JIMBO'S HOOK WHITTLIN TUTORIAL REVISITED

How to make a Jimbo Hook II

So what we have here is a re-enactment of a set of posts I put together several years ago, as a tutorial for those who would like to try their hand at whittling a crochet hook from a stick.  I'm re-writing the post to and see if maybe I can add a little more here and there and make things a bit more clear. 

Ok here we go....

For any who wonder..."How does Jimbo make a hook?" I decided to show you. Hopefully all will go well and at the end you'll see a finished crochet hook you'll be proud to pass on to future generations.

The first step I didn't show, but would have been one of me sawing a hunk of bush maple from one of the many bushes we have up on the crick. The selection process is grilling... it involves going to the crick, enjoying the scenery, visiting the chipmunks, listing to the wind singing in the trees above, and wandering around (some might say aimlessly) to find a volunteer stick.   Sorry I couldn't show you all that but it woulda taken up too much space.

It'll have to suffice to tell you about how to select a stick.  Lets start with types of wood.  Hardwood is best for hooks, but not all hardwood wants to become a crochet hook.  Certain open grain woods like Oak, Ash, Mahogany aren't so good just because the pores in the wood are large and hard to fill.   It's best to pick a hardwood branch that belonged to, oh, maybe a fruit tree (old growth preferably).  Maple is a wonderful hook wood.

Notice I said branch.  Tree branches are amazing things.  They're made of the same wood as the trunk but the annular rings are far more closely spaced (making them stronger).  Always pick a branch.  Besides trunks are not so easy to saw.

Speaking of saws, I like to use a folding pruning saw.  They're not expensive and I can carry one around in my back pocket.  That way I have both hands free to fend off  the ground when it comes charging up (the ground seems enjoy tripping me much more as I grow older).

If you're going for a stick rather than a store bought wood blank, pick one that is dead and dry and not cracked and that doesn't have a soft pith (the center core of the stick).  I emphasize the dead and dry part.  If you whittle a green stick, it's almost a sure thing that the result will be a bent and or cracked.  Dead and dry.  

If this is your first whittling experience, it's also best not to pick a stick with lots of knots.  Knots are extra hard to whittle.

It's a good idea to pick a stick that is, oh, maybe four to five times the diameter (size) of the hook you want to make.  For example, lets say you want to make an H (5mm); pick a stick that is about 16 - 20mm in diameter.  You'll whittle away all of the hook shank that's not 5mm, and leave the rest to become the handle of your dreams.  Oh, and make it longer than what you anticipate as the finished hook length... that way you have more to hold onto while your whittling.  I like about 9 - 11 inches.  You can always saw off what you don't need.  I long ago figured out that no matter how many times I cut a stick,  if it's too short, it'll still be too short.  Take my word for it.

Picking a hook stick is an adventure.  If you can, pick a stick that has some meaning.  How about a stick from the tree where you and your sweetie smooched?  Or from a tree (like my old apple tree on the ranch) where you used to play as a tike.  Hooks that have meaning like this are more than hooks.  They're reminders of places or people dear to you.

There's probably lots of stuff I've left out up to this point, but I think we're in pretty  good shape for you to move on to the next step so we'll pick up on the old tutorial here with slight modifications here and there...

You've selected a stick and are ready to move on to the next step, roughing out the blank.  I did this, as you see, with my trusty Buck pocket knife, all the while watching for the best grain to show and trying to leave a bit of bark to keep the character of the donor.. bark can be pretty too you know.
But we'll see if it stays. I never know just what the look will be till its all done. Form follows function; so its a bit of a compromise through the course of making the hook to see how much bark can can be left, all the while making a functional hook.

A bit more here about knives.  I'm using a pocket knife in these pictures.  That's ok as long as it's razor sharp.  If you don't know how to sharpen a knife to an ultra sharp edge, there's lots of sites on the internet for that sort of thing.   Better to use a fixed blade carving knife, but absolutely NOT one of those removable blade hobby knives that look kinda like a scalpel.  If you can afford to, buy a detail knife like a Flexcut .  I love these knives and will tell you so even if they're not paying for the plug.

I'll show one more whittling step next before going to sand paper, then to the saw, then whittling again, then sandpaper again, then finishing.

MORE WHITTLING



You might have noticed that this hook is really REALLY big. I'm doing that so the steps that I do can be more easily seen. Still, if you're doing a hook for the first time, I think its a good idea not to try for anything under, say, an N. Tiny hooks are a bit more difficult when you're starting and besides if your N doesn't look just right you can always take it down a size or two smaller to remove a little boo-boo. Be careful not to remove too much material.. your hook will look funny if you have to glue shavings back on.

Note to that the first photo shows the tip already shaped. I got a little ahead of myself here. I should have shown a photo of the blank after I whittled the shank to a rough diameter slightly larger than the size desired. You do that first, then shape the tip. That way the tip curvature will be closer to a tangent (remember geometry when the little acorn grew up and noticed "Gee, ah'm a tree"?) (sigh)

Anyways, once a fair length of the shank is shaped as close to circular as you can get it..you can shape the tip. Take it easy. Hold the stick in one hand by its handle, with the point facing away from you. Now use the thumb of that hand to push against the thumb of the hand holding the knife (the knife holding thumb is placed against the back of the blade). Take a chip off the end, turn the blank, take another chip, turn the blank, take another chip... get the picture?

Here's a picture that's repeated later on when I'm discussing throat forming.  The grip and finger/thumb positions are the same for whittling the shank, forming the point, and tapering the throat.  It's a safe, powerful grip for whittling whether it's for crochet hooks or, oh,  a marshmallow stick (something your hook WON'T become, right?). 

Ok, moving on.... Make the shape akin to what you want the pokey end of your hook to look like. "Pokey" I like that.

Next up.. Sanding... or how to loose 10 lbs while making yourself a crochet hook. Get yourself some sandpaper. I like a progression of paper (Norton is good stuff) starting at about a hunnert grit. Later on you'll going through the grits up to 320.
Oh and the sawing part is coming up too. I'm telling you this in case you need to get a saw. Chainsaws are really cool, but for hooks, I like to use a tiny Gyros backsaw that I got at Woodcraft for teeny weenie hooks. I also use a little Japanese "Dozuki" type saw for the larger hook sizes. Both have a reinforcing rib along the back to keep the blade rigid, and both take a very thin "kerf" or cut thickness. Such thin really sharp blades reduce the amount of tear-out (splinters) you'll get at the ends of the cut. Borrow one if you can cause they're expensive. At least $20.
Oh and if you're shopping (or borrowing), consider picking up a small can of polymerized wipe-on oil finish. I use "Minwax Wipe on Poly" and I hear that Woodcraft's General finishes makes an excellent wipe on polymerized oil too. One can ($10-$14)will do a gazillion hooks if you play your cards right. Plus you can use it to re-finish your hook later. Oh, and start looking for some clean white cotton scraps for the finishing steps.

