I often get asked what is the correct hook size for wire crochet in the ISK technique , so I guess it deserves a full blog post, so even the shy people that don't get in touch with me asking questions can read my reply.
My own story with hooks is very simple, I started by using a 0.6 hook, and can still remember the horror when my first hook fell to the floor broke, i then learned it was hard to find a hook that small .... :) ha ha .
So at the time all I was familiar with and used fro my wire crochet was a 0.6 stainles steel crochet hook, and since I wasn't a crocheter I didn't have lying around any other hook size.
When I started publishing tutorials and giving workshops, I often heard from students that they find it hard to pull the wire with such a small hook, to help them overcome it, I suggested all sorts of tips and tricks. "hold the hook in such an angle", "pull it that way or the other" etc .
Since a lot of my students, both the online and those that attend my workshops are crocheters , they often have a box with a large variety of hook , in various colors , materials and size ....
this enabled us to experiment on one of the workshops larger hooks to see what the impact will be, the results in our view were that it is easier to start with a 0.75 hook size because it is easier to pull the wire BUT - yes, there is a but :) the larger the hook , the larger its "head" is, which means the size of the loop needs to be large enough to pull it through, there is a give and take impact here. or in other words , if you use a larger hook your work may become slower because you may get stock going in and out of the loops.
So still - most students, including myself do use 0.6mm hook very successfully.
We have had a few discussions on the YoolaISK group about this , which you are welcome to join and read .
Happy wire crochet !
XXX
Yael aka Yoola
