Hey everyone!
It's been a long while since my last blog post, but I am back with a really interesting discovery.
Steel crochet hooks are a staple in the traditional crocheter's arsenal. These work best with Monaco Mercerized Crochet Cotton or Cannon Mercerized crochet thread - which were the classic yarns that most people learned to crochet on in home economics.
Since crochet has been modernized, and more tools - bigger hooks and thick yarns- have become available, we've been exposed to various hook sizing systems like the steel numbers for IMIA steel hooks, Japan sizing (1/0, 2/0 etc), the US alphabet sizing, and of course the metric (mm) sizing.
Up to recently, we adhered to the Tulip steel crochet hook sizes that were used in the Etimo Blue, Etimo Rose, and Sucre sizings. However, we were notified by a client once that she purchased a Tulip Etimo Blue #6 (1.00mm) and it did not match up to her IMIA #6 crochet hook. *insert wide eyes*
So, I tried to dig up as much information as I could on the conversion from IMIA sizes to mm, but surprisingly most of the information I found was based on the Tulip sizing as well ( 0 is 1.75mm, 2 is 1.50mm, 4 is 1.25mm etc). Others from Western crocheter-bloggers plugged 2.25mm or 3.25mm as a size 0, which does not seem accurate (even if you compare them).
Do you see it? No? Here's a closer look
This is ETIMO 0 and 2 along side their IMIA (0 and 2) equivalents
This is Etimo 4 and 6 along side IMIA 4 and 6.
The IMIA hooks have a noticeably thicker hook shaft than the Tulip ones. In case you didn't know, the metric size is actually the diameter of the hook shaft.
Thus, this hunt for the true conversion! (or the closest I can get to it with the human eye).
[UPDATE AS OF AUGUST 24, 2020] I just received a confirmation message from our Japanese supplier of IMIA with the metric equivalent of the IMIA steel crochet hooks so here it goes this is the LEGITIMATE IMIA to metric steel crochet hook conversion chart!!!!
Please note that I only placed the hook sizes that were available to me. For the Clover column, I only have 2mm, 1.75mm and 1.50mm so those are the only ones I can verify. I also noticed that the Clover hooks are not as pointy as the Tulip, IMIA and Pony hooks, so it may look smaller but it's the shaft diameter we are after, not the hook head.
If you have any other machines or measuring tools you can suggest I try to make this more accurate, please let me know! I'm all for continuous learning and sharing here at Oh My Yarn ;) If you notice any discrepancies, you can reach out to us and let us know so we can fix it!
To Rosario Cartagena, I think that it would truly depend on your technique and preference, but I enjoy working with the Etimo Rose lace singles (more than the Clover Amour actually)
To Edith Gonzales, the Craft Yarn Council has the Standard Yarn Weight Chart which may address your concern :) they classify yarns into “yarn weights” based on thickness and provide a range of crochet hook or knitting needle sizes based on this. You may view the full chart here: https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/standards/yarn-weight-system
If you are referring to just one hook size per yarn, that’s quite impossible to pick out because just between me and my mom, we could be using the same yarn, but I would use a 3.5mm but she would prefer a 4.0mm. This is because we have different techniques and tensions.
I hope this answers your concerns!
Your article is very educational. I have some IMIA hooks and I can start reusing them again. Together with the hook comparison chart, maybe you can also compare yarn weights of the various yarns you sell vs. recommended hook sizes. Thank you.
May I know which is the best among the brand you posted?
Tia.🙂