Crochet poll

Like all anal retentive compulsives, I have a complete set of plastic crochet hooks, afghan hooks, knitting needles, double pointed knitting, circular needles (in all three sizes of course - you never know when your going to need them). I hold crochet hooks pencil style, afghan hooks knife style. When knitting two or mare colours, I use the combined euro/na method otherwise na.

It depends. Stainless steel for making doilies, but really hate when the chromature peels off and the thread gets trapped... Aluminium/aluminum hooks for wool yarn. They are light and confortable. Have tried a bamboo hook, but can't crochet too long with it. Never really used plastic, so can't judge. No idea about bone hooks...

Sorry, I can't understand the difference, but I *think* that I crochet pencil style.

Bye,

Anna Maria

Hi

My answer is it depends on what I'm working on. Small projects I used metal hooks.

when I am working on afghans, etc with worsted weight yarn I use whatever as I have aluminum, plastic and wood. I probably use my aluminum more than anything but again depends on the project.

I also find that it depends on the yarn which hook works best with the yarn.

Darlene in Toronto

The type of hook or needle depends on what I am working with. I have steel, aluminum, plastic,and wood. My favs are the wood. I hold my hook overhand as it sits easy for me. Thou I can teach either way and right or left handed. Coggie

Hi, Leah! I use ALL, metal, plastic, wood, and it depends on the yarn, the project, and my mood. I don't hold my crochet hook pencil OR knife, it's difficult to explain! HTH, Noreen

(be careful, Jan in MN might think YOU have ulterior motives for asking a poll, like she practically accused me of, LOL!!!! rotflmao!!!)

X-No-Archive:yes Noreen - I'm with you - I use whatever I have on hand and get to work. I had no idea that there were 'schools' of knitting, crocheting etc, or a particular way to hold the needles, hooks etc. I learned when I was four, for heaven's sake - Mom just wanted to keep me 'amused' . Hugs Joan

Noreen, there were no accusations made nor were any intended.

Most of my hooks are metal; I don't crochet enough to want to explore other kinds. I have always held hooks knife style. As with my knitting, I learned this method from a book.

I like metal over plastic but have never tried wood or bone.

I hold mine pencil like, but can use it knife like if I'm doing something that I need to hold it that way.. Marsha

Hi Leah,

Great questions. First I love the new Crystalite crochet hooks, have two sets of the different sizes. I also have the plastic and bone and some of the metal ones.

Now, I'm confused as to the different ways to hold a hook. You say pencil or knife. If you mean by holding your hook in the palm of your hand like you would use a knife, then that's my way. It's the only way I've ever done it, but my Mom always held hers pencil style. I just couldn't get comfortable holding it that way so did it my way. I figured as long as I could crochet who cares how I hold the hook. LOL

Hugs,

Nora

I like my metal Bates hooks, wish they came in larger sizes... I've used the Boye metal hooks, but I hate those with a passion, they snag on almost every yarn I've used them with, and fighting them tears the fibers. I've used the jumbo plastic hooks (usually light blue) those are okay. I've considered using the other plastic hooks, but so far the only ones I've seen have the same design flaw as the Boye hooks, which causes all the snagging. We have a few of the fancy wooden hooks with the pretty milled ends. H. has used them, but he was very unhappy with them- he said they worked fine but they were really uncomfortable to hold. My hands are considerably smaller, but I haven't tried them yet.

Knitting wise, I have birch dpns that I LOVE, hate the metal ones. Love the bamboo needles, hate the metal ones. Noticed the pattern and decided to only get wood or bamboo needles. S.

Leah,

I still use my crochet hooks that I bought decades ago. I just know I would prefer plastic or bamboo, but I haven't bothered to check them out.

I guess I hold my hook the pencil way. I hadn't really thought about that before.

BB

I prefer plastic, but they break, so I also have metal. I hold mine knife-style.

Higs, Katherine

Hi Sarah,

I love the Crystalite hooks. I did find that a couple of them had a burr but was able to file it off. What size large metal hook are you looking for? I have some, but don't know which ones but will check and see if I have what you want.

Hugs,

Nora

Hi Sarah,

I love the Crystalite hooks. I did find that a couple of them had a burr but was able to file it off. What size large metal hook are you looking for? I have some, but don't know which ones but will check and see if I have what you want.

Hugs,

Nora

I use plain, ordinary hooks, steel for the fine ones and aluminum for the larger ones. I also have an ivory one inherited from DHs grandmother. I hold the hook pencil style.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Nora, I'm specifically looking for a metal N-hook by Bates. I seem to have a lot of projects lately calling for that size, but I dread working on them, because the only N-hooks I have at the moment are Boye. If you have one you'd be willing to part with, I'd be thrilled! Feel free to drop me a line off list and we can work out the details. I'm making a hooded "baby" jacket out of pink velour chenille, the yarn is unpleasant enough to work with as it is (it keeps twisting up on itself. Is this what they call worming?). So, every couple of stitches, I have to stop and untangle the yarn. To make matters worse, the hook is causing a cloud of teeny loose fibers as I work. (I tried a smaller, Bates hook to check, and didn't have the same problem, but the gauge was off.) Thankfully I'm to the assembly part now, but I've decided that I will never use the yarn again.

For the record, I don't consider 2 year olds babies, but the pattern does, hence the "baby" jacket. S.

I was under the impression that worming in chenille is when the little short fibers come loose from their connecting thread. So the "cloud" you speak of would be the actual worming. The twisting just seems to happen more often with yarns that aren't really twisted much to begin with. I wonder if it would help you to start a skein from the opposite end next time?

Anastasia

--who thinks perhaps there is someone more knowledgeable about these sorts of things on-list. I'm much more familiar with wool and lace than chenille.

I, for one, have never ever understood anyone's 'love of' or 'enthrallment' with chenille... I HATE it, LOL! My mom had a chenille bedspread that was SO rough, as was the robe she had..... I mean, if you laid your face on it, it was worse that Dad's whisker-burn! Awful, awful stuff imho! Noreen who's been fighting the flu the past 3 days... and going back to bed now.