NEW!!!  Interchangeable Head Crochet Hook Set
(info at bottom of page)

Originally, I identified the steel crochet hooks for projects by the American and British numbers. Then email began to come in stating the hooks people were purchasing were various millimeter sizes but the same American number. Also, UK people notified me the British numbers are no longer used. I knew I had to go on a reconnaissance mission and find out what was going on.

I checked several crafts and discount stores and found Susan Bates size 9 could be 1.25mm or 1.15mm.  I also found this problem in other brands of steel hooks.  I then picked up some Boye hooks and checked them out. The millimeter does equate with the American size and I have never found one numbered incorrectly in comparison to the millimeter.  It is important to acquaint yourself with the millimeter of each steel crochet hook you use since this is the more common way of identifying them. The Boye crochet hooks have become my favorite.   I use a 1.40mm Boye for most of my bead crochet and a 1.00mm hook when I want a tighter bead crochet piece.  I use larger hooks such as 3.50mm, 3.25mm and 2.10mm for thin yarns.  

Every crocheter works differently; some work tight, some loose, others very tight, others very loose and some like me, about medium. I use a 1.40mm for Czech 11/0, 8/0 and 6/0 seed beads and Japanese Delica beads with Jean Stitch thread. Keep in mind that I crochet medium and use Jean Stitch for all my bead crochet with these size beads. If you use a thicker thread, you may need a larger size hook. If you crochet tight, you might need a hook one or two sizes larger; if you crochet loose, you might need a crochet hook one or two sizes smaller. I have one of every size steel crochet hook because I use them all the time. I would advise you keep at least one size smaller and one size larger hook than the one you use the most. I also keep a spare of the size I use most in case I misplace one.

How you crochet will determine the exact crochet hook you use. Use the tables below as a guide. The first table matches crochet hooks with beads used in my Beadwrangler kits. The second table is more general and matches crochet hooks to all the popular seed beads. Seed beads from size 16/0 thru 25/0 are rare and most are vintage beads that are no longer manufactured. You can also go to my www.beadwrangler.com website and check Inside Threads for my conversion chart of thread and beads. Also check Inside Beads for additional information about beads.

Steel crochet hooks have many uses in addition to crocheting with threads, such as crocheting with seed beads; adding seed beads to knitting and crochet, and as a general tool for crafts.

 Using a hook to crochet with beads traditionally means the seed beads are strung prior to beginning to crochet.  The seed beads are usually strung on the thread with a thin twisted wire needle.  Seed beads can be strung prior to knitting too, using a twisted wire needle.  The threads are usually smooth and thin and the beads glide across the fibers. This method is best for using masses of seed beads.

Mystery Stole and similar projects

 When there is a smaller amount of beads required for a project, such as 200 to 300 beads, and the fiber is thicker, a crochet hook can be used to attach larger beads, one at a time, onto the fiber for knitting or crochet.  The crochet hook must be small enough to slide the bead over it, then with the crochet hook, grasp the stitch loop on the knit piece and flip the bead onto the stitch loop.  Use the crochet hook to open up the stitch loop above the bead, put the knitting needle through the stitch above the bead and continue knitting.  The same can be applied with crochet.  This method can also be applied for a different placement of the seed beads than the traditional.

 For 8/0 and 6/0 beads and lace weight yarn, a size 13/.85mm steel crochet hook works best for attaching the beads to the fiber, one at a time as you knit or crochet.

The chart below is for seed beads strung prior to crocheting or knitting with beads,
NOT for projects like the Mystery Stole.

Crochet Hook Order Page