Monday 18 July 2011

Huge Hook ...

Well.  Thankyou kindly for all your comments on my last post about work experience.
It was really interesting to read all your thoughts and experiences to do with the subject.
~~~~~~~~~

I also had a couple of emails and comments on my large crochet hook and using all the yarns, so i just really wanted to do this little post to show you all how easy it is to make your own big hook, and hook away all your favourite odd balls of yarn.

Both the hooks below I made.



The smaller of the two is 12mm wide. It was made from a wooden knitting needle out of the charity shop.
It's my most favourite hook :o)
I use it for my rag crochet mainly, but also for when I make what I call my 'tweeded' crochet with about six different yarns.

Below is my 12mm favourite, a 15mm shop bought plastic jobby, and in the middle is the beginings of my new 25mm large hook.


I've cut the 9" section off of one of the poles of our beach windbreaks :o)
Then got the stanley knife (a blade like a craft knife/scalpel, only stronger and sturdier for 'sharpening' the stick! -for my lovely  readers outside the UK)

See how they all measure up?

Then see, this is the begining where I mark the stick cross ways where my pokey bit of hook is going to be, and where I'm going to wittle the throat.

So you sharpen the pokey bit first (I know all part s of the crochet hook have got names, but I forget!)
You cut crossways, then scrape the wood away to the cut notch..

And you just keep doing that till you get to the size of the actual hook you want.

See above is the basic shape.
Then you get the sandpaper out.
As rough as you can handle it to begin with.
To shape the 'hook' part, you wrap the sandpaper round a kebab skewer, or a knitting needle and sand away.
Then you cut a bit, then sand a bit...See...

See the difference the sand paper makes?

And Voila!  See, a beautifully sanded crochet hook, just the size you need to make a nice fat yarn rug/pad.

I wax my hooks with a candle at the end, and rub the wax in really well with my warm hands to get a nice smooth edge to my hook.

You don't have to do this, but I think it makes the hook nicer.
And if you use a scented candle like my ginger and orange one above (the green thing -don't ask me why ginger and orange is green......) it makes it smell lovely too.

Oh, and the wax doesn't come off on the yarn if you rub it in well and leave about 24 hrs before use. :o)

Above is the little practice rug I made with my new hook, just to see how many yarns I could get on and how fat and cosy it would be.

Let me tell you now, IT IS SUMPTUOUS!

I used 18 yarns all at once on the hook.
And if you pop them all in one of those supermarket big 'green' bags, they don't get tangled up together.
(Well knot much anyway ;o)  )

But you will want to make loads of things once you see and feel how lovely it is.
Believe me, you won't be leaving all those odd balls of mohair and strange yarns in the bottom of the basket at the charity/thrift shops anymore once you see what you can make!  ;o)

Have fun lovely people.
Hope you all have a fantastic week.
And please, please, stop the rain dancing ladies ;o)

Take care everyone,
Love Donna x


11 comments:

  1. thats amazing! i am very impressed! xx

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  2. You never fail to amaze me! I love the last step of waxing it with a scented candle. Had to laugh at the "pokey thing"- I knew just which part you meant :)

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  3. You are just wonderful. I am getting Mr.T to make one as soon as I can drag him away from his granny squares. lol

    Hugs
    Briony
    x

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  4. That is fantastic! I've always fancied having a go at whittling. I never thought of using a stanley knife; I thought you had to have something special. Ooh, you've got me all fired up now! (although not to make a crochet hook, even though your's is a thing of beauty) How long did it take you to do the hook?

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  5. Amazing! So special to have a hook that you have made yourself too! :)x

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  6. Donna, these handwhittled hooks are amazing and you make it look so easy - but I have a feeling it is not as easy as it looks and you are simply just a very talented lady!
    Thanks for sharing how to make them!
    Have you ever considered putting some of these in your Etsy shop? Cos I would definietly buy one (or two!)
    Thanks for your comment on mine, its amazing how cameras can make things look good when you are selective! My garden is in fact looking very sad and untidy and lacking any beautiful swathes of colour at the moment (it is def a spring garden!), just a few isolated pretty flowers here and there which i photograph, but the camera hides the rest! He he!!!
    Gill xx

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  7. Donna, I've just found your blog via Gillyflower. I love your crochet hooks and I agree with Gill, you should consider selling some in your Etsy shop. They are lovely and I too would buy one or two. I have a bag of wool just waiting for one!
    Lesley x

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  8. hiya- just popped over to see what you're making and how things are- looks like you're going to spend your summer whittling big hooks...lets just hope you don't need the windbreak!
    xx

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  11. Sorry about the two deletions. Got the link wrong. Oops!
    I have just stumbled across your lovely blog and was thrilled to read your instructions on making big hooks. After reading this my husband made some for me very quickly out of a broom pole. If you would like to have a look at them why not pop over to my blog I have just stumbled across your lovely blog and was thrilled to read your instructions on making big hooks. After reading this my husband made some for me very quickly out of a broom pole. If you would like to have a look at them why not pop over to my blog http://fiddlyfingers.blogspot.com/. I put a link to your instructions in there too. Thank you so much xx I put a link to your instructions in there too. Thank you so much xx

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