HOW TO LOOSE 10LBS SANDING:



Ok.. so you want to sand off all those purty little knife marks. No better way I know to do it than by hand and sandpaper. I don't like to use really coarse paper so I start with 120 grit, and then move to 220 after I get rid of the whittling evidence. Wisht I could do away with sanding because its tedious and makes me sweat buckets.. but I'm not aware of a better method. I've tried power sanding but you just cant get the smooth curves you need.
Ok so you sand and sand and sand and you end up with what you see above for the first couple inches. I don't bother with the rest of the hook handle right now cause if I screw up the hook there's no point in having a finished handle, eh?.
You didn't loose 10 lbs sanding? Me either. So I exaggerated.

Next up, the exciting part! Sawing the notch!

NOTCH SAWING OR OOOPS I NEED ANOTHER STICK
And now we get down to the nittus grittus, the defining moment. If you do this one wrong, you'll be an embarassment to your whole family and they'll be wearing sacks on their heads to hide their shame.

Ok with such a upbeat peptalk... lets cut the notch. Use that brand new saw you just bought... the one with teeeny teeth... the teeneyer the better.

Check the shape of the stick to see where you want the notch in relation to the rest of the handle. Picture where the grip needs to go. Hold the stick as you will when its a hook. Rotate it in your hand till you find where your hand feels the most comfortable, then spot where the notch HAS to be. In sum..its good to use the natural curvature of the stick rather than try to hack out an un-natural shape after you've cut the notch and cast the die.

Cut the notch at an angle that appeals to you. Don't make it too shallow or it might break. Don't make it too steep or it won't hook yarn. Make it just right. Or for those who insist on being anal, use a protractor and make the notch 42.5 degrees +- .00037 minutes up from a horizontal plane.

And the depth of the cut counts too. Too deep and the hook head's in danger of being easily broken off, too shallow and it won't grab yarn. So I suggest going roughly halfway through the thickness of the hook. Once again for you precision freaks.. measure the hook diameter, divide by half, and stick a piece of tape on your saw exactly that distance from the teeth. When you've completed the cut, remove the tape, wash and wax your saw, wrap it in a lightly oiled cloth and put it back in your saw holder, then go iron your underwear.

Now for the rest of us, and while those other folks are underwear ironing... Go get another box of Band Aids.... MORE WHITTLING COMING UP
See you later.... Right now I have to go get a new supply of head sacks for the family.

THUMBS UP


I'm showing this picture again cause I'm particular proud of it, and  to show you I'm all thumbs.  I'd have posed for this one sooner, but I had to go get my nails done first. (That was one of those burly logger jokes you know...really. Actually I do my own nails..... with a tar-ahrn n 50 grit sandpaper)

Ok nuff bragging. The steps I'm starting here are best done with your knife gripped as shown and with the thumb of your hook holding hand helping push the knife toward that slit you just cut with your shiny new saw.

Start close to the saw kerf (cut) just as you see me doing in the photo and whittle a teensy little chip. The chip should break off at the kerf and leave you a tiny little ramp. Move the blade back a smidge and take another itsy bitsy slice.. you now have a little bigger ramp and the edge of the hook part is starting to show. You might have to help the chips along by prying a bit. Just don't get carried away and whack the end of the hook off. Thats why i'm showing you this (shhhhhhhhh)totally exclusive ultra seceret Jimbo knife hold. You have MUCH more control of your knife when you use this whittling technique. "What?" you say, "every book on whittling ever written shows that knife hold". "Well just Oh yeah!?" I say back.

Ah but i digress.

Keep shaving and chipping away to enlarge your little angled ramp, making it as smooth as you can, till you finally make the ramp join the very bottom of the saw kerf. You should now have a V shaped notch made. Don't worry about how it looks... you're about to work magic with........ you guessed it....... MORE Sandpaper!!

Next up... melt off another 10 lbs and exfoliate your fingers at the same time!!



OH ITS STARTING TO LOOK LIKE A CROCHET HOOK!



NOW! Here's one of the funnest parts, shaping the gullet (us lumberjack hook whittlers like to call it a gullet cause it looks like the gullet of a saw blade).
Take your sandpaper, oh about 120 - 150 grit and roll it up to the size of the gullet you want and start sanding across the V groove you just made. Now here's a little secret just for you. If your sandpaper wants to crack and balks at being formed into a nice smooth rounded surface, apply a strip of duct tape across the back. The tape will hold the paper against splitting. Nifty eh?

Now as you sand.. check both sides of the hook from time to time to make sure you're sanding both sides of the gullet evenly. Then move the paper to an angle so you form a smooth groove leading into the gullet. As you do this, the paper will also start shaping the hook overhang. Ooooooh aint it purty!

When you get the basic shape you want, switch to finer paper; rolled up the same way and keep sanding till its oh so smooth and the shape is just begging to gather some yarn. Also check the sharp edge of the overhang part and very lightly sand it so it isn't too sharp or it'll catch stuff you don't want it to. Make it the shape you want... its YOUR hook you know.

Now look at what you made. Holey cow but its a georgeous thing; a work of art! Isn't it amazing what a smooth and sensual shape you and your little stick just created!?

Congratulate yourself and go have a glass of wine to celebrate, cause the rest is really easy... you're almost done! Heck you could use the hook now if you wanted to.

Next up.... shaping a handle that cuddles with your hand.

SHAPING A CUDDLY GRIP

This will be a quick post without pictures cause I don't have any to show you.. sorry.
Ok, lets do the crochet hook grip of your dreams. This can also be a really fun thing, and I imagine a REALLY fun thing since you have your own hand as a model. I have a disadvantage here since my custom hooks are made from photos of the customer's hand holding a hook. You have the real thing!

So what you do is hold the hook as you would while crocheting. Heck, you might as well do a bit of a chain or something just to make sure you're holding the hook as you'd like. But pay close attention first to the location of your thumb and whichever finger you use to grip the hook. It makes a big difference how you make the grip, depending on whether you're a toothbrush gripper or a pencil gripper. Smart folks call these overhand and underhand grips but I've found those terms can be confusing.

Now if you have a helper, you can trace your grip on the handle with a pencil or you can simply eyeball landmarks on the hook where you'd like to make a special shape.

The thumb and finger indentations should go first. And, mind you, you don't have to do both. You can do just the thumb, or just a forefinger indent or both. However you do it, take it easy and start by whittling a small dent in the wood, try the grip, whittle some more, etc. Then sand. Try the grip again and note where the rest of your hand touches the grip. If you've a big hook like the monster i'm using as a model here, you might like a little "dogleg" on the end for you to use in pulling thread or rag for rugs.

Take your time, whittling and sanding till you have shaped a grip to die for. OOOOO we'er sooo close to being finished!  What an adventure eh?

FINISHING

Now when I first started making hooks, my thought was to not use any finish whatsoever. That way the hook would develop its own patina by way of the user's hands and the yarn being used. The finish would be a true mark of the owner. I still like the idea. It'd be a great thing to do for your decendents, because they'd be able to pick the hook up and know that your hands and your yarn made this hook the wonder that it is. Plus, since I smoothed the hooks to a velvety smoothness anyway, I figured they'd work just fine. And they did.

