Irish crochet (hooks, especially)

I've just started trying to do Irish crochet, after thinking about it for several years. (Until recently, I was too busy to do any crocheting.)

I'm using a size 16 thread and a 0.75 mm hook. These are both larger than is usually used for Irish crochet, but they feel very tiny and all ten of my fingers feel like thumbs. Once I get used to working with this size, I'll try to use an even finer thread. In Irish crochet, threads as fine as size 50 are normally used.

For those of you who don't know Irish crochet, it is intended to look like lace, but is rather free form. You make various motifs with very fine thread, often working over one or more lengths of thicker thread to give a three-dimensional aspect to the motifs. The motifs tend to be flowers, vines, leaves (including shamrocks, of course), and scrolls. When you have enough of these motifs to form a desing, you then make a long chain to serve as the outline of the final piece, and baste this chain to a piece of paper or firm fabric in the shape you want. Then you baste all of the motifs inside the frame you've just made, and fill in the gaps with one of several special stitches that are usually composed of chain stitch and picots or knots. When it's finished, you cut the basting threads to free the piece from the paper backing.

I've decided to make some bookmarks to learn some of the stitches and techniques. It seems to me that the hook I'm using isn't really ideal for this kind of work. The thread tends to slip off it while I'm trying to pull it through. Does anyone have a recommendation for a good brand of steel hook for very fine work?

I'm also having a little trouble working over the padding cord, but I think that's getting easier.

Reply to
B Vaugha
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Barbara, my fine steel hooks are mostly Boyes but they are quite old and I haven't used them for several years so I hesitate to recommend them. The range of sizes is from 0 to 11 and not marked with mm sizes but the smallest (size 11) appears to be about 1 mm in diameter. I have used crochet threads in sizes 10, 20 and 30 and possibly others. Assuming your size 16 is between the 10 and 20 I've used, then it seems to me that a .75 mm hook would be too small for the size 16. I've never done any Irish crochet but it sounds fascinating.

Reply to
Jan

Barbara I belong to a Group called Irish Crochet Lovers, a very quiet group at present however I am sure someone there will be able to help you. Also in the files is a pattern for a Flower Basket Motif and more.

Edna in Sydney

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Reply to
Edna

The size 16 thread recommended size 1 mm but I tried both and liked the result with 0.75 better. Irish crochet is supposed to be worked rather tight. However, I do think that part of my problem is that the hook part of the hook (if you know what I mean) is too small. I used to have a wonderful old steel hook that was very fine but had a decent- sized hook. Unfortunately I lost it on a trip.

I'm not familiar with the US hook sizes, but I think I need something smaller than your size 11. I've seen smaller sizes on the internet, but I don't want to spring for a set unless I've had some recommendation on a good brand. I take it you like the Boyes brand.

Reply to
B Vaugha

Thank you, Edna, I've subscribed.

Reply to
B Vaugha

The smallest U.S. steel crochet hook is size 14. 0.75 mm, according to the Boye website

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used that size when crocheting with sewing thread. Sewing thread isall size 50 now, whatever that means. Well, cotton-wrapped polyesterthread sizing is the same as the old cotton thread sizing; 50 is themedium size. But what it's based on, I don't know! Prowling roundthe internet: it's the old A&E Ticket 50, equivalent to Tex T-40 andMetric 75 (cotton Count 28/2 -- assuming 840-yard hanks). But thatwas sewing thread, not crochet cord!Boye has been in business for something like a century, I think; it'snow owned by Wright, which has been going about as long. Personalknowledge of the companies does not go back that far, of course -- butI've been using Boye knitting and crochet tools for 35 years, andWright was the brand-name on the cards of snap fasteners in mymother's sewing supplies before that. Cece

Reply to
Cece

but I don't want to spring for a set unless I've had some

I've always done my Irish crochet with tatting thread (size 70) and a Boye 14 crochet hooks. Takes longer because it is so small, but sooooooooooo pretty. Frances

Reply to
'Nez

The most likely reason I have the Boye hooks is they were the only ones I saw when I bought them. They've never been a problem for me that I can recall.

Reply to
Jan

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help.

Mary

Reply to
Mary Fisher

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