Hook size confusion

Crochet!
1

Just when I thought I had knitting needle size designations figured out, I get even more confused by crochet hooks!

I’m starting an afghan, from a sea-shell pattern I found. It says use worsted wool and “bone crochet hook No. 3 or 4”. I found this chart, so I’m guessing it is the U.K. designation which means 6.5 or 6.0 mm. Does that sound right?

It looks reasonable to me. I’m not too concerned about the gauge, but I don’t want it to be way off.

Thanks for any help!

2

What a confusing chart! As long as you use the mm size designated you can’t go wrong.

3

The chart here http://www.purplekittyyarns.com/info/crochet-hook-conversion.html should be more helpful.

4

Thanks for the chart.

The pattern doesn’t give a size in mm, all it says is “bone crochet hook No. 3 or 4”. So would that most likely be a UK 3 or 4 (6.5 or 6.0 mm) or a US 3 or 4 (3.25 or 3.5 mm)?

I’m a total beginner, so I have no idea what would be typical for an afghan with worsted weight yarn.

5

If your doing an afghan then you want the 6-6.5 mm hooks. think of it this way a 6 mm knitting needle is a US 10 and 6mm crochet hook is J-US 10 also. Plus if you are using worsted weight yarn you want the 6 mm hook not the 3.5mm hook because it would be too small.

6

Thanks, that makes sense. I started with the 6 mm hook and it looks like it’s working well.

7

According to the chart you found you are correct. In the US it would be a D or E size hook. I looked at the picture and the pattern and the size of the hook while though small is correct. The shells formed are small and not large. You could go up a hook size if you want the shells to be bigger. Otherwise hook with US , D or E, which is 3.25 mm or 3.5 mm.
>> I does look since it is an old pattern that back then the women didn’t have the sizes in hook selection that we have now and while we would use a larger hook than they did then they made do with what they had.

8

Thanks mathwizard. I made a small swatch with a 3.5 mm hook, and the shells did come out smaller. But I like the result better with the 6 mm hook, so that’s what I’ll continue to use.