The Hooked Hand

[thehookedhand]

A Grand Return! New Pattern Soon!

Hey! It’s been a while, but I’m back with a new pattern in the works! This purse is actually already finished, and has been for a while now, but I’m just getting around to fixing up my pattern notes into something legible for you guys. 

For those of you curious where I’ve been - What started as a short break from my usual posting schedule turned into 10 months of nothing. I think I felt burnt out trying to keep up with posting twice a week, and even scheduling posts ahead of time it felt like too much. So, from now on I’m not really committing to any regular schedule. I’ll post when I post, but I will try to keep you all updated as best I can. 

Happy late 4th of July to those who celebrate, and keep an eye out for my newest pattern - coming very soon!

[thehookedhand]

Coming Along Nicely!

The bag pattern is coming along nicely!

I don’t understand why it looks pink in every picture I take, though. >.<

[thehookedhand]

What I’ve Been Up To & Handy Hook #3

I’ve been getting a bit burnt out on crocheting with plarn, and it’s been affecting my motivation to crochet anything at all. I keep telling myself, “I can start more projects as soon as I finish this one.” Which is great and all, except...all my current projects are with plarn. I want color! I want to work with something with more versatility than a plastic bag. 

So, eventually I broke down and started a new project in yarn, even though all my plarn projects aren’t finished yet. I figure if I don’t start something new, I’ll just end up not picking up crochet again for a couple months, and that would just be sad. So, I’m working on a yarn version of my plarn bag pattern! I had planned to do this eventually anyway, but I had originally thought it’d be after the plarn version was finished. I suppose it doesn’t really matter, as long as they both get done, right?

You can find my progress so far in the picture above. I swear it’s not as pink as it looks in the picture, it’s more of a maroon red color.

That’s about all for this update! Toodles!

Handy Hook #3: If you want to make a flat circle, the basic pattern is as follows: RND1: Make a magic circle and work 6 SC into the center. Pull closed. (6 STS) RND2: INC SC around. (12 STS) RND3: *INC SC, SC 1. Repeat from * around. (18 STS) RND4: *INC SC, SC 2. Repeat from * around. (24 STS) RND5: *INC SC, SC 3. Repeat from * around. (30 STS) And so on... You can also do this with HDC! 

[thehookedhand]

Made a cute octopus for my cousin’s baby shower!

I didn’t design this particular pattern, although I did make some small modifications. You can find the full pattern HERE.

[crochetmelovely]

🤣😂😘 @lionbrandyarn 

Link to my blog/website: https://crochetml.com/

https://crochetml.com/crochet-memes/

[thehookedhand]

My first FREE pattern, the Basic Hair Scrunchie, made the top 20 on Ravelry’s Spotlight Debut Pattern page! Take a look!

[im-da-bronx]

*when I see a complicated, super large crochet/knitting pattern*

Me: DON’T tell me I don’t have the balls to do it.

Me: I do have the balls.

Me: I might not have the strength or patience, but I definitely have the balls.

[thehookedhand]

But if you can’t afford to buy the balls, that’s okay! Check out my blog at https://thehookedhand.tumblr.com/ for a ton of crochet budgeting tips and tricks, free or affordable patterns, DIY crochet and crochet-related solutions, and more!

[fantasystitches]

[thehookedhand]

Oh my god...my dad makes this joke constantly. 

[crochetmelovely]

🤣😂👏 

Link to my blog/website: https://crochetml.com/

https://crochetml.com/crochet-memes/

[thehookedhand]

It certainly does burn a hole through your wallet, though! IF you let it! Take a look at my blog at https://thehookedhand.tumblr.com/ for a ton of crochet budgeting tips and tricks, free or affordable patterns, DIY crochet and crochet-related solutions, and more!

