Some time back I featured my new interchangeable crochet hooks on my blog, and many of you have wondered how I like them.

Now that I have had the chance to use both handles from my lastest projects thought I would give you the skinny on them!

Product: Provo Crochet Tools Ergonomic Handles W/Crochet Hooks (F-K)I bought this ergonomic set after several hours of constant crocheting (cranking out all those granny square blankies!) and my wrist and thumb started to hurt.

So figured I would try something that would lessen the stress on my hands, and gave these hooks a whirl. Indeed these hooks DO relieve the hand discomfort and fatigue! So they work! :o)However you must get used to the handles!! Even with me not being a long-time crocheter the "feel" of the handles and how to hold them to my comfort level was different.

They even provide suggestions on the box on different ways you can hold the handles.I personally crochet as if I am holding a "spoon" and not a "pencil". So picture #1 and #4 on the box is how I hold both handles :)

The first handle I tried out was the "trigger" oneAnd it is obviously much wider and reminded me of when I first learned how to write with a big fat pencil...remember those days?? LOL But after a few rounds I was fine and kept hookin' along. This handle is 100% plastic and very light. If you like the weight of metal hooks in your hand this one would not be for you.

The other hook handleis slimmer and is a combination of plastic and rubber. This is the one I like best as it is similar to the regular hooks with the ridge on the front, and I really can get more momentum with this handle.

My biggest dissatisfaction on this product is the quality of the grooves. How you screw in the hook to the handle depends on the grooves inside the 100% plastic handle (may have something to do with it!), which does not always align properly together. The production was not great at all.
Each letter hook you want to use depends upon which handle screws work well with the hook because of the grooves, so that the hook can be facing in the correct position once screwed in for crocheting! Not all peaches 'n cream, especially if you prefer one handle over the other (like I do).

Some other users have mentioned they wished the head of the hook was longer but that was not a big deal to me.

Just remember that they are NOT going to be exactly like your normal crochet hooks so you will have some "getting used to them" time. Which doesn't take long and is to be expected.

I will say if I had not used a 50% off coupon at A.C. Moore which brought the value down to about $12 bucks I would have been very disappointed with the quality of this product.

But for 6 hooks and 2 handles...can't complain about that at all!!As you can see the case is smaller than my Denise needle set so it is compact and easy to take along if necessary.

So my finally verdict is for the quantity of hooks as a newbie crocheter (and the comfort of longevity on my project) with the discounted price I believe it was worth the purchase (cavet being: only with the coupon)!

Hope this review on the hooks was helpful to you all!

BTW how do y'all like my NEW blog look!! Yep it was time to re-paint the walls around here ;o)

Many many THANKS to my Purl friend Heather who helped me with my banner design. She just whipped it up so fast!! AND she won the banner/blog button contest for the Summer of Socks 09! Kewl huh?!? Looks like she got a new banner too ;o)

Alright everyone have a wonderful week and

Remember to live LIFE on PURPOSE!

~ Project Details ~

Pattern: Lacy Ribs Socks by Wendy D. Johnson from the Socks from the Toe Up book.

I joined the Ravelry Socks from the Toe Up KAL where each month the group will knit a pattern out of the book (for a prize of course)! Hope I get some more sock fiber goodness from the KAL's random drawing!!

Size: Small

And they are my best fitting socks thus far!! Not to mention my first pair that is full length!! (I typically get antsy and stop at the ankle lol)

Time: Started these the day I took the class with WendyKnits herself and finished up yesterday! So a little over a week (10 days)

The pattern repeats are easy and makes it a fast knit and grows quickly!

Needles: 2US & 1US (on ankles and cuffs) on 40" cord as you know I magic looped 2AAT (2 at a time)

I could have used a US1 on the entire sock but didn't want it to take me forever ;op

Yarn/Cost: I can't believe I received this yarn 2 years ago from one of my swap angels! Boy time really flies!!

Extreme Yarn in the colorway of Sherbert Delight. Actually reminds me of Pink Lemonade...hence "Sock"ade!!

Modifications: They were very minor as I followed this pattern to a tee.

