Crochet: April 2011 Archives
Here's me learning Magic Circle with
a Crystalites hook and Lion Brand Baby Wool in Sprout
Today is jam-packed with reviews, we have three (count 'em, three) for your crochet pleasure.
First up are the Boye Aluminum Crochet hooks. I think of these as the standard crochet hook because they are available in most stores and I have been using them for years. The Boye hooks are a standard in my knitting notions bag but I also enjoy using them in crochet. I recommend them for beginners because they are inexpensive so you can stock up. They are slick so you can cut your frustration level a bit as the yarn slides over them easily. The points are nicely shaped; they are not too wide and cone shaped so they slip into stitches very nicely. They are however, aluminum with a nickel plating so if you have a nickel allergy you should go for the Comfort Cushions that slide over the ends to protect your hands. The bright colors help you identify the size you need quickly.
Susan Bates Crystalites Acrylic Crochet Hook set is also great for a beginner and a good companion to the Boye needles. The acrylic slides less easily than the aluminum but this is good if your tension is overly loose or you just have trouble holding onto your yarn. The colors are so fun and pretty. The range of sizes that come in the set are just what you need to get started and will carry you into any project. The shape is nice, a little wider than the Boye but this has helped me hook my yarn easier and hold onto it as I am making my stitches. The Acrylic is soft and smooth with a warm feeling that helps ease fatigue that beginner especially suffer from as work new muscles. The carry case is small and fit in most bags making this easy to take with you.
Lion Brand is fast becoming my favorite yarn company (If you get their catalog you know how yummy their selection is). Not only do they offer tons of free patterns for knitting and crochet (like the Easter Eggs and Best Bunny I just made) but they just make great yarn. Their Baby Wool is another notch on the belt. It feels just like good wool but it's washable so the apprehension that comes with wool is gone. It comes in a wide selection of wonderful baby colors too. It is not itchy and has just the right amount of fluffiness. The softness coupled with the washability lends it to toys, blankets, clothing, and all kinds of baby accessories. The variegated versions are pretty neat because the variegation is less frivolous than most variegated that bounce from one color to the next before you can appreciate it. The Alpine Meadow that I worked with supplied long lengths of each color which I found to be more relaxing in appearance. I really loved working with this yarn and include it on my list of standards.
On the heels of last week's posting on Amigurumi, I
bring you some super fun Crochet Easter Toys.
*Editorial: Let it not be said that we
at Fabric.com have not heeded your call for more Crochet- but having said that
know that I am still learning. I want to thank our readers for pushing me to
learn this new skill because I have come to love it very much and my desire to
improve so I can bring your more and better projects is at a fever pitch. Editorial
over* These toys are all easy to make and, of course, quick. I was thoroughly addicted
to the eggs and the bunny really helped me to branch out a bit while still
staying in my comfort zone. I am ready to admit to my faulty gauge which is
TIGHT so I used a bigger hook than called for (a J when the bunny pattern called
for a H) but aside from the standards that came from learning, these were fun
and great projects that I recommend to get you and yours ready for Easter.
First up are the Lion Brand Patterns: Best Bunny and Amigurumi Easter Eggs. These eggs will fly off your hook and crochet up in Baby Wool in Alpine Meadow makes them so soft to the touch, perfect for the littlest fingers to play with. The Alpine Meadow is variegated wool that blends from Yellow to Green to Blue lending itself perfectly to an appearance of a dyed Easter Egg. The recommended hook for the egg pattern is a G, but I had trouble with the first few rounds with a smaller hook given that the yarn was worsted weight so I, again, went with a J so help me with some extra wiggle room. The egg produced is about 15% bigger than a regular egg but still fun none the less. The bunny is crocheted in pieces and was made with Lion Brand Baby Wool in Sprout (a fun, bright green) and Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Baby Yarn in Mint. I had trouble with the first few rounds in the ears and arms since there were about 6 Sts or less. It seems really hard to fit in my hook but I guess I can chalk that up to my gauge and practice more. The bunny over all was easy and came together fast. He is a big hit with my 2 yr old and I think a few more lining her book shelves along with the eggs will really bring the holiday home.
The smaller eggs are Easy Makes Me Happy Tara Murray's Pattern called simply "Easter Egg Pattern" and it is also fun and easy. The construction is different than the Lion Brand egg which gives is a smaller but more egg-like shape. I also really dug Tara's inspiration pictures. I found this pattern on Ravelry while searching for Easter patterns that I could not live without. While I had already started the Lion Brand eggs when I found Tara Murray's pattern, I could not help myself and I am not at all sorry. These eggs were super fast and I even dared to add a little stripe (my first color change in crochet *pat on the back*) in Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Baby Yarn Berrylicious. I recommend this pattern for Easter egg fun-goodness.
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