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!

I don't know why that song (for those who get the title...hint: S.crub da G.round haha) popped up in my head.

But I started off crocheting in a square and now in a round circle!

~ Project Details ~

This blanket was a baby gift for a friend I cherish who had been asking for something knitted for herself awhile ago....well she got something crocheted for her baby instead! ;op

Pattern: Round Ripple Afghan by Sew On Fire Ministries

In general all the round ripple patterns are about the same, but glad I was steered towards this one b/c I could actually half way read the pattern on my own!

Still needed some guidance on exactly "which hole exactly do I insert my hook again?!?!" but once you get past the center and understand the repeats it is easy breezy!

Size: Diameter from point to point is 41.5 inches and a total of 31 rounds.

Hope big enough for a baby?? Definitely big enough for my lap ;o)

Time: On/off during the month of May....honestly I got sick of working on this blanket over time and just trudged through it towards the end, as it wasn't going as fast as I would have liked in comparison to the granny squares Haha

Hook: G

Yarn: The yarn I used was Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn! in #140 - Mid Green (2) #160 - Brown (1) #20 - Ivory (1)
What I learned: To do the infamous ripple effect of course!!! And how to crochet in the round :)

Notes: As you can see I decided on doing a trio effect with the colors and the rotations went like this: Center - Green (first 6 rounds), then 4r brown beginning repeats with *1r white/4r green/2r brown*

Border only 3r green 1r brown 2r white with 1 sc of green edging

Verdict: I think this is a perfect crochet baby blanket or laphan, as I plan to make one for myself in the future.

And she loved it!! :oD

It UP over here!!

Well I started out with the traditional granny square in crocheting, so why not continue with the Ripple!! :o) However this is not the traditional ripple, but a round one!That is what attracted me to this pattern. Didn't want to do the back and forth, but was interested enough to want to ripple!

This project is not going as fast as I would like since I am using a smaller hook, and really have to pay attention to which hole I need to be in But figured it would be faster to crochet, rather than knit, this baby blanket up for a shower at the end of this month. I hope they like it!!

I wonder if I will remember how to knit after all of this hookin' ;op Haha!

crochet!!!

Pattern: Chocolate-covered Cherries Afghan by Lion Brand Yarn

I've always wanted to do a granny square....well...once I decided to put down the needles long enough to really get into crocheting.

I am here to declare that you are not a true crocheter until you've done a granny square!!! ;op

From the start I knew there would not be a bunch of mini squares (as most granny square afghans are traditionally done) by my hands; as I didn't want to put a whole lot of "elbow grease" in it (seaming, changing tons of colors, etc.)

With that being said One Big Ole Granny Square was perfect for me!! :o)

Presenting....Cella whose namesake comes from my absolute fav chocolate covered cherries!! How fitting ;o)

Time: I did this "lapghan" in honor of March Crochet Month working off and on it until April (about a month). It really is a smooth sailing project and quite addictive!

Size: My 2009 afghan (one has been done every year since Lizzie!) is 40 rounds total and measures at 52.5" x 48.5".

I never intended to make it that large until another Purl in my knitting group caught the granny square bug too (along with a couple others) and was making her project huge for a male recipient...so I thought I should keep going too! Haha!

I just love how it drapes over my legs and keeps me warm. Even cozier doubled up!

HOOK/Yarn: This is my 1st crochet project so my first time having to say "hook" vs. needles in my post and hitting the "crochet" button on Ravelry ;op which was just a bit different for me.

On this lapghan I used a size K hook with Vanna's Choice yarn (first time dipping into this yarn brand), which needed 6 balls in expresso and 4 balls in Cranberry. I will say VC is one of the better acrylic yarns I've used thus far.

Modifications: I pretty much stuck to the pattern (how hard is a granny square right?!? Very cookie cut).

However, since I was still trying to get comfortable with crocheting and getting my tension right I never did the 1 ch. in between the 3 dc.

And of course you may have noticed I did my "border" with 4 rounds in red and 3 rounds in brown ending with a SC edging. That is really not a mod, but more of a designer's choice ;o)

I will make a reminder note that in doing the edging for the corners to do 4sc next time versus 3sc as they are curling up a bit.

What I learned: That I was very proud of myself doing my first 100% crochet project...finally!

I also learned how to do color change, join new yarn, and weave all my ends in as I crocheted! Yay!and there were a lots of them!!

Towards the end I learned that crocheting can be addictive like knitting too :oD

Because....

I didn't want it to endI started another one!!!

This was actually a gift to my close girlfriend for her 30th birthday (this weekend! which is why I can now blog about both afghans...she has it!!).

I whipped this one up even faster as I started it on a Thursday and it was washed and mail delivered to her by the following Friday!!

