Hi ladies!

Thank you all so much for the help!
I took her shopping and ended up getting her a set of bamboo (double ended pointy) needles. She says that she likes them because her work doesn't fall off when traveling.
I found the set of the Boyd needles with the cables on them and I can get it using a JoAnns coupon for 50% off and add in my teachers discount - I can get it for about $30.
I plan to make her a needle roll or two to add to her "hangey thing" I made for the needles with the cables in the middle!

The little owl below is a purse she made for her sister. Terrible pic - but adorable owl. She decided his beak needs to be orange so it stands out better.
She enjoys making small toys (shes making a monkey and some other critter) and she has made a few pairs of fingerless gloves and multiple hats and scarves. She just picked up a library book with a couple sweaters in it she wants to make. She started a thread shrug for me - but hasn't finished it. I have 1 arm up to my arm pit. I'm waiting for the back and other arm to get finished! Shes making it out of the bamboo thread. I LOVE IT!!
I'm so proud of her accomplishments - especially since I can take ZERO credit. I think we've decided that shes going to teach me to knit too. I can crochet some - but I can't read or understand patterns. The kid has one up on me!
I'm off to check out those links bumblebee left me!!

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Depending on the community you live in, ask the elderly some are glad to pass their material to a young one interessted and if you are very lucky you also gain a new friend and tutor in heart and craft, put up a note what you are looking for and see the magic happen.

I'm excited your girl has such an interest in the arts.




Our grandmothers crocheted with fine steel needles with very fine threads. Wood needles were used with the larger sizes. Today we have a cornucopia from fine woods, bamboo to sleek metal needles that glide as they tink along. Also, needles that have ergonomic handles that are supposed to make it easier, however, I tried them and do not like them because I learned the old way and find it clunky.




Tunisian crochet is an art form that uses a different style of hook and is sorta of a cross between crochet and knitting.




I have a lovely DVD and Book of Tunisian Crochet by Kim Guzman, and a couple of hooks but haven't made anything yet.




The reason for the cable is to ease the weight of the work as you go just like in knitting on larger projects.




A size L=11 would be for our wonderful modern bulkier yarns that has been fashionable of late to speed up projects and its own particular look and style. More and more I see patterns for bulky that are stylish.




The sets usually range in the smaller steel hook sizes, or in the larger sizes F5-K10.5 with Size L=11 not usually in an average set.




I included a needle chart link below.




I included a listing for Tunisian Crochet books at Amazon and shortly down the list you can see a pic of the needles with thecable in middle on a project.




The choice of Bamboo, Rosewood, Aluminum , ergonomic etc is a matter of preferance.




I love the look of Rosewood but like the speed of metal. I have a set of beautiful Rosewood DPNS for knitting socks I make but I also have steel, Bamboo, Aluminum crochet hooks, and use them all.




Denise has a set that fits the bill you are looking for in Tunisian. Not my favorite brand but not to bad either.






See link below

I'm glad you are trying to encourage her! I would look on Ebay and then choose an Ebay shop which has a wide variety of supplies. That works for me in UK. Kits are very expensive and poor value. Don't be swayed by the fact that they look impressive!

Sometimes it's as easy as Googling the name you 'think' you should search for, I've found results simply by typing soft crochet hooks and looking at 'images' instead of the normal search. Good Luck!

Afghan crochet hook is another name for tunisian with that said it also sounds like she wants the Boyd Needlemaster set. I have a couple of the sets and they come with interchangeable needle points and different lengths of cables that can be joined. They also have ends to put on the cable so you can do straight knitting. I'd try to get more information out of her like does she want to crochet an afghan or knit in the circle.

I forgot - she wants to learn to tat too… What does she need for that?

3 comments

by cherylgauteng edited 27 Nov 2012

A tatting shuttle which is a little oval double sided 'disc' and on the ends is a tiny crochet hook. You need fine crochet cotton or even No5 perle cotton - depending on how fine you want the finished work to be. The best would be for her to Google it a

by cherylgauteng 27 Nov 2012

bit and see what she wants to make - there is a big choice. I will try to add some links. This post does not want to add links.

by bumblebee 29 Nov 2012

Oh boy I can see little dancing stars going on in her head.
Tatting is not that easy period but with patience and perseverance it can be learned. You would need to get her a begginers learning kit with the best explaining available. Also, the original tatting was done with shuttles but nowadays we have needle tatting that they say is an
easier technique. It frustrated me because mistakes are not easy to take out and fix. That being said we all have our different talents. LOL