But practicality creeeps in. So I started waxing my hooks to protect against moisture and such. Treewax did fine, as did beeswax. Just apply coatings liberally and rub it in, hard. Of the two waxes, I'm finding that if you want to wax, I'd suggest beeswax, just because the stuff I have smells like honey. mmmmmm  With beeswax, you can make a hook that'll have you hankering for a little peanutbutter and honey sammich... but I digress again. So... wax (paste) can work .. just rub it in; let it set a spell, and rub it off. Might as well burn a couple hundred calories while you're at it eh (ie, rub hard, real hard)

A caveat here about wax.  Some waxes might leave a finish that squeeks against yarn.  Lots of crochetiers don't like to hear their yarn sound like a poorly tuned fiddle.  So if that's a concern, move on to a harder, oil based finish.

I much prefer to use poly-oil type finishes over wax. General Finishes makes a really good one in a can with a paint can style lid so you can dip the hook easily. Others like Minwax make theirs in a can with a screw or pop-top that will let you dip too, if the hook's not too big around. Anyways, the idea is to get a good generous amount of finish applied to the hook, either by dipping or applying the oil to a cotton rag (be sure NOT to wad it up and throw it away when you're done... this stuff can start a fire just from spontaneous combustion.  So leave the oil soaked rag open and well exposed to air when you're done).

Rub the oil in, hard.... very hard. Make the wood heat up from friction cause you're rubbing so hard. Get ALL the hook including the tip and gullet especially. Rub till the finish is barely tacky, then set it down to dry. It won't take long to dry... maybe oh an hour max. Now pick it up again and rub the beegeebers out of it again this time with a clean rag.. no more finish. You can consider the hook done, or if its a softer wood, or if you are one who irons your underwear, you might want to do more coats just like you did this one... just be sure the first coat is bone dry when you go to apply the second coat.  Then be sure the second coat is dry before you apply the third coat and so on.  Rub rub rub between  every coat. 

Your FINISHED!! 

So you've just made yourself a beauty of a hook that is now an heirloom to be passed on from generation to generation.... or to be eaten by the dog, or whatever. No matter what happens YOU did it and you should be proud. Imagine the wonderous things your very personal hook will make.

Please send me pictures of your hook, and what marvelous things you've made with it.

Thanks for your patience.

Jimbo




Uh, It occurs to me that I've putting alot of time into this thing and that some unscrupulous copier might take advantage and copy it for their own unscrupulous reasons. So this is a notice to unscrupulous copiers... this stuff is subject to and I am exercising my Copyright to all materials in this blog that are subject to Copyright under any applicable law. Also, if someone would like to publish this... I can be bought.  Not to say you can't link this post.  I welcome that but please don't copy without permission.

JUNE JIMBO CROCHET HOOK AUCTION IS OVER! Thanks to all who visited

This auction is over!! Thanks so much to all who visited and bid.  Winning bidders please consider using the little orange box marked "make a donation" to use paypal.  Payment in other media is totally acceptable; simply notify me by email if you wish to make payment by another method.  Thanks again for dropping by!  Another auction is in the wings and will be up soon.

Have a great week end!

Jimbo

Been away but not from hook making.... and here's the proof.  A veritable plethora of hooks... that is to say if 6 hooks and a Nostepenne is a plethora.

So lets not shilly shally around and get right to the point.  Starting from the left in the group of hooks nestled in that beautifully figured Maple bowl (a birthday present I made for my Sweetie), we have Hook #1

Hook #1 is made, I think, of Honduran Rosewood, a really hard wood that lends itself well to smaller size hooks.  This one's an "F" (3.75mm) size and is 19cm (7.5 inches) long.  A caveat.  This hook might already be sold.  If the buyer decides yes, I'll pull it from the auction.  If no, it will be up for bids.  AND it just sold!  Hook #1 is going to Australia!

Hook #2 is another Rosewood (not sure what country though) hook that's a real beauty.  This is one of those hooks that fetches comments from buyers, like "Oh my goodness!  The hook is even more beautiful than it is in your picture!".  Think of Black Walnut on steroids.  Oops, I'm shilly shallying.  Focus Jimbo.  Ok it's a K (6.5mm) and is 7.5 inches long).

Hook #3 is another one of those amazing spalted apple hooks that defies description.  You get a very basic ides of the grain variation in the picture.  Get it in your  hands and you'll be mesmerized (well I was).  If you'd like to read more about the very same log this hook issued from, go a couple posts below this one and read about the spalted apple cousin (hook #5 in that post).  Same goes for this hook only this one has even more grain and color variation.  Beautiful, interesting, mysterious, it'll be the talk of your crochet club.  It's an "L" (8mm) and is 7.75 inches long.

Hook #4 is a drop dead beautiful Cocobolo "O" (11mm) hook.  The beauty of this wood belies it's dangerous propensity on the lathe.  The shavings get in my skin and I have a rash and itch for days.  But for you?  I'd itch for weeks!  Very near the peak of the exotic woods as far as beauty goes, Cocobolo makes durable, heavy, very hard hooks that will last several lifetimes.   Oh yeah, the hook is 8 inches of elegance.

Hook #5 is about as rare as the spalted Apple hook in terms of what's been available for me to convert from stick to hook.  This is a "flamewood" hook, a very deep redish purple that doesn't pick up well in the picture but that is just amazing.  It has a very subtle "quilting" in it's grain structure that's sure to amaze you, and if looks aren't good enough, the finish is so smooth you'll have a real hard time putting it down.  Rare hook, rare size.  It's a 5.75mm, or midway between an I and a J.  Length is 7.75 inches.  Flamewood!  I doubt it'll burn your yarn though.... way too smooth.

Hook #6 is one of my new stand up Egg Hooks.  This beauty is made of Canary wood and chatoyance is it's middle name.  I have an affinity for chatoyant wood... maybe because I was always fascinated by those "Cracker Jack" prize cards that would show two different pictures depending on how you held it to the light. This hook you hold one way you see one grain pattern and held another way you see another... but the beauty is in the visible transition from one to the other.  Hookwise it's a dandy too.  Very comfortable to hold.  I'd say this style hook is near to if not at the top of ergonomic crochet hooks for those who have a overhand grip.  It's a "H" and stands 5.5 inches tall.

#7 Now we move on to the Nostepenne.  We all know what a Nostepenne is, right?  Well if you don't, Google and YouTube are eager to teach you.  Basically it's a hand held yarn winder that allows you to wind a center pull ball of yarn from one of those pesky unwound skeins.  And if you'll trust me, I'll tell you this Noste is made of Cherry.  I know I know it's hard to see cherry color in the picture.  Heck it's hard to see it in real life but thats what it is.  It was a gift many years ago from a good friend who was making a solid cherry spiral staircase.  He gave me this beautiful scrap of Cherry and said "Here Jimbo, make something of this".  Well Scottie, here it is.    A Noste that's unbelievably smooth, pretty and functional!  It's 9.25 inches long; the working shank is 5" long (meaning you should be able to make an almost 5 inch diameter ball cause you need to leave a smidge of space at the small end); and the diameter at the small end is .875 inches.

