A Guide to Crochet Thread Weights
If you are a beginner crocheter, you may find crochet thread as well as yarn in your favorite craft store. Crochet thread is a popular alternative to regular yarn to create lace, doilies, very lightweight baby clothes, jewelry or other decorative items.
What is crochet thread made of?
Crochet thread is sometimes referred to as “crochet cotton”, since it is usually made from 100% mercerized cotton. Other fiber content, like acrylic, is is a lot less common.
What are the different sizes of crochet thread?
The most important thing about to know about the numbers assigned to crochet thread is that they are the opposite of the yarn weight numbering system: for crochet thread, the higher the number, the thinner the thread.
Crochet thread comes in sizes 3, 5, 10, 20, and 30, and is sometimes available in increments up to size 100. Size 3 is similar in thickness to Fingering Weight yarn and is often used to make garments; thread above size 10 gets progressively thinner and becomes more similar to sewing thread.
What size crochet hook is used for crochet thread?
Typically, crocheters use steel crochet hooks instead of regular hooks when working with very fine thread. Steel hooks tend to have much smaller heads and to be much stronger than regular hooks. Steel hooks come in sizes from 0.60 mm to 2.0 mm.
Here are some common crochet thread sizes, along with recommended hook sizes:
# 3 Crochet Thread (the thickest crochet thread; similar to yarn size #2, Fine) Recommended hook size: 3.5 – 3.75 mm
# 5 Crochet Thread (similar to yarn size #1 Super Fine): Recommended hook size: 1.75 – 2 mm
# 10 Crochet Thread (sometimes called bedspread weight; similar to yarn size 0, Lace Weight): Recommended hook size: 1.5 – 1.75 mm
# 20 Crochet Thread Recommended hook size: 1.15-1.25 mm
# 30 and #40 Crochet Thread Recommended hook size: 1 mm
# 60 and #80 Crochet Thread Recommended hook size: 0.75 mm
# 100 Crochet Thread Recommended hook size: 0.60 mm
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