Fiber Friday: Tin, Tin, Tin

So what does a Peppermint Bark Tin have to do with fiber?  It holds important knitting and crocheting accessories and wee bit for spinning too.





Currently in the lid I have spinning information so I can do some calculations to figure out yardage, yards per pound or more.  For socks I have foot measurements for me, my husband and daughter.  My sons feet haven't stopped growing yet so I measure them right before I start a pair of socks and again just before I turn the heel.  Next formula are reminders so I'm not stuck while on the go when knitting a pair of socks.

Now that I have sock stuff in the tin lid I can bring my socks with me no matter where I am.  Maybe now I can finish the socks I started for Stephen.



Inside the tin are even more tins,  On top of the tins I have sticky notes to keep track of patterns or do calculations with.  Which reminds me I need to make sure I have a pen or pencil in the tin as well.  A calculator to do said calculations.  Knit Picks needle sizer and ruler which is used more as a ruler than a needle sizer. Also visible are the folding scissors, retractable tape measure and a roll up yardstick.

  

Maybe you are wondering what a roll up yardstick is? Well it's a metal yardstick that rolls up.   I grew up with that thing.  I wondered if you could still find them because they are cool.  Looks like they are a vintage.  In mint condition some one was asking $38 for it! Most on ebay were going for $15.  I'm not selling.  It's hardly in mint condition.  It's handy for me because it rolls up.  I use it to measure handspun or yarn I re-skeined.



Lovely colorful clear lid tins I inhereted from my mother.  I've tried to find where she got them.  I'm only finding plain tin ones online so far.  So if anyone has the google fu and can find them  kindly share with me and I will post here.



This is what I can easily bring with me.  I will have everything I need.  It's replaces some other things I made that just weren't working as well.



The case was nice but it wasn't user friendly for stitch markers and other tools.  The tools were never in the case.  It was fussy to put them back in so I didn't.  The large tin is kind of  bulky but I have all the basic tools I might need at my finger tips.  I keep it open beside me and take what I need and put it right back when I'm done.  I found another use for the case so all is good.

Next up how do I organize my hooks and needles?

My New Toy

I got my Spin Dryer yesterday and I love it. I washed up some mittens, socks, and a sweater in the early evening yesterday and they are all dry this morning.



I have my work cut out for mover the next few days as I get my woolens washed and ready to store for the summer. It's always a bit sad when I need to put the sweaters, hats and mittens away. I will miss them. With the help of this spin dryer it will be done in no time. Since it's supposed to snow on Saturday maybe I should wait a few more days.

More sewing goodness ....

to support the hookin' habit. Every good hooker needs a tote or two or three to hold his or her many WIPs.




Lots of pockets to hold other hookin' tools like post it notes, pattern books, hooks etc. The tote it my own design and I kind of wing it when I make them.





A hook case to store the many hooks you have



All the above and a few other things went off to my crochet swap partner on craftster. I have a smaller but similar bag in the works for my Mom who's into knitting socks. I need to make me one next.

I made the following hook cases for me while I was working on stuff for my swap partner.



I found a tutorial to make the hookcases here I followed the instructions loosely.



I really like how this one turned out, 'cause it's my favorite color and because the hooks fit perfectly in it.


Here they are all rolled up.

How many Hooks? - NaBloPoMo#3

Someone asked this on a crochet list I am on and thought it would be fun to review my inventory and offer my reviews of the hooks I have. Although I think hooks are kind of a personal thing and different hooks work better for different people for different reasons.

How many hooks do I own?

YARN HOOKS

Boye are my favorite.

I would like try Clover metal hooks and see how I like those. I like the weight of the metal hook in my hands.
B-1
C-2
D-1
E-2 - I use E's when I make socks and some toys.
F-2 - My next favorite hooks when I make toys
G-2
H-3 - I use an H hook for most ww projects so I like having many of these
I-4
J-2
K-2
N- 1

Clover Soft Touch Hooks - D,F,G ,H and J

I really like my D hook for split prone sock yarn and my F hook for making Amigurumi. They have a comfortable grip and smooth glide. I plant to have full set of these hooks. (F and G not shown are in current WIPs)

Bamboo - an H hook. I really don't like this hook as I like the weight of metal. I keep it because my son likes it. (not pictured)

Annie Attic bullion hooks-F,G,H - I've not used theses much yet. I really struggle with the bullion stitch. These have an inline hook shape that I don't like much. Not sure If I will keep these. (no picture)

Crystalites set : L, M, N, P

Not sure I like plastic hooks for the same reasons I don't like the bamboo. I really like weight in my hands so I prefer metal hooks. I only keep them because they have some of the sizes I am missing in metals and will be willing to use them if needed for a project. I love the colors too.

Tunisian crochet hooks -4
2 cro-hooks

One tunisian hook is on loan to a friend.


THREAD/STEEL HOOKS

Clover Soft Touch 0 - some say it similar to #6 but I think it looks more like a #5 - I am not sold on Clover thread hooks but worry they will no longer be available so I might put a collection together soon.



Profi .75 which is a #16 I think. It glides almost too much I have a hard time keeping the thread on my hook. I'd like to get a few more of these hooks to see how I like them.

Susan Bates - 7
#0, 1, 7, 8, 9,10,13/14

Boye- 3
#4,5,6

How many are in WIPs?
#9 bates for a doily
using the #10 for some ornaments right now

2 extra large plastic hooks unsure of their sizes


How many cases do you have for the hooks you own?

two basic ones
One is a plastic pencil case and the other is an extra long mini-mm case. I use the mm case to hold all my thread hooks. I have an extra mm container that I use to take hooks with me on the go. I want to sew up a few cases to hold them in as well.

What's the oldest hook you use?
All my hooks are recent purchases because I re-learned to crochet a few years ago and needed new hooks. Maybe my blue H hook is the oldest.

All totaled I have 52 hooks give or take.

Do I have too many hooks?

Stitch Markers

I'm having fun with beads and earring findings to make stitch markers when I crochet. Many of these markers I will send out as surprise gifts for the wishing well on Crochetville. Some I will keep for myself.