Crochet advice/help required

[Lioness]

I am thinking about making some crocheted snowflakes as Christmas (sorry ) tree decorations which would be donated/sold for charity.

I think that I probably need some white cotton yarn in size 10. Once made they are supposed to be starched so that they hold their shape on the tree.
Can anyone recommend a yarn which could be suitable?
Do I need mercerised cotton?
Don't want to spend loads but neither do I want them to fall apart or look naff once made.

Also does anyone use ergonomic hooks? If so, any recommendations? I would probably need 1-2mm sizes if I go ahead with this project, but would consider buying a whole set (well you have to, don't you....)
I do have a set of normal metal hooks but I want to avoid getting pains in my hands if I want to do more than the odd item.

Any assistance would be appreciated as whilst I have knitted a lot, crochet is still a bit of a mystery.

Thank you

[Jacksmissis]

Can't help with the yarns Lioness, but I do have a set of the chunky handled hooks that I got of ebay - think they were about £7 for the set and they are a doddle to use. I got them for a "learning to crochet class" I went to because I've never been able to crochet and found the traditional metal hooks difficult to use. All the handles are colour coded and they're made from a kind of neoprene stuff which is nice and comfortable. Still don't like to crochet as much as knitting but I have more patience to play about with crochet now.

[RozMinis]

Now first you have to go and sit on the naughty step for using the word C********, JM will have your guts for garters. ;)

Size #10, or even #20 crochet cotton is the way to go Lioness. You should be able to buy it from sellers on either Amazon or eBay. My local market sometimes has white at round about £4.50 a ball for the #10, though for some reason they don't call it that. It is often called bedspread weight. I prefer the #20 myself, but that is because I like a finer weight in knitting/crochet.

I use the Clover hooks, have every one of 'em from 0.50mm up to 6, though I seldom use anything thicker than 3.25mm. Many companies tend not to use the 2.25, 2.75, 3.25, and 3,75, hence why I bought the Clover hooks. It is the same with knitting needles, yet I find I use those quarter/three quarter hooks and needles the most. Granted they are more expensive than aluminium/steel, but oh so much nicer to use.

Don't forget if you patterns are from the USA they use different terms to the rest of the world. Why I do not know, probably the same as their spelling, as in they forgot their dictionary's when they departed these shores. The Canadian's, Aussie's, Kiwi's and Saffie's were obviously more on the ball. :)

Roz

[Lioness]

thanks JM. will have a look. I too much prefer knitting, but thought i'd give crochet a go

[Lioness]

Now first you have to go and sit on the naughty step for using the word C********, JM will have your guts for garters. ;)

Size #10, or even #20 crochet cotton is the way to go Lioness. You should be able to buy it from sellers on either Amazon or eBay. My local market sometimes has white at round about £4.50 a ball for the #10, though for some reason they don't call it that. It is often called bedspread weight. I prefer the #20 myself, but that is because I like a finer weight in knitting/crochet.

I use the Clover hooks, have every one of 'em from 0.50mm up to 6, though I seldom use anything thicker than 3.25mm. Many companies tend not to use the 2.25, 2.75, 3.25, and 3,75, hence why I bought the Clover hooks. It is the same with knitting needles, yet I find I use those quarter/three quarter hooks and needles the most. Granted they are more expensive than aluminium/steel, but oh so much nicer to use.
....
Roz

Done my stint now on the naughty step ...

Thanks Roz for all the advice. I tried a size 5 cotton and that was definitely not fine enough. I will buy 1 ball of each size 10 and 20 and see how I go. Think I will also have to get stronger glasses though
I have heard good reviews about the clover hooks but they are more expensive so will consider them if I succeed with the finer cotton. I am a sucker for sets and I like the option of being able to go up or down a size if necessary. I like the metric measurements too and that is a good point about the quarter cm increments which allow for fine adjustments.

Now I just have to be careful that I don't add to my herd of white elephants .....

[RozMinis]

Mwhahahahaha, hope you didn't get too cold and damp on the nawty step.

The jury is still out on which I prefer, knitting, crochet or hand stitching.

Roz

[Lioness]

I looked for chunky handled crochet hooks on ebay and while there were several in larger sizes, I could not find anything for the smaller sized hooks so I went for a set of Clover amour ones as I think that I would be able to resell them if I didn't get on with them. So far I have only had a little play as we have been away, but I must say that I love them. Thanks JM for the point about colour identification and Roz for the Clover recommendation.

Could have saved myself a little bit of money had I waited as I have just spotted them for £3.75 in a sale. (size 0.6 - 1.75)

[RozMinis]

Can't manage without my hooks now. I have all the Clover sizes, from 0.50mm up to round about 4.5 I think, or it may be 5mm. I don't use the larger hooks very much, in fact at the moment it seems to be 3.00mm for virtually everything, including the Toft animals.

Made a start on a friend for Donder (reindeer) today, a polar bear. At the moment he is a chap, but who knows what he/she will be once finished, which hopefully will be tomorrow. I'm hoping Donder will feel a lot happier with a friend to keep her company, especially as they will be spending the summer/autumn in the C******** cupboard.

Roz

[Jacksmissis]

Just ordered a set of the soft grip handle hooks for my sister, she used to crochet a lot years ago but has had carpel tunnel on both her hands so I think she gave it up so I thought she may like them to try again. They do start at 2 which is a bit thick but on the other hand I wouldn't think she'd want to do the really fine work at first. Hope she likes them !!

[RozMinis]

The Clover hooks start at 0.50mm JM, they also include a couple of sizes that are not readily available here in the UK. When I was doing my mini stuff I used 0.50 for most of my projects, though I also had 0.40. Could only buy them from specialist shops, which was a bit of a pain. The aluminium sizes used to include 3.25 and 3.75, but once they were imports only, they dropped those sizes. Blessing on clover in that they also include these quarter sizes.

I think knitting needles have gone the same way, but luckily the likes on KnitPro are providing the quarter sizes. In fact they also sell 1.00 sets of six needles. I bought them to see if I could go back to mini knitting. Failed at the time, but I s'pose I could always give it another try, if I can find the time that is! :)

Roz