[thehookedhand]

[FREE Pattern] Basic Hair Scrunchie

This basic hair scrunchie is a quick and easy yarn stash-buster. It looks good in almost any color, and is easy to make! You can easily make it with some leftover yarn balls that don’t have enough left in them for a big project. The pattern is very adaptable, so it’s easy to adjust for different yarn and hook sizes. It’s also the perfect beginner pattern for someone who already knows the basic stitches but is ready to graduate from making dishcloths or rectangular samples.

For the full pattern, please download the FREE .pdf file from my Ravelry store HERE.

Difficulty Level: 1-Basic

Required Knowledge:

Making a slip knot and chain stitch.

Finishing off and weaving in your ends.

Slip stitch.

Single crochet stitch.

Double crochet stitch. 

Materials:

Scissors 

Yarn or Tapestry Needle 

Crochet Hook (Size appropriate to your yarn weight. I used a 5.5mm hook.) 

A hair elastic.

Yarns Used: Most yarns will work, but I tested mostly with Worsted weight yarns. In the pictures, 10-15 yds total of the following yarns were used for each scrunchie: 

Brava, Worsted/Medium (4) weight, 100% Acrylic (Color Solstice Heather).

Lily Sugar’n Cream Scents Yarn, Worsted/Medium (4) weight, 100% Cotton (Color Fleur De Lavande).

[thehookedhand]

New hook set came in the mail! Got these for $9 on sale from https://www.crochet.com/, they’re typically $10. I’ll be reviewing these soon, keep an eye out!

[crochetmelovely]

😜🤣😂 @crochetgrubbies 

Link to my blog/website: https://crochetml.com/

https://crochetml.com/crochet-memes/

[thehookedhand]

This except I’m still learning Sarcasm.

[thehookedhand]

Plarn bag is working up nicely!

[velveteenmousestudios]

Because someone out there may need a distraction...

[thehookedhand]

Can I just relate to whenever my center-pull yarn skein is almost empty like this and I lay it on it’s side and it just...deflates, and lays flat, and you can’t pick it up again without it unraveling? That’s me every morning. 

[crazypercheron]

[thehookedhand]

I automate my chanting and cursing by playing music or a podcast as I crochet...Does that make my desktop speakers my accomplice in witchery? 

[crochetmelovely]

🤣😂😅 @sixteenchains 

Link to my blog/website: https://crochetml.com/

https://crochetml.com/crochet-memes/

[thehookedhand]

-glances at my growing pile of WIPs scattered around my room and chuckles nervously-

[thehookedhand]

3 MORE Reasons Why Plarn Is Great!

Here’s 3 MORE Reasons why plarn, or yarn made of plastic bags, is great! If you haven’t already, check out the first three reasons HERE.

1. Plarn has good stitch definition. For those who don’t know, stitch definition is how well your stitches show up in a particular yarn...or in this case, plarn! If a yarn has good stitch definition, your stitches will be very distinguishable from one another, and will seem to pop out, which can be important for textured stitches.

2. Plarn is versatile. It can be used for almost any project, from bags to flower pot holders to rugs to sleeping bags for the homeless. It’s a great, budget alternative to outdoor-safe yarns, but it looks great for indoor projects, too! Moreover, moths and other fabric-eating bugs don’t have much interest in plarn, so your projects are safe from insects. 

3. Plarn expands to fill in gaps. If you’re working with unspun plarn, and you’re crocheting loosely (which you should be doing anyway with unspun plarn to prevent it snapping), then your plarn will actually expand, to an extent, after you make a stitch to sort of fill in the gaps between stitches. This is only true to an extent, but it can make a big difference if you’re wanting to use a slightly taller stitch (such as a half double crochet) but you really need the solidness of a single crochet stitch. 

I’m still working on that beginner pattern made with plarn mentioned in my last post about why plarn is great, but it has advanced from a beginner pattern to an easy or low level intermediate pattern. Anything above the basics is taught in the pattern, but I am using some special stitches such as the alpine stitch to really make the pattern more unique. 

It should still be achievable for a beginner to make the bag, provided they are comfortable with the basic stitches already, but it may be a little more of a learning curve if you’ve never done any special stitches before. I’m confident every one of you can do it though!