Handmade Hooks

[natalie058]

Just have to talk about these hooks cuz my family just doesn't get it! I started a new project (scarf) JUST so I could use mine!! The length takes a bit of getting used to, and i think my stitches are a bit bigger than with Boye hooks, but they are soo smooth and lovely... they are like art. Now i want a whole set [uh-oh!! $$] :hsanta

[threeolivemartini]

i love love love mine.. i cant say enough about them .. i want more too but think my sweetie is planning something about them so i am gonna lay off til the first of the year and act no so disappointed if i dont get them for christmas LOL

[Guest DenmaDesigns]

I <img border=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/rowofhearts.gif" /> those hooks too but can't afford them with my husbands Parkinson's meds costing so much. Last year (before we knew about him) I saved up to buy some Britteny Hooks. I <img border=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/rowofhearts.gif" /> them! But I know if I ever could afford the TOC hooks I would buy them in a minute!

Cyndy

[RebeccaVelasquez]

:yay2

GUESS WHAT -

my niece spilled the beans on my Christmas gift -

seems that my SIL order some of bill's hooks for me

:yay2 2:yay2

[Julie]

Oh you are going to be so very happy Rebecca! Now I'm just as excited as you are, I can't wait until you get them!! :yay2

[natalie058]

Congrats, Rebecca!! :yay2 How exciting for you - I mine so much, i'm tryng to put in another order before xmas, and I'm sure you're going to love yours too!!

[InStitches52]

Ok, this place is dangerous. I got so excited reading about pretty hooks I ran off and ordered three of them.

 

I sure hope the ones I want are still available.

[Julie]

And yay Rebecca (InStitches)!! I love his hooks, you are going to be so happy with them. His P hook is rarely out of my hand these days - except for when I'm working on snowflakes, of course.

[InStitches52]

Snowflakes with a P hook would be mighty scary :eek2 .

 

Since I seem to be on a bulky yarn kick, I ordered the K, N and P hooks. I have yet to hear back from Bill as to the availability of the ones I chose. :fc

[natalie058]

:fc InStitches!!

[Frangipani]

Those hooks are gorgeous. They seem liek a bargain as well being hand crafted.

 

Bec

[natalie058]

I've emailed Bill today about getting a couple more hooks for Christmas, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to get them quite in time... I'm being picky and trying to get all cocobolo wood...so beautiful! ... and there are none left in size K so I asked if he might do a custom order, but I'm sure he is swamped with the holidays coming up so soon. But, the hooks are certainly worth the wait and i think it would be nice to get an after-Chirstmas Christmas present. !

[Julie]

I was all set to order another P hook a couple of days ago but he is so picked over right now. It's only for me so I can be patient and wait, but it won't stop me from checking and drooling all the time, either. :)h

[threeolivemartini]

and he is so busy trying to fill orders ! that is what i do Julie.. if the thing i want isnt there in a wood i like .. i wait.. he WILL have more.. the waiting part is hard though.. but there are some woods i just wouldnt want ...

[JPorter718]

I just ordered a Q-hook from him

 

I can't wait to receive it... all the hooks are so beautiful.

 

I was liking the Cherry wood, but would have taken the darker wood as my second choice and all the Cherry Q's were SOLD, but I emailed him anyways and he said 'I lucked out, he had one in reserve'

 

It went out today so I should get it on Friday! Woohoo! :nana

 

P.S. I bookmarked his page for hubby for Christmas time... I want an H, I, J, K and heck any other one he has :thinking1

[threeolivemartini]

i have an S in maple its yummy

[natalie058]

well, I heard back from Bill and man is he tempting... :bad said he has a boxed set of cocobolo hooks f-k, just in case someone wanted a matching set for the holidays, and I would love love love to be that lucky girl, but I cannot stretch my xmas dollars that far. Guess I will be another one waiting til after the holidays.

[Julie]

Look at it this way, you'll have a lot more to pick and choose over after Christmas.

[natalie058]

Hey ladies, I have been corresponding with Bill and he let me know that sometime early next year he will raising his prices by $1 on items like hooks, knitting needles and hair sticks... I will still be waiting, i guess because I am so damn picky and his hooks are so worth it... the way I look at it, since I am a first generation crocheter (and probably even if was not!) I am amassing my "heirloom collection," and they are SO worth it!

[Julie]

It's still totally reasonable, plus when you add in the savings you get when you order more than one at a time and still get flat rate shipping, it's a bargain! He'd have to raise a lot higher than that to chase me off! :)h

[threeolivemartini]

he could double his price and I would still pay it .. he is top notch and i love his hooks.. i guess i am a very loyal customer when i really like something

[Sharon]

Ok ok, what IS so good about a home made hook?? I worry that the sizing will be off. How do you get the "hook" part the correct size?? Anyone buy off of Ebay from Graydog? ( i think that's the name. )

[Donna]

Ok ok, what IS so good about a home made hook?? I worry that the sizing will be off. How do you get the "hook" part the correct size??

LOL, you have got to try one and see! :)h It's hard to describe -- maybe someone else will be able to say. Anyhow, it's the shaft that primarily determines the size of the stitches, not the hook part (the tip and throat). And even commercially made crochet hooks don't conform to the same sizes, and often aren't even accurate to the millimeter measurement they're labeled with! I've used Boye, Bates, and other brands, and I find them all to be a little different. (Check out this Sizing Table by the beloved Bill.) That's why swatching is so important. (LOL, I guess you guys have noticed I'm a swatch lobbyist.) !

[natalie058]

It took me a few minutes to get used to my TOTC hooks, partly because the handle is longer and I had to figure where was comfortable to hold, and partly because the hook part itself is more enlongated than boye, which i usually use. After the initial learning period they now feel so comfortable to use, and my stitches turn out to be very very close in size to those made with boye hooks of the same size. PLus, these hooks are just so much fun to use... they are like playing wiht art.

[truelove730]

Sdk64- I have won two hooks from graydog and absolutly love them both. The quality is great and I switch between my wooden one and Boye aluminum one (the same size - I) and there is no difference. Here is a picture of the hooks. They are my favorite and hope to get more soon. Ironically the guy that makes them is named Bill too and Jill designs the additions (like the cat and other jewels). Here is a link to the Graydog auctions. Both Bill & Jill are super nice and I love the hooks so much.

 

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