Tools of the Trade

Many years ago we were at the beach, visiting some shops in Cannon Beach, and I was in a little yarn shop hidden way back in a little burrow of shops and was looking around and on the counter was a little display of hand-wrought bronze crochet hooks.  I decided then and there that I needed one of them.  :-)  Years later I had nearly worn the hook end off my little C sized hook so decided to try to find the makers to get another one and maybe a few more sizes.  After extensive and frustrating internet searching I finally found the makers!  Molly & John of Celtic Swan Forge.  Click HERE to see their website. I've become friends with them over the years - they used to do their work on board their sailboat, but now live on a farm on Lopez Island in the San Juan Islands of Washington State, USA.

They were so nice, and invited me to send my hook back and made a brand new hook tip on it for me and it's still going strong.  I also ordered a bronze hook size H.  Then they began using sterling silver and I began to collect those over the years.  Below is my current collection of silver hooks.  The biggest on top is a "I" hook and I asked them if they could put a stone on top for further embellishment and they did, it's a carnelian.  I just received my newest hook, the 2nd from the top, an H hook.  I also have a D, F, & G plus the little silver yarn needle.  OK, I actually have 2 D hooks as I lost one and ordered a replacement and then found the one I'd lost.  :-D  I've thought of selling the duplicate, but what if I lost one again?  LOL!

A close-up of the carnelian top of the I hook.

Each hook has the size, stamped sterling and the logo SS for Swan-Sheeran, the makers.

I have also added a set of bronze #1 sized double pointed knitting needles for making socks.  And those are my 2 bronze hooks on the bottom. 

All of my collection, which includes a pair of #10 knitting needles topped with garnets. 

They heat the bronze and silver and then twist the hot metal to get these wonderful designs. 

So pretty.

I saw some fabulous vintage knitting needles on another blog a few years ago and fell in love with them - they are "Shellonite", imitation tortoise shell, and found these on eBay. I bought the ones on top, and the seller included the other set with original label for free!

Aren't these neat? 

 I also have quite a collection of turned wood crochet hooks and knitting needles.  I guess I should have shown those, but maybe another time.  

What is your favorite crochet hook or knitting needle?  Do you have any vintage or handmade ones?