measuring crochet hook

[jamielynn1985]

I have a plastic hook that doesn't have a size on it. I think it's an 8 mm but I don't know for sure. Wear would I measure it at to know?

[magiccrochetfan]

you want to measure the shaft as shown in this illustration http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/getting-hooked-on-crocheting.html

 

you can lay it on a ruler that has mm and get a good idea of the size. that is not as precise as a needle checker http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/product.aspx?id=114466

however the checker things don't work if the head of the hook is bigger than the shaft, unless there is no thumb rest and you can measure from the non-hook end.

 

(what's really weird is that photo of the knit-chek is almost exactly life-size on my screen:lol)