Steel hooks

[LibiLou]

Quick question for those in the know.

 

With Steel hooks, is it the larger the hook, the smaller the number? I'm trying to figure this whole thing out, and honestly, I don't see much difference in the sizes...lol. And is it the same with thread?

[bubblefizz]

confuses me aswell lol

i want to know if you can get a 2.00mm steel hook i have metal but is more like plastic

[Julie]

The larger the number, the smaller the hook. For example, a #2 hook is bigger than a #10. Here is a chart you can reference.

 

The larger the number, the smaller the thread. Size 3 thread is bigger than size 10 (also known as bedspread weight cotton), size 10 thread is bigger than size 20, 30, etc.

[hooklady]

confuses me aswell lol

i want to know if you can get a 2.00mm steel hook i have metal but is more like plastic

 

US size 4 steel hook should measure 2.00mm. The mm size should be on the hook.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Emily

[Me&P]

Same as needles. Smaller # = Bigger needle/hook

[Stacey]

My size 4 Boye hook is 2.0mm, but the couple of Susan Bates ones I have are sized smaller it seems--my size 4 Bates hook is 1.75mm. I have this chart bookmarked that lists sizes for Boye and Bates hooks and some others, and the few Bates steel hooks I have seem to follow it: http://www.busy-fingers.com/conversions.htm Not sure why they don't make them the same size, though!

[Jsilvers]

Bates and Boye steel hooks have different sizes for the same numbers. I think they coincide at about 10, but the smaller sizes veer wildly. The Bates hooks decrease by .05 mm per number increase (13 = .95, 14 = .9, etc.), Boye 13 is .85 and 14 is .75. Bates no longer makes 11, 12, 13 and 14. They now make 11/12 and 13/14. The sizing is ok, but the shaft is much thinner, unfortunately, since a threadie uses the shaft to size the loop on the hook. The Japanese Tulip hooks follow the classic Bates sizing scheme, up to size 22 and have a proper shaft size. And of course, the British have (had?) still another numbering scheme.

 

When I talk about the size hook I am using, I try to specify the mm instead of the size number.

[Stacey]

up to size 22

 

I've started keeping track of size in mm, too, ever since the time I was making something with my #4 Boye hook and then partway through switched to the #4 Bates hook without noticing the size difference, and they are sooo not the same size!