I knitted the toe to a full 2" so that the lace wouldn't reveal my little toes wigglin' all the way home ;o) Haha Didn't realize a lot of knitters prefer that in sock making and now so do I!

On the ankles I switched my needles to US1 as I was concerned of slouching with the stretch of the lace pattern and it worked out just fine (plus I think the ribbing in the entire pattern truly helps with the anti-sag factor).

I also used the same size needle on my cuffs as my ribbing for some reason always gets loose; and they were extended to 1.5" as I wanted to make sure they really hugged my lower calves.

I did a variation of the Russian BO stated in the book called a Stretchy BO (that I picked up a long time ago along the way), which to me is pretty much exactly the same if not the twin version.
So glad my BO was "just right" as they are not strangling me or too loose! Yay!

What I learned: The Judy Magic CO (JMCO - video link) .....well this knitting skill I already knew how to do from making the better bucket hats but never did it on socks before without using another needle as a "provisional" hold so that was different for me.

I truly don't see much difference between the JMCO and my handy dandy Turkish CO. I could argue that learning the Turkish CO is much easier than JMCO (as you gotta remember and figure out which fingers/yarn wrap where). So I still favor the Turkish CO since they pretty much look the same IMO.

I was thrilled to finally do a slip stitch heel from the toe up!! That was my first try at it and I just love the look without having to actually do it top down!! Score!!

Also learned something that it seems like No one ever talks about!!! Picking up those darn W/T (wrap/turns) SEAMLESSLY.

My pick ups were looking great on the "left" side of the heel (showing publicly) but on the "right" side looked a mess!! My wonderful Purl friend Heather helped me solve it by how the stitches were being positioned and then knit both together in the back (Thank You!!!). Mystery Solved!!

Verdict: Really enjoyed knitting the socks and it was great doing this sock as a KAL because it helped me push thru at the very end when I was getting tired of doing the leg (dang you gotta do the pattern all the way around Haha) ;op

Pennie (Extreme Yarn) told me to make something wonderful and I think I got some wonderful "Sock"ade!

World Wide Knit In Public Day 2009!

Did you do it this year?? :o)

We did it at Books-A-Million and had LOTS of fun with free snacks, every 1/2 hour door prizes and A/C Haha (it was a blazin' 92 degrees here! Whew!)!!!

Hope you had just as much fun as I did!!!

Yesterday morning I was able to take a sock class in person with WendyKnits herself! And got the chance to fondle all of her socks that are featured in her book too!Then I happened to look up from my needles and seated right across from me was a blogger pal that I had yet to meet IRL!
Zonda!! :o) We drop each other little blog comment presents from time to time (giggle), but I never really expected to meet her in the flesh Haha!

So I had to get the proper blog photo for the occasion! :o)Told you this has been a great year of no travel and still getting to meet soooo many people!

And not to mention seeing some of my Purl friends again that I had not seen in such a long time!!

Of course with Wendy J. too!! :oD

The sock class was just the push I needed to get back started again in cranking up those teeny tiny needles.

I joined the Ravelry Socks from the Toe Up KAL where each month the group will knit a pattern out of the book! This month is Lacey Rib and it is going very well!! I am excited about it b/c I am loving the colors of this yarn and the easy pattern, not to mention this will be my first "long" pair of socks (I always get antsy and stop at anklets or quarter length socks).

I would recommend this book as there are explicit directions on how to do various toe-up COs with easy to understand directions. I've always been that gurl who loves doing 2AAT toe-up socks as I don't like the mystery not knowing if this sock is going to fit me. More patterns are now considering toe-up in their directions but most are in the traditional top-down approach. So the book is great in providing lots of easy to do options for toe-up patterns along with different heel options too!

The only thing I would say is because it is so cookie cut it doesn't break down how you could adjust the patterns specific to your unique size (i.e. skinny ankles/narrow feet, etc.) and expects you to intuitively understand how socks are designed so the training wheels of the step by step instructions are necessary. Which is exactly what I need right now until I get more comfortable in my sock making skin ;o)

Here is to a great Sunday Sock knitting for me!!

And in the words of WendyKnits SOCK ON!!