Hook #8 is something totally unique in all of  Crochetdom, perhaps in the known Universe..... a Nesting Egg Hook.  Need I say more?  I made this hook from a wonderous piece of Apricot and when it was ready to be parted from the blank I was turning, I noticed that the most beautiful part of the wood was being left behind.  So I thought, "Jimbo, why can't you make a little stand for that egg hook to nest in?" (I talk to myself more these days).  Well I listened, and you see the result.  Because both pieces were born of the same stick, you can actually match the grain from one to another... not that that's an important thing, but actually is a pretty nice touch in my estimation.  Actually this little combination has been sitting on my desk for more than a month as eye candy.  It's just that purty.  It's a H (5mm) and is 6 inches long.  Be high bidder on the Egg Hook and I'll throw in the nest.

There we have it!  Lots to look at, eh?

Bidding rules:  We'll run the auction up until 10pm Pacific Time on Thursday, June 25th.  Please email your bids to me at jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com .

Tying bids will be resolved in favor of the first received.

I do take "Proxy" bids if you choose to do that as well but if we get a tie on highest proxy bid, resolution will again be in favor of the first bid received, but in this case I'll notify the later bidder of the situation.

I'm not always close by the computer (actually I'm at the Crick whenever possible and there's no internet there ((yay))), but I'll try to post your bids as soon as I can.

Please increase bids by $5 minimum.

Let the auction begin!

bids:

Hook #1(sold)

Hook #2
Cathy bids $30
Barbara goes $55

Hook #3
Barbara with $35

Hook #4
Carla goes for Cocobolo...$35
Barbara bids it up to $55

Hook #5
Niki goes $25
Barbara bumps it to $55

Hook #6
From Mona the Compassionate:
"Don't want hook # 6 to feel left out and unloved: $25.00"
Thanks Mona, I can see that little hook smiling as I type.
Cathy's compassionate too... $30

Nostepenne (#7)
Yvonne goes $25

Hook set #8
Carla likes the nesting Egg Hook and bids $35
Susan H  bumps it up to $40
Susan W. raises to $45
Susan H is right back with $50


And thanks again for dropping by!  I really appreciate your support.
Jimbo

How to make metal hooks, or why I make wood hooks

In the interest of curiosity, knowing that you are just fascinated by crochet hook  design and construction; I'm sharing some information found during a search of venerable European patents.  The drawings above show how to forge a metal crochet hook.  I didn't translate the description, but as you can see, it's pretty evident from the drawings how it works.  I'll embellish a little just cause that's what I do.
So to make a metal hook you must have:

A source of high temp heat such as a coal fired forge or at least a propane fired torch;

A blank of malleable metal such as, oh, steel*, brass, silver, gold (twould be nice, eh?) that is a bit larger than the diameter of the hook you'd like to make;

*steel requires high temperature so I'd stick with the softer albeit heavier metals.

An anvil (perhaps a short piece of railroad rail will do);

A small blacksmith hammer.

Now all you do is shape the hook as shown in the drawings.  Cinchy.

Right.

I'm sticking to making wood hooks.

If YOU decide to make one, send me a picture and I'll post it here.

Happy Hammering
Jimbo

ANOTHER APRIL AUCTION IS HERE (AUCTION IS OVER)

Thank you ALL for dropping by!  This auction is over.  High bidders please consider paying by way of paypal, simply by clicking on the little yellow box in the left hand margin labeled "Make a Donation".  Please include $2.50 extra for shipping in your payment. I'll try to get your hook in the mail right away.  If you prefer to pay a different way, please send me an email and we'll figure it out.

Thanks again!!  Another auction will follow shortly.  Meantime please drop by again, I'm cogitating a post on how to make metal hooks (gotta try that sometime).

SOME EXOTIC WOOD BEAUTIES...

AND SOME AMAZING DOMESTICS

AND IF THAT ISN'T  ENOUGH, CHECK OUT THE OTHER SIDE...

AND THEN THERE'S THIS....

AND THE OTHER SIDE..

AND IN THE HAND...

Yup I've been a busy whittler lately.  Got the old hook making mojo back, I'm happy to say.  Lots of personal stuff's been happening and not all of it so good but making hooks is real therapy for me and here you have some of the results.

Shall we start at the top?  I'm referring to the four exotic beauties at the top of this post.  These are made from various rosewood related hardwoods, all having natural dark coloration and amazing grain beauty.  Lets call the hook at the far left Hook #1 and move to the right.

So Hook #1 is a 7mm beauty, a size that fits neatly between a K and an L.  Beautiful grain, smooooooooth and lightweight for an exotic hardwood.  Lengthwise it's 7 1/2 inches of very nicely figured Rosewood.

Hook #2 is made from one of the most beautiful but hard to work hardwoods in the world, Cocobolo.  Cocobolo is VERY hard and dense with natural oils that like to plug up the grains of sandpaper.  But for all the extra work the wood demands, it pays back in incredible color and grain.  Any hook made of Cocobolo is a real collector's item.  This one is an H (5mm) and is 7 1/2 inches long.

Hook #3 is another beautiful red colored hook, made from a piece of Bloodwood I found in my exotic wood stash.  Bloodwood is a really fine hook wood because of it's strength and durability.  Not one to sneeze at beauty wise either.  Chatoyance is there in abundance, making it a hook you can stare at and wonder at how Mother Nature does such beautiful things.  It's an H (5mm) and is 7 3/4 inches long.

Hook #4 is a cousin of hook #1 (made of the same wood) and was blessed with beautiful grain and color as well.  It's a smaller size (G 4mm) and a bit shorter at 7 1/4 inches long.

Now we move down to the domestics that just might knock your socks off.

Hook #5 (resting on my treasured "Your Cabin in the Woods" book) is honestly one of the most interesting, beautiful, challenging  hooks I've ever made.  It's made from a fallen branch that I found up on the Ranch a few yards from the Front Porch.  I believe it came from a Hazlenut bush.  The bark (and I wish now that I'd taken pictures of the raw wood cause you wouldn't have believed a hook could come from such a sorry looking piece) was pitted all over from the beaks of  yellow belly sapsuckers.  Sapsuckers are not my favorite bird because they can destroy whole young trees.  I'll show you a link so's you can see the bird and what they can do here .  In this case, the bird started what ended up as this amazingly beautifully naturally spalted  beauty.  Not that it didn't take major effort on my part to hold it all together during the making process.  There were times I thought it would just give up and crumble, but as you can see, it held together.  And it held well. It turned out to be one of the smoothest hooks for crochet I've made.   The hook was made  large to begin with because I was afraid the wood would give up on me.  I was wrong, it held nicely, but still I wanted to keep the grain figure at the hook head, which is, oh, incredible to say the least.  And the rest of the spalting in the hook?  Well that's why I took two pictures.  So.... you can see this is a truly one-of-a-kind hook.  It should rate a one of a kind size too, eh?   Ever hear of an "O" size?  I didn't for some time and figured it wasn't made because the letter "O" can easily be confused with the number "0" or some such hook sizing logic.  But there is such a thing as a size "O" (10.5mm) and that is what this hook size is.   7 7/8 inches of wood that thought it could (become a hook), and did.

