Susan Bates or Boye?

I was wondering how many people prefer one brand of crochet hooks over the other? I was a Boye lover until I decided one day to use a Susan Bates hook on some yarn that seemed a little sticky and wanted to get hung up on my Boye hook. Well, now I’m confused and a little excited. The Susan Bates hook worked perfectly with that yarn. I talked to my friend Rosina, and she said that she prefers the Boye hooks, but also finds herself picking up a Susan Bates hook to use on certain yarns, and they have worked for her, too. (Rosina did warn me that certain hooks have a little bit different sizing to them, so if you start out on a project with a Susan Bates hook or a Boye hook, you should end with whichever one you started out with.) I have another friend that has gotten rid of all of her Boye hooks and prefers Susan Bates only now.

I know you probably think I went overboard on the Susan Bates hooks, but Hobby Lobby had all their crochet and knitting accessories for 40% off this week, and I couldn’t resist picking up one in each size. Because you never know when another sticky and separating yarn will come along, and I think I’m going to have make another hook case just for the Susan Bates Hooks. What do you think? Please tell me what your preferences are and why.

Jackie’s Crochet Trimmed Quilt

You asked for it and look what my nieces spent part of their Sunday afternoon doing for me.

They took pictures of baby Ava (Jackie’s granddaughter and my great niece) and the crochet trimmed quilt that Grammy Jackie made for her. I know this had to be a challenge because Ava is now walking, and I’m sure she didn’t want to stay on anyone's lap that long.

Thank you, Angie and Emilee for spending a portion of your Sunday taking pictures for the blog. (I know you needed a reason to take pictures of such a cute little baby!) Ha! Ha!

Free Pattern Friday: Holiday Potholders Crochet Patterns

I know you probably think that it’s too early to start Christmas, but most crocheters that make their gifts have already started theirs by now. When I used to make all my gifts for Christmas, I started in July, and by Thanksgiving, I was done. Man, I was organized back then!

Anyway, I chose this Holiday Potholders crochet pattern for those of you who want some instant gratification after making that tablecloth, afghan, or sweater.

These were a lot of fun to make and very fast and easy. What do you think of my version above? These are my Christmas colors. Tell me what colors you would like to use.

My Husband the Mole Chaser

This was my view from my chair the other Saturday. It brought back memories of the first time I saw Caddy Shack with Bill Murray chasing the gopher all over the golf course.

I remember growing up, my dad would set traps for moles and gophers and would catch a lot of them. But when I moved from my childhood home in the country into my own home in the city, I didn’t think the moles would come with me. I was wrong. I’ve lived in the same house for thirty years now, and the whole time we’ve lived here, we’ve had moles invade our yard. Does anyone else have this problem?

My husband decided he was going to be the exterminator of the moles. One day, I came home from work and found his van running with the garden hose stuck into the exhaust and the other end in the ground where the mole run was. I almost died laughing. This was only one of the things that he’s used to try to take care of the mole situation. He thinks that the new “Mole Chaser” method will be the ticket. I’m not so sure, but we’ve had a good laugh about it, and it’s a good thing my husband is such a good sport and patient man.

First Doily I Ever Made

When I decided I wanted to take up crochet again (29 years ago), I went to my mom’s house. I asked her if she had any books or thread that she wasn’t using. Being a good mom, she said, “Yes, and, by the way, here are a few doilies I started and just didn’t want to finish.” I started with the round one and then moved on to the oval one. My mom was smart in giving me those UFO’s so that I could try thread crochet before I went out and spent a lot of money on thread and hooks without knowing if I liked it or not. The doily is not perfect, but it was an experience that I won’t soon forget. With wrapping your thread around a tiny steel crochet hook like 8 or 9 times? I thought I would never finish it, but I kept at it and did finish it. It seemed like I couldn’t get enough of thread crochet.

The oval doily was a little more difficult, but it was fun once I figured out where I kept making my mistake, and I’ve made several of these out of size 10 and 20 thread. It’s called a “wheat doily”.

My mom knew how much fun I was having with it and ordered me a subscription to Magic Crochet. I loved the books and would try and complete at least one of each doily that was in the book before the next one would arrive. I miss Magic Crochet and wonder if anyone else misses it also? Thanks Mom for getting me hooked on crochet thread.

Update on Susan the Die Hard Knitter

I visited the yarn shop last weekend and found that my friend Susan (who you might remember from an earlier blog) has started running the LYS on Saturday evening so the owner (Shelly) can go home and be with her family. Isn’t that so nice of Susan?

Anyway I was relaxing and visiting with some of my friends, and Susan had a break and decided to sit down and get some pointers from me on crochet while I was there. Since Susan was born in England, she learned to crochet with British terms. She wanted to know the names of the stitches as she was crocheting. I was glad to visit with her and explain the stitches to her. She was moving right along, and I went to talk to someone else. When I came back, she stopped and was looking at her scarf, and it was coming out smaller on one side. I told her she hadn’t finished out her rows, and I told her that she should rip it out.

She gladly showed me how she knew how to do that and started over again. Her goal is to practice enough to be able to make the cow purse that I showed in my earlier blog on “Another Saturday at Tamara’s”. I can’t wait to see what she’s up to now. I’ll keep you posted.

Joshua’s Button on his Shorts

This is the note that I found in the place where I crochet each morning.

I know you’re going to tell me that I need to teach him how to sew the button on himself. But I can’t help it. I can’t resist doing nice things for such a handsome and funny young man named Joshua.

Besides that he said “love you” with a happy mouth and eyes, with the words “please, please”. He just makes me smile!!!!