Materials and Notes

 

MATERIALS

natural fiber yarn
For a warm coverlet, try merino wool, cashmere, or alpaca.  For a light summer throw, try cotton and silk or bamboo. 

crochet hook in a size appropriate for your yarn.
For bulky weight yarn, try a 8 - 10 mm hook.
For worsted weight yarn, try a 4.5 - 5.5 mm hook.
For sport weight yarn, try a 4 mm hook.
For lace weight yarn, try a 2 - 5 mm hook.  

 
NOTES

Visit our Crochet Basics Tutorial for help with the techniques used in this project. 

 
ABBREVIATIONS

dc     double crochet

sc     single crochet

sl st    slip stitch 

Update on Monday, April 30, 2007 by purl bee

FINDING THE RIGHT CROCHET HOOK

A reader asks how to figure out which crochet hook goes with which yarn.  We turn to Yarnstandards.com for the definitive guide to size.  The standard yarn weight chart indicates different yarn types, gauges, and recommended needles and hooks in both millimeters and standard US sizes. 

When we come across antique or well-worn needles or hooks and the size is no longer legible, we rely on Skacel's handy needlegauge to solve the size mystery.

Comments

[melissa]

I've been crocheting for nearly 30 years. When I've been asked about hook sizes from knitters, I simply tell them it works the same as with knitting. The bigger the yarn, the bigger the hook. Big hooks make big stitches, little hooks make little stitches. Big hook with little yarn will make open "lacy" stitches. Little hook with big yarn will make small tight stitches. Easy!! Love the site, you do good work!