Hook #6 is a hand carved Tamarack hook that was made from the fallen branch of a Tamarack (Western Larch) tree up on the ranch (and also just a few yards from the Front Porch)  In fact it was carved on the Porch by this old whittler feller (me) between staring sessions at the mountains across the meadow.  Heaven.  Whittling my favorite wood while sitting on the Front Porch up on the Crick on a quiet evening, listening to the Crick in the distance and watching the clouds bump over Hoodoo Mountain across the way.  Don't get much better than that.   I kept the cambium layer on the handle just because I love the color and the artwork that little beetles (not there anymore) carved.  The hook was made from a quartered piece that was split like firewood; so there's a bit of wedge shape on the finger side that I like to hold in the crease of my middle finger (see the bottom picture).  Comfy.  Lightweight.  Beautiful.  Made in the presence of the Crick.
It's roughly an M 9mm in size and is 7 inches long.

There we have it... another set of hooks and they're ready for bidding

Bidding rules:  We'll run the auction up until 10pm on Wednesday, April 29th.  Please email your bids to me at jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com .

Tying bids will be resolved in favor of the first received.

I do take "Proxy" bids if you choose to do that as well but if we get a tie on highest proxy bid, resolution will again be in favor of the first bid received, but in this case I'll notify the later bidder of the situation.

I'm not always close by the computer, but I'll try to post your bids as soon as I can.

Please increase bids by $5 minimum.

Let the auction begin!

bids:

Hook #1
Barbara goes $45

Hook #2
Mona bids $25
Barbara with $45
Mona's back with $50
Barbara raises it to $60


Hook #3
Mona again with $25
Barbara here with $45

Hook #4
Mona once more: $25
Barbara does $50
Mona raises to $55
Barbara goes to $60

Hook #5
Carla bids $50
Barbara bumps it up to $60

Hook #6
Cathy goes $25
Nicola bids $30
Cathy ups it to $35
Nicola counters with $40
Cathy responds with $45

Clever Crochet Tool I just found....

So of course I had to make one.....

Ever see anything like this??  Might be kind of fun.  Should I put it up for bids???
Let me know your thoughts if you've a notion.  Meanwhile the April Auction / Hook giveaway continues on in the post below this one.  AND another auction's coming soon.   Hooooo Eeeeee!


just found out this tool was produced by Ktel (remember those Ktel adds on TV?)  Fascinating.  See a youtube link to the add here....
The add makes it all look so easy.  I bet that's not quite the case though.  Whadaya think?

April Crochet hook Auction and Hook give-away contest

Auction is OVER !  so is the contest and the winner is DAVID 

High bidders please consider paying by way of paypal, simply by clicking on the little yellow box in the left hand margin labled "Make a Donation".  Please include $2.50 extra for shipping in your payment. I'll try to get your hook in the mail right away.

Thanks again for a super auction, Bidders!  There will be another auction very shortly, I promise!

State

Lets start with these. ok?  We have an eclectic bunch of hook materials and sizes here for your bidding pleasure.
Lets start with the hook lying in the foreground.  We'll call it hook #1.  This one is a Jimbo hand carved rustic apple wood (Deadman Crick Apple wood, that is)  "M" (9mm) hook.  This hook was carved from a branch section that I quartered into several pieces.  The top side of the handle, as you see, is fairly flat except for the indented thumb rest.  The back side keeps the natural shape of the branch and a bit of the cambium layer.  This is a very comfortable and interesting looking hook.
Moving up to the upright hooks, starting with the one on the far left, we have hook

#2.  This hook is also Deadman Crick Apple, but this piece is spalted, with contrasting beautiful blond and copper colors.  Sizewise this is a 7mm (between a K and an L) and stands proud and tall at 8 1/2 inches long. This is one of just a few very few totally unique spalted apple hooks, A very rare collection.

Moving to the right we have a highly figured and chatoyant maple hook #3.  Remember those little plastic pictures that you could look at and see one image, and that image would be replaced with another when you tipped the picture a certain way?  Well that's what this hook is like.  It's amazing and beautiful at the same time.  It's a K (6.5mm) and stands 7 7/8 inches tall.

Another step to the right brings us to a very pretty hook #4, made of that same amazing optically mystifying figured maple.  Big and beautiful it is.  A size Q* that stands up at 8 1/4 inches.
*Note that this is a Q as measured on my Lacis crochet hook gauge, which also gives the size in millimeters: 13mm, which is quite different than the 15 - 16mm Q sizes given by other hook manufacturers.  Interesting eh?  I sure wish they would get their acts together and standardize hook sizes.  So you can have a Q like this one which measures 13mm or a Q measured by another manufacturer that is 16mm.  BIG difference.  Ah but I rant on and this is supposed to be a fun auction.  Lets move on.

Hook #5 is a totally new development in my "Egg" hook line; an Egg hook that stands up!  You see it standing in the photo.  Convenient and showy (even has a bit of a saucy lean, slightly to the right), this hook still fits the hand like a glove and just might be the answer to a crochetier's prayer who needs a hook for sore hand/wrist.  I've had customers tell me they thought they'd have to give up crocheting until they tried one of my egg hooks.  They're just so easy to grip in the palm of the hand.  So this one is a "M" (9mm) and stands 5 inches tall.  The first of a new Jimbo line!

Hook #6 is another biggie.  It weighs in at 13.5mm and is 8 1/8 inches of hookalicious spalted Apple... the last one from the chunk of spalted apple wood I got from the old tree up on the Crick (told you they'd be rare, eh?)   I tapered the cheeks of this one to ease the sliding motion of the yarn loop onto the shank. This should be a very nice hook to work with, not to mention its beauty and rarity.

So there we have it, for now; 6 hooks and they're up for bids.
Bidding rules:  We'll run the auction for 7 days, ending up at 10pm on Wednesday, April 15th.  Please email your bids to me at jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com .

Tying bids will be resolved in favor of the first received.

I do take "Proxy" bids if you choose to do that as well but if we get a tie on highest proxy bid, resolution will again be in favor of the first bid received, but in this case I'll notify the later bidder of the situation.

Please increase bids by $5 minimum.

Let the auction begin!

bids:

Hook #1
Cynthia bids $25
David goes $35
Cynthia counters with $40
David bumps it up $45
Cynthia's right back with $50

Hook #2
Cathy goes $30
Pauline bids $35
Cathy's back with $40
David  with $45
Cathy goes to $50

Hook#3
Doug is loath to see a lonesome hook without a bid .... $30
Thank you, Doug, and #3 thanks you too.
Brenda likes #3 too.... $35
Niki takes it to $40
Brand goes to $ 45


Hook #4
Cynthia bids $25
Doug goes $45



Hook#5
Oops, I put Cynthia's original bid in the wrong place
corrected here
Cynthia, $25
Vikki Raises to $50!
Cynthia holds up her bid paddle.. $55
David raises it to $70


Hook #6
Doug is back with $40




AND NOW FOR THE HOOK GIVE AWAY CONTEST 

I've decided to give away the other egg hook you see in my earlier post.  Here, I'll blow it up and show it to you again so you'll know what you're entering for....

