My New Crochet "Gadget"

Having a new crochet tool is like getting the latest version of some gadget for me. I just discovered one, thanks to a friend who introduced it to me (out of the need to have one as well). Can you see it here?

For those of you who have seen some of my travel blog posts, you might know by now that I like to bring my crochet along with me (as much as possible) anywhere I go. This tool has proven to be an essential (and badass) accessory for me. It's so badass, it deserves an entire blog post!

This is the Clover Yarn Cutter Pendant. Yes, it is a cutter. Yes, you can wear it! And did I mention, it looks badass too? I love it so much that ever since getting one for myself, I've been wearing it with my necklace. I retained the other pendant to make it look more "stylish." 

The yarn can be cut by using any of the grooves in the pendant. There's a very sharp circular blade inside. Don't worry, it won't cut any of your fingers! The blade is secured and masked by the thick grooves. It really cuts the yarn clean. 

I wonder if this will get through the last check in the airport. I still have to test it. I remember risking bringing my treasured Hamanaka aluminum crochet hook in my hand carry together with the skein of yarn I am working with. It went through, thank goodness! I don't know for this one. Cutters or scissors are not allowed in the plane, so this is a mystery I have to solve!

And yes, you can buy this cutter HERE :)

Yarn Tip 2: Hook Size Matters

It does! Also for knitting needles, of course! Since I'm a crocheter, I'll be focusing on hooks.

When working with any yarn, you have to have the right hook size. The simplest reason for this is, if you have a bigger or smaller hook than what is required for a particular yarn and project, you will end up with looser or tighter stitches. I remember when we were taught crochet in high school and we were only given those very small steel hooks. We had no knowledge of hook sizes and only used those steel hooks to work with mercerized cotton yarn. Most of us (if not all) ended up with curled up doilies. Because of that, most of my classmates lost faith in crochet - simply because they thought they could never make it right. Little did we know that we only had the wrong hook size.

So how do you know if you have the right hook size? Well, you can start by looking at what the pattern requires. That sounded like a brainless advice, but some people get confused what hook to use just because the sizing label on their hook is different from what the pattern is requiring.

You see, there are different sizing labels for crochet hooks and knitting needles: US, UK/Canadian, Japanese, and Metric. You might think your hook with the size 10/0 is different from another hook with size 6.00 mm. They're just the same. One uses the Japanese sizing label and the other is being labeled in its equivalent metric size.

You just need to have a conversion table! I plotted this one out. You can also download the PDF file HERE.

I also plotted a conversion table for knitting needles. You can download the PDF version HERE.

Sometimes though, even if you have the hook the pattern suggests, the outcome might not be what you expected (or at least look like the picture of the finished project). I think this can be attributed to the tension of the person. First off, you might want to check the gauge of the pattern or the yarn. If your gauge doesn't match that of the pattern (or yarn), then you might want to adjust. If you have really tight stitches, use a hook one size bigger. If they're too loose, use a smaller one.

It can be subjective too, you know. There are times when I don't follow the suggested hook size. I always experiment with different kinds of yarn and I always make chains with different hooks to check what looks best.

So that's my small tip for the week. Hope I made some sense!

Yarn Store 4: Craft World Garage Sale (Pasig)

[I hope you can read this entry from start to finish...don''t just skim through the pictures :p]

Warning: You might experience some craft overdose. This is the motherload of all crafty stuff.

I've been featuring yarn stores in my blog to help crocheters out there find places where they can get their yarn supply. I'm not into other crafts and don't share much about craft stores and the other stuff they sell. This one is an exception though and is worth telling about. I don't know if this is an exclusive scoop, but if anyone of you is into crafts, this blog might just be your manna from heaven (yes, I'm that boastful about it).

Do you know Craft World? They used to have branches in SM Megamall, Market! Market!, Robinson's Galleria, and Festival Mall. It's actually quite sad that with all this renewed appreciation for crafts and handmade stuff, especially among young people, this "institution" is no longer serving the needs of crafters like us in malls.

So one good question to ask is, "Where did all the stuff from all those branches go?"

They all went here.

It's literally a garage sale. I didn't even know it was only one tricycle ride from my house. Craft World has had this factory outlet for ages. The owner has migrated abroad and has (sadly) closed her business. The property itself is on the market, so once this place is sold, we would all have to say goodbye to it. Everything must go. And I'm about to show you what they have. You won't believe how low the prices of the materials are. This sale will blow you away :)

Click the link to see what they have.

Tools of the Trade

They sort of look like torture tools - the kind used when you need spies to tell you the truth. But no, they're my crochet hooks. I crocheted in public the other day, in a coffee shop in Greenbelt specifically. And when I brought my crochet hook case out and opened it, I suddenly got dubious reactions from people around me. I can't blame them. They really look deadly.

So yeah, crocheters can be pretty deadly. You'll never know what your grandmas might be hiding in their crochet hook cases :p