Question about crocheting doilies?

Question

I like to crochete with regular yarn and my friend gave me a box today with instruction books and yarn to crochete doilies, which I have never done before but would like to try, there was also a hook in the box, the hook only has a letter for a size (letter F) and the instructions all give numbers for the size hook you need, is there a chart that shows the number equivalant of the letter on the hook? Like on my other regular hooks it says U.S 6G/4.00 MM

Thanks for the advice, my biological grandma who passed away about 2 years ago crocheted doilies and I have wanted to carry on her tradition, I'll wait till I can get to the store and get the right sizes.

Answer 1

nightshadetn has a wonderful answer.

http://www.hassdesign.com/BasicFiletTechniques/CrochetHooksAndThread/
Here is a chart of hook sizes.
http://www.geocities.com/nornsneedlework/crochet/hookchart.htm
Here is a chart of hook and thread match up.

http://members.aol.com/crochettalk2/snowdoily.htm
this is one that uses size 10 thread.

I would recommend starting with size 10 thread or larger. Tension is so key to doilies and the smaller the thread the harder the tension is to control. My first two doilies looked terrible but I kept trying. Coaster or snowflakes are good for practicing tension control. That way you don't feel as frustrated when you spent days working on something to have it look bumping and holey. Snowflakes usually take longer to read the pattern than to stitch.

Here is a bunch of snowflake patterns.
http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/snowflakes.php

Here are a bunch of coasters patterns.
http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/coasters.php

Sometimes the coaster use regular yarn so that you can practice the circle increases, if like me you had no idea how to do it. I only started this summer because I wanted to do something that wasn't dragging hot yarn around. I knit in the winter.

I'm not an expert but I keep trying and I'm getting better. I switched to hankie edging late summer and I think I have the tension down well enough now to attempt another doily.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Darlin, doilies are worked in the small cotten thread. The directions will tell you what size thread you need as well as what size hook. The hook it is calling for are the very small steel crochet hooks. I work with all sizes and types of yarn. I have made everything from aphgans using worsted weight yarn and stuffed animals to delicate doilies using the #7 steel hook and #10 bead spread weight cotten.

Here is a link that I think will be helpful. Don't be afraid to try. I would rather work with the beadspred cotten than yarn sometimes for you can actually see your project coming together faster.

Another tip, if you do decide to try thread work such as doilies use a rubber band to mark the stop point on your steel hook. The stop point is where the hook will widen. Your steel hook will come to a taper. In this harrow space is where your thread needs to stay to keep your tention. You place your rubber band where the taper ends so you don't go too far back on the hook and mess up your tension.

Email me if you need further advise.

There are several doilie patterns on this page. I would suggest sta5ting with the fellet square doily or the net stitch flower doilie. I am going to also list another one of my favorite doilies that is very simple even though it looks extravagant.

Another type. When you are working a doilie, use a safety pin to mark the beginning of your row. If you don't you will get lost. I have been crocheting for 23 years and I still get lost on doilies if I don't mark my rows.

Good luck and happy stitching
Nightshade

Answer 3

Doilies require a small hook. "F" is pretty big for a doily. They are made with skinny thread. Take your pattern to the store and ask a clerk to show you the correct hook and yarn.

Answer 4

You might want to try Youtube if you haven't crocheted in a while. They have lots of patterns there and it's very helpful having the video to follow along with.