s more than likely that you will find other conversions on the internet. Also keep in mind that “identical” hooks between manufacturers can vary ever so lightly in size.

Metric	US Hook Sizes	UK Hook Sizes
0.60mm	14	–
0.75mm	12	–
0.85mm	–	–
1.00mm	11	4
1.25mm	7	3
1.50mm	6	2.5
1.75mm	5	2
2.00mm	–	14
2.25mm	B/1	13
2.50mm	–	12
2.75mm	C/2	11
3.00mm	–	10
3.25mm	D/3	–
3.50mm	E/4	9
3.75mm	F/5	–
4.00mm	G/6	8
4.50mm	7	7
5.00mm	H/8	6
5.50mm	I/9	5
6.00mm	J/10	4
6.50mm	K/10 1/2	3
7.00mm	10.75	2
7.50mm	–	1
8.00mm	L/11	0
9.00mm	M/13	00
10.0mm	N/15	000
12.0mm	O	–
15.0mm	P	–
16.0mm	Q	–
20.0mm	S	–
25.0mm	50	–

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Learn to crochet and make a TLC Blanket of your own

If you want to make a TLC Blanket of your own, you can find all the information you need HERE. I have all the information available in English and Dutch.

With love,
Esther

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