We have all been there as crocheters or knitters, wondering about yarn and what crochet hook or knitting needles to use with them. The question often haunts us when trying out a new variety of yarn or sometimes trying out a new pattern so we are unsure how the yarn shall behave. About this creative craft, Kim and Pulvermahker quoted, "You can crochet with any fine, flexible, continuous material that you can wrap around a crochet hook." With crochet, you can transform yarn into warm scarves, sweaters, blankets, whimsical Amigurumi and so much more. Whether you use fine thread, medium or super bulky material, the right crochet hook can have you create wonders. Therefore, when so much depends on the yarn, the decision of choosing a crochet hook must be carefully considered. A crochet hook size is known by the diameter of the crochet shaft. You can refer to our previous blog on how to choose the best crochet hook.
To answer the question of what crochet hook to use with what yarn, here’s a quick guide to help you make choices.
Yarn Weight & Crochet Hook Size Chart
| Yarn Weight Terms | Types of Yarn | Suggested Hook Size |
| #0 | Lace, Thread | 1.50 mm, (B/1) 2.25 mm, 2.50 mm |
| #1 | Super Fine | (C/2) 2.75 mm, (D/3) 3.25 mm |
| #2 | Fine | (E/4) 3.50 mm, (F/5) 3.75 mm |
| #3 | Light, Double Knitting | (G/6) 4.00 mm, (7) 4.50 mm, (H/8) 5.00 mm |
| #4 | Medium, Aran, Worsted | (I/9) 5.50 mm, (J/10) 6.00 mm, (K/11) 6.50 mm |
| #5 | Bulky, Chunky | 7.00 mm, (L) 8.00 mm, (M/N) 9.00 mm |
| #6 | Super Chunky | (N/M) 10.00 mm, 12.00 mm |
| #7 | Jumbo | (P/Q) 15.00 mm, (Q) 16 mm |
So, this chart gives you an insight, let’s now take a detailed look.
What yarn weight do you have?
The yarn weight is the first thing to be understood when choosing a crochet hooks. Yarn weight has very little to do with the actual weight (heaviness), it is more to do with the thickness of a yarn strand. Most yarn manufacturers use a common standard of numbering the yarn weight so that a crocheter or knitter can easily substitute the yarn whenever needed.
Mostly when you buy skeins of yarn they have a description on the label that includes its fibre, length/yardage, weight and recommended size of knitting needles or crochet hooks. If you are just starting it’s better to follow the yarn label details and the pattern. If you do not want to go by the instructions and want to choose your own yarn weight, it’s better to crochet a gauge swatch for your own calculations.
What result are you looking for?
When you crochet, crochet hook sizes and yarn weight can also be chosen according to the final look of the project that you have in your mind. If you’re following a crochet pattern you can go along with the designer’s instructions and create the very same thing in the very same look and finish. But, oftentimes you would like to add your creative spark to your creation. If you would want a “normal finish” then it’s better you go with the suggested hook size, a “tight finish” will require a smaller size crochet hook than suggested and with a bigger size crochet you can get the “loose or stretchy finish”.
The general rule of crochet is thicker the yarn, the thicker the tool. But with thick yarn and a thin hook, a stable finish, with will be few or no holes in the result can be created. This finish is required for an Amigurumi crochet project, where it is important to have a tight result to keep the filling inside and not peeking through. Big crochet hooks, like jumbo and thin yarn will produce a stretching finish that can be a look you decide for a light shawl or decorative piece.
All about the Yarn Fibre
When it comes to the yarn fibre, it is a big deciding factor when choosing a crochet hook. Fibre means the composition and there is a big difference between cotton, wool, blended and synthetic yarns.
Anything crocheted or knitted with cotton is more likely to create a loose look, especially if you combine bigger hooks with thinner yarn. Working with thinner hooks on wool yarn will result in a stable look.
So, there is no right answer to what crochet hook to use with what yarn, it depends on personal preference and style. If you are unsure about the choosing process, the best solution would be a gauge swatch, which will be your personal map to the journey of crochet.
Hope, that this post makes your doubts clear. I would like to mention that a crocheter must also consider a crochet hook after considering or planning the techniques of crochet or the crochet stitches. Now before we end the post, let’s take a look at the different types – single-ended, double-ended and the very special Afghan/ Tunisian crochet hook. KnitPro presents a range of materials like steel, aluminium, wood, bamboo, acrylic and more. Our popular options include the comfortable Waves, beautiful Symfonie wood or Ginger, our vibrant Zing, Our previous blog on everything you need to know about crochet hook sizes will assist you in deciding your tools for your crochet project.
