On Sep 7, 10:50 am, B wrote:
On Thu, 06 Sep 2007 21:35:57 GMT, "Jan" wrote:
Barbara, my fine steel hooks are mostly Boyes but they are quite old and I
haven't used them for several years so I hesitate to recommend them. The
range of sizes is from 0 to 11 and not marked with mm sizes but the smallest
(size 11) appears to be about 1 mm in diameter. I have used crochet threads
in sizes 10, 20 and 30 and possibly others. Assuming your size 16 is
between the 10 and 20 I've used, then it seems to me that a .75 mm hook
would be too small for the size 16. I've never done any Irish crochet but
it sounds fascinating.

The size 16 thread recommended size 1 mm but I tried both and liked
the result with 0.75 better. Irish crochet is supposed to be worked
rather tight. However, I do think that part of my problem is that the
hook part of the hook (if you know what I mean) is too small. I used
to have a wonderful old steel hook that was very fine but had a
decent- sized hook. Unfortunately I lost it on a trip.

I'm not familiar with the US hook sizes, but I think I need something
smaller than your size 11. I've seen smaller sizes on the internet,
but I don't want to spring for a set unless I've had some
recommendation on a good brand. I take it you like the Boye brand.

--
Barbara Vaughan

My email address is my first initial followed by my last name at libero dot it.

The smallest U.S. steel crochet hook is size 14. 0.75 mm, according
to the Boye website http://www.wrights.com/wrights/produ...ochethooks.htm
I used that size when crocheting with sewing thread. Sewing thread is
all size 50 now, whatever that means. Well, cotton-wrapped polyester
thread sizing is the same as the old cotton thread sizing; 50 is the
medium size. But what it's based on, I don't know! Prowling round
the internet: it's the old A&E Ticket 50, equivalent to Tex T-40 and
Metric 75 (cotton Count 28/2 -- assuming 840-yard hanks). But that
was sewing thread, not crochet cord!

Boye has been in business for something like a century, I think; it's
now owned by Wright, which has been going about as long. Personal
knowledge of the companies does not go back that far, of course -- but
I've been using Boye knitting and crochet tools for 35 years, and
Wright was the brand-name on the cards of snap fasteners in my
mother's sewing supplies before that.

Cece