Comments on: Suggested Size: Choosing the Right Needles or Hook to Get Gauge

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Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:14:13 +0000

By: Linda Sue Tamburino

Linda Sue Tamburino — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 02:15:51 +0000

If you have differing width and height on your knitted swatch, sometimes using different sizes for knit and for purl will work.

By: Diane Wiman

Diane Wiman — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 02:29:57 +0000

for a crochet hook conversion chart, use your computer search engine to look up
Crochet Hook Size Comparison

I found 3 within a minute, for US and UK differences, also able to print

By: Diane

Diane — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:20:30 +0000

I know this is off subject, but when did crochet hook naming change? I grew up using hooks by letter name, e.g. F, K, etc. Now I notice they are by millimeter, e.g. 4.5, 7, etc. New hooks occasionally still carry a letter, but it's really hard to see. Does someone have a conversion chart for those of us who occasionally need to buy a new hook to fill in our collection?" Zontee says: Hi Diane, in the US, we still go by letter for the larger hooks, but most hooks include the millimeter to be more friendly to people who many not have grown up with the convention. Also, sizing isn't perfectly standards--some companies may call a hook thickness an "M" while others call it an "N." Smaller steel hooks are usually by number or millimeter. Click here for a chart to help.

By: Cindy Lewis

Cindy Lewis — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:09:38 +0000

I recently started an afghan kit of seven different motifs of sunflowers. After checking the general gauge, I decided to make one of each to insure they would all finish out at the 8 inches described in the pattern. I discovered one flower exceeded that measurement. I dropped back one size on the crochet hook for the flower and finished the edging with the regular hook to insure a match when sewing the motif together. Perfect!

By: Sandy

Sandy — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:37:11 +0000

What can/do you do when the gauge is correct for the width but not the height or vice versa? For example, say the gauge is 4 rows x 8 rows = 4″ and your piece is 4″ x 3″ or the other way around. Do you change the needle? Increase the number of rows or stitches?

Zontee says: Hi Sandy, please see my answer to Karen’s question above. It’s best to match your stitch gauge, since generally speaking, most patterns will tell you to work to a specific length (height) of your piece and not a number of rows. Be sure to read my explanation of how to address the exception above.

By: Verna Varrone

Verna Varrone — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:31:36 +0000

Whatever I’m knitting or crocheting, I’ll always start the swatch with the recommended needle size, then switch up or down by how the swatch measures. Sometimes it the way you knit or crochet and sometimes it’s the yarn.

By: Diane Wiman

Diane Wiman — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:45:02 +0000

Just last week I pulled out a bag of sport weight yarn which had been purchased on Clearance many months ago. The wrapper said 4mm would be a good size, so I started with one.
Didn’t like the grip to use for all the time it would take to make the baby blankie.
Went to a same size, different brand. Very tight and stiff stitches.
Moved up to a 4.5mm. Decided the pattern wouldn’t do. Found a different pattern. Wouldn’t drape loosely enough.
6 sample squares before I decided I could keep going. Now the 18″ done on the actual blankie, and looking lovely so far, I’m using a 5.5mm
Yep, I take those words on the band to be starting suggestions

By: Linda Kennedy

Linda Kennedy — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:10:00 +0000

I crochet mostly for charity, so I usually go with whatever hook size feels right, or what is recommended by the yarn/pattern. Since I do a lot of afghans, hook size isn’t usually a big issue, so chooing my own is easy.