International Crochet Standards

The Craft Yarn Council of America have set up a series of guidelines to bring uniformity to yarn, needle and hook labeling and to patterns, whether they appear in books, magazines, leaflets or on yarn labels. Their goal is to make it easier for you to select the right materials for a project and complete it successfully.

“Standards” are guidelines for industry manufacturers, publishers and designers to assist them in preparing consumer-friendly products. With the cooperation of manufacturers, publishers and designers, these changes will be implemented over a period of time as products and packaging are redesigned and new books and leaflets are published.

It is the Craft Yarn Council of America's objective to design global standards and guidelines that will be used by companies worldwide. To this end, they have reached out to individuals, manufacturers and trade associations in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, as well as in Australia and New Zealand to ask for their input.

Skill Level Chart

Beginner -- Projects for first-time crocheters using basic stitches.  Minimal shaping.
 
Easy -- Projects using yarn with basic stitches, repetitive stitch patterns, simple color changes, and simple shaping and finishing.
 
Intermediate -- Projects using a variety of techniques, such as basic lace patterns or color patterns, mid-level shaping and finishing.
 
Experienced -- Projects with intricate stitch patterns, techniques and dimension, such as non-repeating patterns, multi-color techniques, fine threads, small hooks, detailed shaping and refined finishing.

Crochet Hook Sizes
The Craft Yarn Council’s hook manufacturers have agreed to make metric (millimeter/mm) sizing more prominent on packaging. U.S. sizes - numbers and/or letters, will also appear on packaging.

More prominent labeling of metric sizing, which is an actual measurement, should help eliminate consumer questions about the differences between the letter and number sizing of some hooks. With the cooperation of manufacturers, publishers and designers these changes will be implemented as packaging is reprinted and new patterns are published.

Crochet Hook Sizes
Millimeter Range U.S. Size Range
 
2.25 mm           B-1
2.75 mm           C-2
3.25 mm           D-3
3.5 mm             E-4
3.75 mm           F-5
4 mm               G-6
4.5 mm            7
5 mm               H-8
5.5 mm            I-9
6 mm               J-10
6.5 mm            K-10-½
8 mm               L-11
9 mm               M/N-13
10 mm             N/P-15
15 mm             P/Q
16 mm             Q
19 mm             S

Steel Crochet Hook Sizes
Millimeter Range U.S. Size Range
 
2.7 mm            00
2.55 mm          0
2.35 mm          1
2.2 mm            2
2.3 mm            3
1.75 mm          4
1.7 mm            5
1.6 mm            6
1.5 mm            7
1.4 mm            8
1.25 mm          9
1.15 mm         10
1.0 mm           11/12
0.9 mm           13/14

Don't forget to check out my eBay Store “Allyssabeth's Hidden Treasures” for those hard-to-find knit and crochet patterns and other helpful crafting information.
 
Happy Needlework,
Allyssabeth