Today is the last in a series of weekly (Inter)National Crochet Month posts where I feature an artisanal crochet hook maker, share a review of the hooks, and offer up a giveaway where you can win your very own hand crafted crochet hook necklace!
This post contains affiliate links.
Today’s post features Monica Lowe of Craftwich Creations. Monica can be found online in the Craftwich Creations Etsy shop, and on Facebook, Instagram, Ravelry, and Twitter. Today, I’ll be sharing an interview with Monica, followed by a review of her crochet hooks, and a giveaway for you to win your very own Craftwich portable crochet hook necklace! Read on for more details.
Interview
All images in the interview are copyright Craftwich Creations and used with permission.
Underground Crafter (UC) How did you first get started working with wood?
Monica: I tried making my first hook a few years ago, and boy did it SUCK. HA! I used an oak dowel, which was so hard to hand carve with an Xacto blade. But I really got the hang of it after taking a class on hook carving with Jimbo (of Jimbo’s Front Porch) at [email protected] four years ago. Once I started, I couldn’t seem to stop, and soon my husband was asking me WHAT was I going to do with all those hooks? Worked out how I liked to make my hooks, what worked best for me, and a business was born.
UC: What initially inspired you to make handmade crochet hooks?
Monica: In my crafting, I always have enjoyed the process more than the finished piece. It’s always a bit disappointing when it’s finished, no mater how cool it is. SO, when I moved to the Pacific Northwest, and was able to stay home with the kids, it was a natural progression to first wanting to know how to make my own yarn, and then my own tools. I want to know my craft from the beginning to end.
UC: Do you crochet yourself? If not, who tests out your new hook designs?
Monica: I crochet every night, on the couch, with my Ott light and my pillow, LOL! I’m a more advant-garde hooker, so I like unusual designs, and since I tend to have crafting Short Attention Span, I like to make shawls (asymmetrical are my faves) and other patterns with a variety of stitches. I do like to have anyone I see in person test my hooks – one can never have enough feedback.
UC: Many crocheters have never owned a handmade hook before, and you prefer to make custom hooks. Talk us through the process of working with a customer to create a great hook.
Monica: Well, my goal with my business is to make a piece of art for everyone, that is a useful tool also. If I don’t make something with someone in mind, then I want to make something that the wood tells me it wants to be. If someone is interested in my hooks, but doesn’t see one that leaps out at them (don’t laugh, it has literally happened at a craft show!) then they can request a custom order, which is SO much fun.
First, I need to ask what kind of grip they have, small or larger hands, and whether they use a thumb, forefinger, etc. Any quirks they might have in their hook hold. For example, I have a knife hold in my left hand, and I use my fingers to throw off the yarn. (it was dubbed the “spider crawl” by Julia M. Chambers, who wrote an excellent series of articles in Interweave Crochet on hook holds). Since crochet hooks are held differently by literally each person, some of my natural hooks will NOT work for some people, and others will be PERFECT. I want to match people up with THEIR hook. Nothing makes me more pleased than hearing someone tell me, “it fits like it was made for my hand,” or “it caught my eye right away and I love it.” That means more to me than the money (although getting paid to make people happy is nice too).
I send pictures of the hook in progress as needed. It’s a small step to take, to make sure someone loves what they get.
UC: Do you have any crochet/crafty blogs or websites you visit regularly for inspiration or community?
Monica: I wish I had more time to visit all the blogs i WANT to! I spend most of my time on Facebook, I’m afraid. But some of the blogs I have visited, besides yours, include Moogly, ReCrochetions (Laurinda Reddig, the crochet designer, is a good friend of mine), Cre8tion Crochet, Crochet Concupiscence, Fresh Stitches, and….there’s more but my brain is not working.
UC: How are you celebrating NatCroMo this year?
Monica: I am actually going to keep doing what I am doing! I have sold most of last year’s hooks, so March will be a big carving month for me – more gorgeous crochet tools for all my fellow hookers!
UC: What’s coming up for Craftwich Creations?
Monica: I will be at a few craft shows this year around the Pacific Northwest, so watch my Facebook page for details.
I always like to explore fun new fiber crafting ideas that I can make for people…at the end of last year, I really got into the large Tunisian hooks, so I’m gong to be making more and trying to get more people to try it! What a blast.