A beauty of an egg hook, albeit done in the old rounded bottom style.  This is a beautiful chatoyant "H" (5mm) eggstyle Jimbo hook that's 5 1/2 inches long.  Wanted to try an egg hook but hesitated to buy one?  Well if you are the chosen one, you'll get this one FREE!
I'm going to favor my followers by automatically entering them, but you don't need to be on the follower list to enter, just post a comment to this post.  If that doesn't work, simply email me with a little note telling me of your wish to enter the contest and I'll post your entry.  Only one entry per person, please.
We'll run the contest the same time as the auction above, with a drawing at 10pm Pacific Time on April 15th.
Thanks for all your patience and support!
State

Crochet Hook REVOLUTION!! and preview of upcoming auction

WILL THE CROCHET WORLD EVER BE THE SAME AGAIN???

AFTER MINUTES OF EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

JIMBO ENTERS THE WORLD OF HIGH TEK 

SOCIAL MEDIA MEETS CROCHET

THE RESULTS?

READY FOR IT??

OK!  I GIVE YOU.....

FACEHOOK!!

THE WORLD'S FIRST AND MOST ASTOUNDING MARRIAGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE CROCHET HOOK.  

WHAT, YOU ASK, WILL THIS AMAZING MARRIAGE PRODUCE?

SELFIES?  WELL DUH

PATTERN RECOGNITION?  OH YEAH

STITCH COUNTING?  UH HUH

YARN SELECTION

TENSION DETECTION

REAL TIME PROJECT QUESTION/ANSWER SHARING 

AND YOU'RE THE FIRST TO SEE IT; ANOTHER ASTOUNDING DEVELOPMENT FROM THE LABS HERE ON JIMBO'S FRONT PORCH!  

OH THE HUMANITY!

need I mention April Fools??

and now for some no fooling previews of coming auctions!!  No fooling this time....

You can see I've been busy making "regular" Jimbo hooks while coming up with crochet world shattering inventions.  The good news is all these hooks will be up for auction (unless I decide to have a contest and give one away).  The bad news is I'm going to be away, so you'll need to wait a week for the auction to start.  These pictures are here to hopefully tantalize you and cause you to set your timer to one week when we'll open up bids on a first batch of hooks.  I'll do my best to start an auction on April 8.

See you then!

Jimbo

CROCHET SHOULD SMELL SO GOOD...

AUCTION'S OVER, THANKS AND BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME, PAMBO.   AND CONGRATULATIONS DOUG, YOU'RE THE HIGH BIDDER!!

A DECEMBER AUCTION FOR THIS HOOK AND MAYBE OTHERS IF I GET THE TIME

bytheway.... check out the post below for the winner of the 2014 Jimbo Crimmis Hook and click on her link.  You'll be impressed.  I promise.

Ever have a Crochet Hook that smelled good?  This one does.  In fact it smells so good that I left it unfinished so's not to cover up the "bouquet".  The wood?  It's Texas Juniper.  The smell?  Unique and a bit of heaven at least in my senses.  If you've ever smelled aromatic Cedar, like you might have in a hope chest or a cedar lined closet, well this is somewhat similar only vastly better, in my humble view.  I can smell it now as I type and it takes me back to a short vacation we had in Sedona Arizona at the "Junipine Resort".  There Junper grows tree size and folks cut it for their fireplaces.  One night I took a little walk in chilly air and the aroma of smoke from the fireplaces was just, well I can't think of adequate words. That was years ago and I'd go back in a heartbeat just to smell the juniper fireplace smoke.  Wierd  eh?  Not if you've had the experience.  Now I'm not suggesting you burn this hook.. noooo sir-e.  This a a really functional hook and the fact that it isnt coated with an aroma stifling finish doesn't really detract from it's usefulness it's as smooth as your  typical finished Jimbo hook (and that's about as smooth as they come).  So using this hook, as it works against the yarn, will act like a "scratch and sniff".  Don't scratch the hook, though.   Simple rubbing of the hook against a cloth or the yarn will release the aroma.  mmmmmmmmm
Technically, this hook is a Q (16mm).  The head and throat are shaped to make crochet with chunky yarns, and the wood is selected to make your crocheting a multi sensory joy.  It's flat afoot and will stand tall, a full 8 1/4 inches.

   Want to bid on this amazing hook?   Just email me your bids at  jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com  and I'll post them as soon as I get to this keyboard.  We'll make this one run till  10pm December 17th.

   Tying bids will be resolved in favor of the first received.  I do take "Proxy" bids if you choose to do that as well but if we get a tie on highest prosy bid, resolution will again be in favor of the first received but I'll notify the lower bidder of the situation.  Bids increase by $5 minimum.
If I get time I'll edit this post to include more hooks, so please check back if a  good smellin Q isn't on your bucket list...

Bids:
Pambo is here vicariously (tis the season):  $35
Doug's here with $40!

THE GREAT 2014 JIMBO CRIMMIS HOOK CONTEST WINNER IS VIKKI HOOKS!! CONGRATULATIONS!!

AND WE HAVE A WINNER!!  CHOSEN BY RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR IS

VIKKI HOOKS

Bytheway... Vikki is a VERY accomplished crochetier.  Didn't know her but I do now, you should take a look at her art at http://byhooks4u.blogspot.com/

     THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED!  IT WAS A GREAT TURNOUT!

HERE'S THE FIRST EVER, ONE OF A KIND, 2014 JIMBO CRIMMIS HOOK CONTEST

AND WE HAVE A FIRST EVER, ONE OF A KIND HOOK TO GIVE AWAY!

CAN YOU SEE THE CROCHET HOOK IN THIS PICTURE???

HAVE YOU BEEN NAUGHTY OR NICE??  NICE?  A LITTLE OF BOTH??  OH GOOD!!!!  I'LL SHOW YOU........

This first of it's kind Jimbo Crimmis Hook could be yours!  To enter the contest, simply comment on this post or if blogger won't let you, just click on... Crimmis Hook 2014  .... I'll post your entry for you.

Rules:
One entry per person, please.
Followers of this blog get two entries IF you tell me in your comment or email that you are a follower AND you really are.
Contest ends Wednesday, Dec. 17th at 10pm Pacific Time.
The winner will be selected at random, but I REALLY like to have comments.

Oh! I don't mean to upstage the auction in the post below.  But there's only one day left for bids (it ends Dec 3 at 10pm) and I wanted to get this contest going as quickly as possible.

Oh yeah about the hook.  That's a very real glass Crimmis light bulb and I made the wood of.... you guessed it..... APPLE.  Physical details dont' matter but just so's you know, the assembled hook and stand are about 7 inches tall and the hook itself is 5 5/8 inches long.  Sizewise it's 7.5mm.   The hook is fully functional and comfy to use (crochets very like an egg hook) but remember it is a glass bulb so be gentle.

Now dash away dash away dash away all... and enter !

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!

JIMBO

LUCKENBACH TEXAS L FROM A VERY NEARBY LIVE OAK*** AND a few more BEAUTIES for BIDS

Auction is OVER!  Yahooo!!  There'll be another coming shortly.  High bidders please consider using paypal by clicking on the little yellow/orange box with the title "make a donation" in the left hand margin of this page and please include shipping ($2.50) to your total.  If you'd like special shipping please let me know.

Thanks !

