I picked up a new toy and some new yarn at the store last night.

Here is the new toy. This is a size 3 (2.1 mm) thread crochet hook. I’ve never worked with a thread crochet hook before.

The white ball on the left is the new yarn. Technically, it’s size three mercerized cotton fashion crochet thread. I’m surprised by how stiff the thread is. Not only does the thread have no drape, it’s stiff enough that the tight corners in fine crochet are difficult – at least it’s much stiffer than the handspun and millspun alpaca of similar diameter that I have worked with.

The gold and red cones on the right are from the stash. They’re approximately the same size as #3 crochet thread, but they have more drape. These were purchased years ago as warp yarns for the loom that is long since sold. (We owned a 45″ floor loom for a number of years, but it functioned mostly as a clothes rack so we sold it.)

And here are the first two finished objects created with my new thread crochet hook. These are “embellishments". Scrapbookers (or is it scrappers) will recognize the term. Pam is a scrapbooker – actually, she focuses on stamping and cards. This will be her website when she gets time to develop it. Pam will use these small finished objects in her craft.

For years, Pam and I have wanted to craft together, but our crafts have seemed incompatible. I admire, but do not covet her pretty papers. She admires my fiber and suggests some blends when carding, but she has absolutely no interest in my yarn. I stamp a little bit on occasion. Pam does a little needle felting on occasion. Our crafting interests simply don’t intersect.

In the past, I have made hand crocheted scrunchies from leftover scraps of handspun alpaca yarn. Scrunchies are great projects because they’re quick! It occurred to me that I could work make small embellishments for Pam’s cards and they would be similar projects – small and quick. Handspun alpaca isn’t really appropriate for cards and my crochet hooks are all pretty much too large for these tiny objects, hence yesterday’s trip to the store for thread and a hook.

This is the promised third finished object. I didn’t finish it, the our tomato plant did.

Sock progress – about three stitches. Spinning, none.