Hello from Lancashire

I've been a member for some months but, due to a hard drive problem, I lost my link to here and forgot all about it. Luckily an email saying I was an inactive member, reminded me and here I am again.

I'm a single parent, who home educates The Boy and tries not to murder our deranged cat. I'm a self-confessed yarn whore and about to venture into self employment, making (and hopefully selling) hand dyed yarn and fibers, hand carved crochet hooks, wooden buttons and anything else that will make me enough money to keep doing what I'm doing. I'm getting pretty good at spinning too, so will probably end up selling some of that too, although I'm still at the stage where I think everything I've spun is a minor miracle which needs looking at every five minutes.

I want to start growing some of my own food and maybe adopt a hen or two, after I've cleared the mess of brambles that is my present garden.

Welcome back - I'm glad my email reminded you that we are here

As a home business owner, you may want to consider having a brag about what you do here as well http://forum.homemadelife.com/f6-introduce-your-homemade-business

I thoroughly encourage "bragging", its good for you...

Welcome back from me as well; I noticed you having a wander around this afternoon and was thinking about sending you a pm, but then you posted in a thread

Hi there WP and welcome from me too. Like the sound of what you're up to there so please do have a brag!

Mrs C

Welcome, have a chat & enjoy

Hi from me too...

Hi WP - looking forward to chatting!

Welcome back

I'm agog at the idea of hand carved crochet hooks, combining as it does, two of my favourite things...

Here's a sneaky peak at a couple.

oh how lovely

Do you carve to specific sizes? What wood do you use?

Those are really lovely.

How did you make them (what tools) and yes, what wood did you use?

Not wanting to copy! Just very impressed.

I try to get specific sizes but can't get it spot on, possibly because I haven't been whittling for very long. They usually end up between 4 and 5 mm, which is the size I like working on best. I have done a couple of 10 and 15 mm ones, for crocheting with raw fleece, which is then felted to make rugs. I'm thinking of getting a smaller lathe, to get the shaft the right size, but would still want to hand carve the handles as I don't want them to look like they just came of a production line. I use any type of wood that I find lying around, as long as it's reasonably straight. I started doing them when I went to do a workshop but hadn't taken my hooks and I loved using them so much that I did more. I've also started putting carved handles on my metal hooks, as they're easier to grip with my arthritic fingers.

They were done using my trusty Swiss army knife

My bloke has started making them too, he made me a beautiful one with the bark left on. It's being used at the moment but I'll take a photo of it when I've finished using it.

Gorgeous pieces of work. I love them.

WOW!

Mrs C

Hello! Nice to meet you!

I tried to learn how to crochet, but I got very confused and gave up! I was following some instructions that may not necessarily have been for beginners though! Your handmade needles look beautiful.

Hi welcome from France...a little belated.

Welcome from e too

and WOW..for the hooks