Jimbo

Ever been to Luckenbach Texas?  If you haven't, you should go.  Everybody's somebody in Luckenbach!  That's what the sign says and I believe it.  Nice folks there.  Of course you've heard the classic cowboy song "Luckenbach Texas"!  No!?  Ok I'll give you a treat,  just click here .  We visited there a few weeks ago and I was able to rescue a stick of Live Oak from the bonfire pile stacked right next to the general store.  Think of it!  A crochet hook from a stick of Live Oak that came from THE actual site where Waylon and Willie and so many other famous Country Artist's have performed.  We went on a weekday and of course didn't get to see anyone famous, but the place is pretty impressive all by itself.  Of course I mosey'd around looking for hook fixins and ended up with this nice piece of  wood that if you hold it up to your ear you just might hear strains of "Blue Eyes Cryin in the Rain".  I won't mention the funny looks I got from folks, me carrying around a hunk of firewood held up to my ear.
Like the area, this hook is rustic.  You see a bit of the original bark on the foot.  You see a few knots here and there a bit of discoloration for character (all smooth, guaranteed).  Ane it's all there to inspire your crochet and have you humming country songs while you're at it.
Technically, this is an 8mm L   hook ( "L" for "Luckenbach" of course); it's Texas tall (8 inches) and is labeled "Lukenbach  L Jimbo" on the base (which permits the hook to stand tall on display).  You'll notice the clever misspelling of Luckenbach on the base, an intentional identifier of  originality in case some low down skunk decides to produce impostors.  Heh, actually that's just a lame excuse for slipping up.  But anyways this hook has big time provenance, especially if you're a connoisseur of Country.  And it can be YOURS if you're the high bidder!  Just email me your bids at jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com and I'll post them as soon as I get to this keyboard.  We'll make this one run till 10pm Tuesday night, November 25th.  Tying bids will be resolved in favor of the first received.  I do take "Proxy" bids if you choose to do that as well but if we get a tie on highest prosy bid, resolution will again be in favor of the first received but I'll notify the lower bidder of the situation.  Bids increase by $5 minimum.
If I get time I'll edit this post to include more hooks, so please check back if Luckenbach doesn't quit tickle your fancy.

Consider your fancy tickled!  I've added more to the pot and these are some of the best yet and they're ALL made of wood grown right here in the USA!  Ok maybe the egg hook isn't but I just couldn't let it languish in my inventory this close to Christmas.
Lets take a look (check close to see the letter lables in the photo)

Hook A is the Egg hook and it's an amazing and extremely rare beauty.  I don't often make an egg hook of an exotic wood because there's a large amount of waste, turning a solid block down to a small hook size; so the expense is high.  But the figure of this wood, and another buyer for the other end of this block made it happen.  This is if I'm thinking right, Cocobolo and the grain is drop dead beautiful.  It's an H and is about 5 inches long.

Hook B.  What can I say?  The photo's not enough, really to show you the amazing grain contrast in this genuine spalted Deadman Crick Apple "O" (12mm) 8 1/4 inch long beauty.  It's going to be a challenge crocheting with this hook cause you'll just want to sit there and look at the wood.  Distracting?  yes.  Eye catching?  Yes is an understatement.  Smooth? Unbelievably so.  Unique?  You'll never come even close to anything like this in the known universe if it didn't come from the same log.  Take a look at the little bowl on the left in the picture.  It's made from the same log.  Now I've a couple more hook blanks from this same log, and they'll make different size sister hooks, but this one's here now and is ready for your bids.

Hook C is a rustic Q (16mm)  in Deadman Crick Bramble. I call it Bramble cause the branches are typically all gnarly and have these deadly inch long thorns that never fail to take a drop or two  blood sample when I'm sawing away.  It's worth it, though, when I find a piece that's straight enough and willing to become a hook.  Ever use a Q hook?  Well this one might just make the top of your list.  The head is shaped specially to let the yarn move smoothly onto the 16mm shank.  Looks rough because I left some of the bark on, but I purposely did that because it's just amazingly beautiful.  Bark if you've noticed is among Mom Nature's best artwork.  Another hook you can get lost in looking at, but don't forget it crochets beautifully too.  Oh yeah, this one's 7 3/4 inches long.

Hook D's another Deadman Crick Apple beauty, and another amazingly beautiful piece of Mother Nature's artwork.  The grain goes between subtle waves and swirls around a knot that's as pretty in my veiw as a mounted gem.   You don't see the knot in the picture and I didn't have time to take another shot (I'm rushing to post these cause I have be away today and tomorrow).  But trust me, this is a spectacular hook.  Oh and it's 5.25mm (a snug H) and is  7 3/4 inches long.
(oops!!!  I got some labeling backwards, which is extra embarrassing since I've had to be away while bids come in.  What WAS hook E is really hook F (the Luckenbach hook).  I'll edit it below to be correct....


Hook E ?F  I tell you it just keeps getting better and better.  This one is WAY beyond my camera's ability to capture subtle beauty and texture.  It's storebought wood.  Got it from my guy at Windsor who told me it's an "Oregon Mountain Mahogany"  Color is the only thing about this wood that reminds me of mahogany because this is as close to Ebony in density as I've found.  It took several sharpenings of my lathe tools and dulled my carving knives but it's well worth the resharpening effort.  I seriously considered leaving it unfinished because the surface just glistened all by itself.  I relented and applied finish, though just because I never know what kind of humidity the wood will be in.  Grain pattern, color, chatoyance, utterly amazing smoothness, this hook has it all in spades.  And it's a unique size... 11mm  and is 7 3/4 inches long.  Bet you don't have an 11 mm hook, eh?  Well you could if you're high bidder.

Hook F E is the Luckenbach hook.  See my comments above about this rare piece.  I doubt there's ever been a crochet hook made from wood that's been exposed to the music of Waylon, Willie and the boys.

Okey dokey, lets get'er goin!

Bids:
Hook A
Carla changes her mind and goes with A for $35
Susan's a first time bidder!  Welcome!!  And her bid is $45

Hook B
Anamaria goes $25
Monte bumps it up to $30
Carol goes to $40
Diana raises $45

Hook C
Yvonne likes gnarly: $30

Hook D
Mona's here with $20
Dalton raises:  $25
Doug's not messing around.... $40
Dalton bumps it up to $45
Robert with $50

Hook E(Lukenbach!!) Carla breaks the ice with $35
Robert goes $40
Nancy's here with $50

Hook F
Anamaria forgives my confusion and bids $25
Diana bumps to $30
Cathy takes it to $40
Diana's right back with $45

*** With Carla's permission, I've decided to extend the auction a week.  Hate to do that but I've been called away for a spell and won't be near a computer to end the auction.  Hope you'll understand.  The auction will close Wednesday, Dec. 2 3 at 10pm.  Hopefully I can add some hooks to the lonesome Luckenbach hook for a bit more selection.  You can still send in bids but I won't be back for a spell to post them and I apologize for that.  

FALL JIMBO HOOK AUCTION is OVER (HIGH BIDDERS PLEASE SEE NOTE BELOW)

ANOTHER AMAZING AUCTION!  WOW!!  

