Crochet Hooks

by Alison | Crochet Basics

 by Alison Stapleton

Crochet Hook Sizes

Crochet hooks are measured in different sizes and the two types of measurement are metric and imperial.

Metric Size Hooks (UK)

Metric hook sizes are measured in millimeters (mm).

This refers to the diameter of the hook.

Such as:

1.25mm, 2mm, 3.5mm, 4mm, 4.5mm, 5mm, 5.5mm, 6mm, 7mm, 8mm, 9mm, 10mm, 1mm, 15mm and 20mm.

Imperial Size Hooks (USA)

Imperial sizes are usually feet and inches and in this case crochet hooks are given a letter of the alphabet.

Crochet Hook Size Chart

Old US sizes		Metric
A	0	2.00 mm
B	1	2.25 mm
C	2	2.75 mm
D	3	3.25 mm
E	4	3.50 mm
F	5	3.75 mm
G	6	4.00 mm
	7	4.50 mm
H	8	5.00 mm
I	9	5.5 mm
J	10	6 mm
K	10 ½	6.5 mm
L	11	8 mm
M	13	9 mm
N / P	15	10 mm
O		12 mm
P / Q		15 mm
Q		16 mm
R		19 mm
S		25 mm

Hook materials

Crochet hooks can be made from many materials but the usual ones are:

Steel
Aluminium
Bamboo
Hardwood
Plastic
Glass

Bamboo and plastic crochet hooks bend and this can slow you down. The best hooks are made from steel, aluminum or hard woods like rosewood.

Aluminum crochet hooks come in different colors for each size so you can see immediately the difference between a 4.5mm hook and a 5mm hook.

Collecting hooks

Over time you will collect many crochet hooks in different sizes and also hooks in the same size so you can have one for each project or every place which you crochet.

For example I have one crochet hook in the kitchen drawer for squares and one in the car also for squares.

I also have a hook next to my chair in front of the TV for the bigger projects and blankets.

How to Name Your Patterns

by Alison | Crochet Business, Crochet Patterns

Pattern Designers

If you are a pattern designer and most of us are, and I certainly am, you need to name each pattern I find the main trend is to name things after girls names like Jessica’s hat and Megan’s hat. But in the end there are so many Jessica’s hats that it gets confusing. Let me share with you some ideas on naming your crochet items so they add value to your goods and they start to sell themselves.

Naming the names

I’ve always been a stickler for names and naming things correctly as I believe that the names you have and use impart some of the meaning to the items or person. It is often the case that Mr. Woods is a gardener and Mrs. Draper is in fact a draper. These are last names and the root for most last names is from the trades the people performed way back. Choosing a good name for your patterns may take a bit of thought, but it is worth it. There is no hard and fast rule on how to do this, however, you will know when you have the best name for your patterns. Maybe you are into gemstones, so you name you patterns the Emerald Earwarmer or the Beryl Bag. Or perhaps you like dogs, so you name your items the Labrador Lacy Legwarmer and the Pretty Poodle Purse. It doesn’t matter what you choose really, but that the names mean something to you, and they are not another Jessica’s hat.

Old English Creations Pattern names

Because I have the crochet name of Old English Creations I decided to name my patterns after the counties in England and other villages, towns and cities I have visited. Most of our patterns come with a little snippet from Merry Old England and elsewhere and are named after places we have lived.

County

An English county is like a U.S. State or a Canadian or South African province. There is no rhyme or reason but I thought it was a good way to move from your Jessica hat and the next persons Jessica’s hat. But let me tell you a secret. The first pattern is named Lancashire for a reason that Lancashire is my home county. I was born there and it will always have a special jam place in my heart. But. Because I make shawls and wraps there is an old folk song about Lancashire shawls. Here goes…

The Lassie from Lancashire

She’s a lassie from Lancashire

Just a lassie from Lancashire.

She’s a lassie from Lancashire

Oh, so, dear.

Though she dresses in clogs and shawls,

She’s the prettiest of them all.

None could be rarer, or fairer, than Sarah,

The lassie from Lancashire.

As I start this blog and get things going I may live to regret this decision (to name things as above), but that will be a thought for another day and for now I like the plan and will keep to it.

Crochet Explained Letter by Letter

by Alison | Crochet as Therapy

What is crochet?

Let’s break it down letter by letter.

C – R – O – C – H – E – T

C is for Creative

If it is anything crochet is creative. It is not like knitting where machines can do it. Crochet is always done by hand and usually there is only one stitch on the hook at a time.

R is for Release

When crocheting the release come from the letting go of stress by the rhythmic hooking of the garment. . To think that crochet is just making stuff is incorrect and you will miss one of the greatest benefits of crochet to assume so.

O is for Original

Every piece is an original. Yes you may make more than one hat but each hat will be an original pei e of art as the crafter making it will impart something of there essence into the item. Many crochet gets will adapt a pattern to suit themselves and this makes each insinuate and original. There is no cookie cutter crochet.

C is for Colour

Clearly color plays a big part in crochet. The simple to the intricate an bring different feels to the moods of the it’s through the use of color whether bristly or pastel shades are used the individual color. Ok inactions of each crafter will show in the finished item. .

H is for Heavenly

Heavenly may not be the first word you relate to crocheting it those who do it a lot will agree. That there is something almost spiritual in the. Reaction of an item where your thoughts and even prayers will become part of the item. If you listen to music whilst crocheting you can remember the th elated when you look and admire the finished work.

E is for Enjoyment

You have to enjoy crocheting to get the most from the craft. Choosing the yarn, pattern and colors and the message in your piece is all part of the enjoyment of crocheting. Some people. Do get e dry day as testament to their love of crochet.

T is for Tension

All crocheted items have tension in the stitches. If you hold the yarn too tight the item will be strangled. If you holds the yarn too loose the item will have no shape. Tension when perfect results in a beautiful creation. Every crocheted will make a tension square before they begin every item to check their tension. Of course there is another type of tension as well the tension you may have because your life is being challenging this type of tension can be expressed through the beauty of crocheting.

Old English Creations