Susan Bates Quicksilver Crochet Hooks: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Size
What Sizes Do Susan Bates Crochet Hooks Come In?
Below are charts of the sizing and their equivalent in other systems of each line of crochet hooks and brands Susan Bates sells.
(This business is a subsidiary of the parent company Coats & Clark. Throughout their history, they’ve been owned by multiple corporations. Looking to buy these hooks? They’re in craft stores. Of course, you can get them online too.)
Silvalume is the main line from these hook manufacturers and is made of smooth anodized aluminum. The unique anodizing process makes any yarn weight glide over them without being too slippery. It also removes any surface impurities on the shaft part. These are some of the reasons these items have great customer ratings!
Color | US Size | Metric Size |
Light Gold | B-1 | 2.25mm |
Light Pink | C-2 | 2.75mm |
Light Blue | D-3 | 3.25mm |
Light Peach | E-4 | 3.50mm |
Grey Pink | F-5 | 3.75mm |
Pink | G-6 | 4.00mm |
Blue | H-8 | 5.00mm |
Red | I-9 | 5.50mm |
Gold | J-10 | 6.00mm |
Green | K-10.5 | 6.50mm |
Silver | L-11 | 8.00mm |
Grey Light Blue | M-13 | 9.00mm |
Pink Bronze | N-15 | 10.00mm |
If you already have the older Quicksilver or original Silvalume hooks and don’t feel like the expense of buying a whole new set of hooks but would like a comfort upgrade, cushion grips could be the answer.
These Susan Bates cushion grips come in a set of two, and the packaging says they fit sizes F-J. I found that the green grip has a smaller hole than the blue, and, in my tests, the green works well for sizes E-G7 (3.5-4.5mm) and the blue for sizes H-J (5-6mm).
These grips are squishy and comfortable, and may be the best answer if you have arthritis or find gripping a narrow hook problematic – by pulling the grip up over the thumbrest, you can get the benefit of the foam padding and wider grip for your thumb and forefinger, as well as for your other fingers.
Susan Bates sells various crocheting hooks, and they sell long hooks for Tunisian crochet (aka Afghan crochet.) These lightweight inline Anondized aluminium tools are excellent for tunisian stitches and patterns. I’m sharing my recommendations on which are best.
Some of these feature long crochet hooks with a stopper or knob. (Aka crokit hooks). They also make a long double-ended hook. Both are available individually, although the latter is harder to find. Read on for my recommendations.
I reviewed, fact checked and updated this post on April 15, 2023
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The most widely available Tunisian crochet hooks are available from the Susan Bates sellers. They’re part of the larger Susan Bates Silvalume line, made with smooth, colorful aluminum. (They’re color-coded.)
When tested these are easy to use for long periods of working on a Tunisian crochet pattern due to their lightweight feel. The pointed hook head makes it simple to get into each stitch. The surface of the shaft is smooth so stitches slide effortlessly.
Bates was the largest needlework tool manufacturer in the United States by 1971 and the oldest manufacturer of crochet hooks. Carlton Joseph Bates founded it. Bates started working for Tyler and Post by stoking the stove and sweeping the floors before school. They made items from ivory discarded by piano key manufacturers.
Mr. Post bought another business, Griswolds, which made whalebone (baleen) and cow shin bone crochet hooks. Post sold the business to Bates in 1873. He made crochet hooks and other implements from bone and ivory. Hamilton, Carlton’s son, took over the business when his father was seriously ill. In 1993, J. Bates and Son merged with Coats & Clark.
Plastic and aluminum crochet hooks were added in the mid-1930s. During WWII, plastic hook production reduced, but steel and aluminum production stopped. The factories produced airplane fuel gauges and glider frames.
In 1944, Bates patented the in-line hook. Bates won awards for packaging and displays in the 1960s, including one for color-coded crochet hooks.
As they distribute to businesses and don’t sell their products, check each store for the terms and conditions. Each shop has a different policy. Read it carefully the information about shipping. Add this to the total price.
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