Most exciting of all for me, I’m partnering up with Laurinda Reddig of Reversible Color Crochet
Thanks so much for stopping by, Monica, and sharing your love of creativity with us!
Craftwich Creations CrochetHook Review
I had a great conversation with Monica via Etsy convo and email. The process was just as she describes in the interview above, where I shared my preferences (for a tapered hook), my grip (knife hold), my eccentricities (using my forefinger heavily), and my favorite hook sizes (I through K). After back and forth discussion, I even sent her a video of me crocheting, and ultimately, she created a custom US K-10.5 (6.5 mm) crochet hook for me to review. You can see the hook in action and hear my full review in the video below.
What I like about this hook:
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- It’s visually appealing.
- It’s very smooth.
- It’s extremely lightweight.
- It has a long handle to avoid the abrasion against the side of your hand that sometimes happens when you use the knife grip to hold your hook.
- The hook has a tapered throat, which I prefer to an inline hook.
- It has a wider circumference on the handle, allowing for a more relaxed grip while crocheting.
- It’s custom made and it actually feels custom made. It’s like Monica jumped into my mind and knew exactly what I wanted! What an awesome conversation starter.
What might take some getting used to about this hook:
- Crocheters who prefer hooks with inline throats to tapered hooks may find it harder to pull the yarn through their loops with this hook – but I’m sure Monica could make another one that suits inline hook lovers.
- Neither the company name nor the hook size are indicated on the hook, so you may not remember where to order from again. Similarly, you will need a Susan Bates Knit-Chek (or something similar)
to check the hook size if you have multiple Craftwich hooks.
- The hooks has a non-standard shape, so it may not fit into your existing hook holders.
Craftwich Creations crochet hooks currently sell for $18 – $26, depending on the size, style, and wood used. You can find more of Monica’s hooks and her other products, including wood buttons and knitting needles, in the Etsy shop here.
Full disclosure: A free review sample was provided by Craftwich Creations. Although I accept free products for review, I do not accept additional compensation, nor do I guarantee a positive review. My reviews are based entirely on my honest opinions.
Giveaway
Monica from Craftwich Creation is offering up a portable crochet hook necklace for one lucky U.S. reader!
So stop by Craftwich Creations and let us know your favorite hook from the shop in the comments! Follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter widget below to enter for your chance to win by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, April 7, 2015. Only entries logged through the widget will be eligible to win. Good luck!
I love the Portable Crochet Hook size H clay handle.
For the portable hooks, I like the Portable Crochet hook size H with the clay handle. I have never owned a clay handled hook before! Also, the tunisian hook is lovely, too. I appreciate how other elements are combined to give each hook a unique look whether it be a stain, clay, lampwork bead, etc.
Here is the link to the pin: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/390898442633333795/
These look like great hooks.
The clay wrapped size P is beautiful and a size I use often.
love the idea! no more losst hooks or poking myself on the butt, when i sit down!
I Love handcarved,I tried it once and same effort ,It was too hard.So to receive this on the go hook,I would rock the crochet world..I wanted all of of them all but,I never have made a crocheted T-Shirt rug.I want to make one so I think size Size P with the red,will be perfect.
Thank you for introducing me to Craftwich Creations, and an Amazing giveaway.
I love jewelry & would proudly wear the crochet hook necklace!
The Portable size H with clay handle is beautiful. A work of art. The portable size K with the copper metal works was equally as beautiful. Love the juxtaposition of the metal and wood. Well done.
I love the size H hook with the blue and white clay handle.
i like the crochet hook size M natural spalted.
I need a Tunisian crochet hook so I’d go for “Hand Carved Tunisian Crochet Hook – Size O”
Lmecoll on Ravelry
I think I would get the Hand Carved Crochet Hook – Antiqued Red Size L.
Here’s a link to the pin https://www.pinterest.com/pin/338755203197796921/
I use a size H hook at lot and would like to try a hand made one.
I would choose the Portable hook with the Blue clay handle.
I like them all, and would be happy with the one that finds a home with me.
Would love the hand carved hook clay wrapped handle size p hook!
Can you buy any of these wood crochet hooks
Thanks for stopping by, Mary. You can buy these Craftwich hooks through the Etsy shop linked at the top of this post.