Once again, it is all about the tools

First let me point out this is the reason why I don't even consider making money from blogging either written or video. I have been busy crocheting and knitting so there's no extra time to write unless I really discipline myself to do it. For this post it was sheer anger and frustration that provided that discipline and commitment. 

Allow me to start with a commitment I made yesterday at work...although I have been doing fairly well destashing, lately I have chosen projects and then discovered I either didn't have enough of the particular yarn I was using or didn't have a color I needed to complete it. I've also started two long-term projects and chose either yarns and or colors I don't have enough of to finish. Ergo-buy more yarn. Yesterday I had two choices to attain the gold worsted weight I needed for my current project. I decided that rather than pay for shipping and wait for an order from WEBS or Premium, I would make a trip to Michael's after work. Well, any of you dedicated crafters know that a trip to the craft store usually ends with other things in your cart along with what you came for. For me, last night, one of those "extras" was a Prym crochet hook. 

This "G" hook was $6.99. It is a plastic hook with a nice pointed tip so I thought it might work better on the amigurumi project I am making now and for others in the future. It also has a tapered shaft which is one of the things I really like about my addiColour hooks that I have been using exclusively since 2013. However, in practice this hook is terrible. To start with, it is all plastic so it feels like it won't be long before it breaks. The next issue is that the size on the handle is only the letter size (G). I prefer to know the actual diameter of the hook in mm as most patterns I use list the size in mm, not the letter size. The final problem and it is the worst, not only is the shaft plastic so it tends to stick to certain yarns, it is very rough plastic. I was using Caron Simply Soft and it felt like I was dragging sandpaper over the yarn. When I tried it with Lion Brand Vanna's Choice it stuck and dragged but now there was another issue. The throat of the hook is so narrow it didn't hold the higher loft worsted weight yarn securely to pull it through loops. Here is the Prym hook

vs. my 3.5mm addiColour hook

I do not recommend the particular Prym hook I bought. I am a bit too skeptical after this experience to try any of the other sizes of this hook. I recommend, especially for beginners, smooth metal hooks. They will make work easier encouraging you to keep going and improving your skills.