HIGH BIDDERS, PLEASE CONSIDER USING PAYPAL BY CLICKING ON THE LITTLE BOX IN THE LEFT MARGIN OF THIS PAGE LABLED "MAKE A DONATION" AND PLEASE INCLUDE $2.50 EXTRA FOR POSTAGE.  

THANKS TO ALL WHO DROPPED BY!

(THERE WILL BE MORE AUCTIONS COMING...OR JUST DROP BY, PULL UP A CHAIR AND SIT A SPELL.

THANKS TO ALL!

Jimbo

A FEW MORE BEAUTIES UP FOR BIDS... AND A NEW IDEA

Ok so lets begin the auction with a description of the hooks but note that hook F is a new style for Jimbo hooks.  More about that later.  Lets start with:

Hook A.  Hook A is one that just appeared in my wood stash.  I thought I was all out of the Pecan wood which was graciously sent me by my friend and very talented crochetier,April Garwood.  This hook came from a Pecan tree victim of the Oklahoma Tornado.  From such tragic events, something good comes.  The wood is beautiful, strong, and perfect for the J size (6mm).  It's 7 3/4 inches long.

Hook B is made of a sustainable rosewood (can't remember the particular species.. sorry).  Actually hooks C and F are also made of the same rosewood. Wisht I could remember the particular name because I'd like to get more... the wood makes really beautiful and strong hooks.  Back to hook B.  It's a G (4mm) and is 7 1/4 inches long.

Hook C, as noted above, is rosewood and one size bigger. It's a 7 (4.5mm).  It's also 7 1/4 inches long.

Hook D is yet another wood I can't specifically name but it's another beautiful and very hard wood.  Ultra smooth and weighs in as a J (6mm).  Lengthwise we're talkin 7 inches.

Hook E is a Deadman Crick Bramble beauty.  Fascinating character in grain and bark, this 10.5 mm hook is a rare and totally unique beauty.  It measures in just short of 8 inches.

And we come to hook F.  This is a new style for me.  Ever try to use a large hook with fine yarn?  You know how the thin yarn bounces or snaps over the hook neck when you push a loop onto the shank?  Ever try to use fine yarn and a large hook and somehow maintain gauge?  I'm betting this hook is the answer, because the throat and gullet are shaped for finer yarn, but the shank is a large size (11.5mm).  Unique?  I can't recall ever seeing a hook like it.  Might do well for crocheting lacy things, eh?

Here's a slightly retouched photo showing the concept.  Interesting, eh?  Hook F could be the start of a whole new hooking adventure.

Oh, yeah, this one is just shy of 8 inches long.

So, lets start the auction!  We'll run this one for just a few days,  ending on  Wednesday, Oct. 8   Monday, Oct. 6 at 10pm Pacific time.  Please email me your bids (with $5 minimum increases) at jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com .  Tying bids will be awarded to the first received.  I'll try to post bids as they come in.

Here we go!!

Thanks for dropping by!
Jimbo

Bids:

Hook A:
Sandie says $20
Whoa!  Callie takes it to $40

Hook B:
Carla ventures $25

Hook C:
Sara's here with $20
Mona bumps it up to $25
Diana takes us to $30

Hook D:
Patti bids $20

Hook E:
Doug's bid is $25
Carrie goes $35
Diana says $40
Carrie again with $45
Diana responds: $50
Carrie!.... $60
Diana!!...$65
Carrie and Diana both tie at $75, Diana's  bid was received earlier so she gets the bid.. $75!!  Holey cow this is getting scairy!
oh the tension!!  Carrie goes to $85!
I think I need a nitro pill.... Diana goes to $105!!

Hook F:
Doug's here with $25
Carrie again with $35

A NEW JIMBO HOOK AUCTION (SEPT. 2014) is over!

The auction is over!!  Winning bidders please consider using paypal by clicking on the little box in the left hand margin of this page.  It's labled "make a donation".  If you prefer another form of payment, please email me.  Also, please include $2.50 for shipping with your payment.  Thanks everyone for dropping by!Jimbo

I promised a new auction, so here we go!  These hooks are a sort of mish mash of different materials and technique.  The hooks labeled with letters have been turned by me on my lathe.  The numbered hooks below have been hand carved by me with my knife.  They're all beauties.
Lets start with the letter labeled hooks.
Hook A is way prettier than you see here (not to say that it isn't pretty here), mainly because you just can't photograph chatoyance.  The figured grain in this maple hook looks so deep and clear you'd think you  could see through it.  Truly beautiful.  It's a G (4.25mm) and is 7 1/4 inches long.
Hook B is an amazingly beautiful Cocobolo hook.  So pretty it nearly fetches a tear.  And it's made in a size you might not have, an M (9mm).  Eight inches tall and stunningly beautiful.
Hook C is a BIG fella but feather weight.  it's made of genuine Deadman Crick Red Fir that was hand selected by me in the woods behind the cabin.  It's another size you may not have.... a P (15mm).  Eight inches of Deadman Crick's best.
Hook D is a Yew J hook.  One unique hook, this one... with amazing grain color diversity and figure.  I LOVE this hook and hate to part with it but hay, a guy's gotta pay the bills and winter's coming on.  Besides it longs for a talented crochetier's hand.  This one is  7 3/4 inches long.
Hooks 1,2,3 and 4 are all made from the same branch of my beloved Tamarack.  Can't say enough kind things about Tamarack.  It's a tree that actually is a hard wood but with bark and aroma that make you think Fir.  Tamarack is the tree that turns a brilliant yellow/orange in the fall, sheds it's needles in the winter, and when it dies, gives us the best snapping and popping fire in the fireplace.  AND it makes perfectly good crochet hooks in larger sizes.  So what I did was cut a straight piece of branch wood about 9 inches long, then split is into 4 quarters lengthwise.  I then whittled the quartered pieces into the 4 hooks you see here.  The cambium layer was left in tact so you see the meandering little beetle trails (but the little bugs are long gone, I promise). Nifty!.  They vary a bit in size.  Hook 1 is an L (8mm); Hook 2 is 11mm (between an N and O); Hooks 3 and 4 are size N (10mm).  All of these hooks are about 7 1/2 inches long and, Their natural light weight,  Jimbo style thumb rest and semi triangular shape in cross section, bode well for hours of comfortable crochet.
So lets get this started!  You can send me bids by email here .  Please increase bids by $5 minimum increments and be aware that tying bids will be resolved in favor of the first arrived email.  We'll run the auction for one week, ending it on Sept. 24 at 10pm Pacific Time.  I will try to post bids as they come in but am not at the computer at all times.  Not to worry though.  Your bids will be posted.
Thanks for dropping by, and lets get those bids pouring in!
Jimbo

Bids:
Hook A:
Mona is here with $20
David's bid is $25
Mona takes it to $30
Undeterred, David goes to $35

Hook B: ($45 bid minimum please)
Doug's in with $50

Hook C:
Carla likes the look of this one:  $25

Hook D:
Doug is bidding $20
Diana takes it to $25
Doug goes to $40
Diana's dueling it out..$55


Hook 1
Mona too, for $20
Diana's here with $25
Barbara goes to $35
Diana comes back with $40

Hook 2
Carrie goes $25

Hook 3
Anamaria's bid is $20

Hook 4
David's going $20