Crochet Journal
Crochet Thread Sizes Explained for Delicate Projects
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Crochet thread uses a numbering convention that can surprise yarn crocheters. Within common cotton thread systems, a higher thread number indicates a finer strand.
Read the number as a system
Size 10 thread is thicker than size 20, while size 30 is finer again. Do not translate the number directly into a yarn-weight category. Check the manufacturer's stated size, length and recommended tool information together.
Match a steel hook carefully
Steel crochet hooks also use a numbering system in which larger numbers can mean smaller hooks, and naming may vary by region or maker. The Craft Yarn Council publishes comparison tables, but the millimetre diameter printed on the hook is the clearest reference.
Swatch for the real project
Fine thread makes small changes in hook size and tension visible. Work enough repeats to assess the finished motif, then block the sample using the intended care method. For lace, judge the open spaces after blocking rather than while the stitches are still compressed on the hook.
Keep this in mind
Remember that larger thread numbers mean finer thread, confirm the hook in millimetres and judge the combination after blocking.
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