You still there?
I was asked the same by some of you... even my family in Germany started worrying... thanks for your concern.
Can't believe it has been that long since I last posted... and I was not even drowning in mindless hexagon madness...
Daughter got sick, stayed at home for some days, a new kitchen sink disaster, very belated starting on that important summer sewing I was mentioning (did it on time and gosh was I happy I still know how to use my serger after one year of neglecting that dear machine!).
Then I was infected with a nasty sock yarn bug and spent several hours on various sites in order to seek relief... still I have not got rid of that urgent craving.. phew, I didn't see that coming. I feel like I have to start knitting something soon, have been making gauge swatches of a few yarns I have at home, discovered knitting podcasts, pulled out all my knitting magazines, ordered and already got Joelle Hoverson's LAST-MINUTE KNITTED GIFTS (oh so beautiful!) (I know, I am late on that one but I am not actually a knitter... knitting is something I do very sporadically). So I want to knit something. Still there is the lace shawl project I haven't started yet because it seems such an ambitious one and I am not sure I can do that... then I think the Hourglass Sweater would be nice, also a Chevron Scarf and all kinds of socks... at least one pair of them... oh those possibilities!
But first there are a few more hexagons to make and I really, really, really want to use my linens I got in... when was that? Let's see... in March?! Ouch. I still have not been doing anything with them... that's sad. They deserve better than resting in one of my numerous piles.
So, next there will be more hexagons and something wearable linen for my little girl.
I guess I should finally tell you the lucky winner of the book? Jade, it is you. Please give me your address and I will send you the book.
Thank you everybody for participating in the drawing. Again so many compliments on the blanket although I just wanted to know your favourite colours... this surely helps staying motivated. Thank you, girls!
Above you see the hooks I am currently working with. The tiniest one is for a #100 thread (hook's size is 0.6mm or #16 in Europe and US, 12 in Japan) which is really very fine but I must say I can handle that one better than a 5mm hook, especially those from Clover which I find kind of bulky and a little odd to crochet with.
For crocheting the hexagons I tried these different hooks.
All Japanese #5 which means 3mm. On top one you all might be familiar with, the hook from Clover. Nice coating makes the yarn glide well but unfortunately I am not comfortable holding it and the hook itself feels very bulky. The Munsell (Yuzawaya) hook has a very nice bamboo handle and coating but is a bit bulky as well. The least comfortable to hold especially because of the second point which either is poking into my hand or the crochet work when joining one hexagon with the blanket is the hook from Hamanaka, the same company which my yarn comes from. But the hook is fine, pointy and just feels more controllable and by now I even got used to the poking and found my way of avoiding the second point getting involved when joining... so the Hamanaka hook it is.
Many of you asked if I had a colour scheme which I am following when crocheting the hexagons for the blanket. I have and will say a bit on that topic in my next posting.
Stay tuned, have fun crafting and enjoy the weekend!