I was burning up the yarn on this one ;op Gotta love my ergonomic hook! ;o)

Specs on #2: On this one I used the I Love This Yarn brand only thru H.obby L.obby 2 balls of Red and 1 ball of Antique White (only one ball as you saw what happened to the second ball Hahaha).

These colors were chosen b/c it is both (my friend and I) sorority colors!! OOO-OOP!

I liked this particular yarn in that there was twice as much in the ball for a better value! It is also super soft, but after being washed it becomes a bit stiff and sheds more than the Vanna's Choice yarn. That is minor for the value! Next time I would just put a fabric softener liquid ball in my washer ;o)

This was done a bit smaller since I had a shorter window of time to complete it. Strawberry Shortcake (hey..sticking with the food theme haha) has 29 rounds and measures at 42" x 40" with a red SC trim to complete it.

Verdict: Again I am so proud to complete not 1 but 2 crochet projects coming straight out the gate!

This is absolutely a great pattern to start warming up your hookin' skills on!

And mighty cozy to knock the A/C chill off your legs this summer too ;o)

Yep since I started dipping my toes (just the pinky one for now ;op Haha) into crocheting I figured I needed a few new tools for my new trade

Always wanted the Happy H.ooker book and since I started and finished my first crochet project (will do the proper F.O. post soon) I thought it justified me scooping it up last month.

Also, with the long carefree hours I was clocking in on my crochet project I noticed my hand was getting tired with the bazillion repetitive DCs why not invest in an Ergonomic interchangeable set??Got it at a great deal with a 50% off coupon for only $11 at the end of the day. You can get them at A.C. M.oore or W.al-Mart and if for some reason you don't see the set there you can buy here for the same great deal.

I was surprised at the light and very plastic handles since I was expecting more "rubber". If I had paid more than I did for the set I would have been not happy with the quality! Haha! Haven't broken them in yet to test out how I like working with them but will keep you posted.

Finished up my shawl and as soon as I can get it blocked with some pics I will plaster some knitting content up here...finally! LOL

Until next blog time...Be Blessed!!

p.s. 100 days down :o)

How was your week??

For me, it seems I was always a day ahead of myself the entire time! So this week just c.r.a.w.l.e.d and finally got to Friday the 13th! :o)

I really had not been feeling 100% this week.

Sleeping with my windows up during the 70+ degree weather finally caught up with me and my allergies flared up!
Talk about watery eyes, sore throat (you know that whole mucus drain thang), and dry cough combos did not make for a cheery Stacey :o)

But I will say this stuff right hereis the TRUTH!! This was the best ever in soothing my sore throat/cough symptoms (great discovery!), of course along with some Loratadine a.k.a. Claritin ;op

I almost didn't make it the Opera last night to see The M.arriage of F.igarobut I couldn't pass up free AND front row tickets!! It was a wonderful time and my 1st opera!!!

I can now say I've fulfilled my arts and culture quota for the month of March! LOL
Thoroughly enjoyed my experience and it really was fantastic!

I have picked back up one of my secret knits that should have been done last fall...but I fell out of 'knit love' with it ;op So trying to get thru it so I can send it off.
So no pics of that WIP until the big reveal since she reads my blog.

But I have been working on a new project honoring "March as Crochet Month" :oDThis is the beginnings of my Big Granny Square Afghan! I've always wanted to do this crochet lapghan and now will have it!

It felt so weird hitting the "crochet" button on Ravelry since this is my 1st crochet project :oD

Though this weekend is cold (again) dreary and rainy I am thrilled to get some rest, much needed cleaning of the place, and some knitting! And.....break into my 2nd quart of one of my fav B&J flavor!! ;op

Have a Happy Weekend!

So Happy 2nd day of March! I can't believe the first quarter of the year is quickly coming to an end!!

And guess what we got last night on the 1st day of this month ;op

Finally some real snow!! Nothing record breaking, but enough to shut down our city again! LOL Workfree day!! Woot! Woot!

I heard the kids late last night playing in it! Haha!
Look a snowman by them!

Speaking of March it is also National Crochet Month!! One of the Purls (Donna) sat down with me and another Purl (Pam) in our knit/crochet group to show us how to do
Granny Squares!! Bet you can tell which one is mine huh?? LOL (hint: the messy one) You really can't call yourself a true crocheter until you've done one of these! Hahaha!

And it is also Malabrigo March too!!! Yay!!!

I promised myself I would pull out my BTS vest from its plastic chamber and work on it this monthAfterall it is out of the beautiful Rhodesian malabrigo (why she is called Ms. Rho). She has been in hibernation for about a year now....le sigh

So the Malabrigo Junkie KALs may actually get me to work on a longtime WIP instead of starting something new...pooh

I did finish my pimlico shrug (in Malabrigo too!) and today would have been a perfect day to get pics of it in the snow! But my one minor problem is not having an available snapper...again. Will be back with that F.O. post eventually, until then

Really trying to become a HAPPY one too! LOL