I’ve been using one of the hooks I gave a polymer clay handle a lot, this past week.  It’s really grown on me, and I feel just as at home crocheting with it as I did with the uncovered hook.  I haven’t tried an uncovered hook since getting used to the polymer clay-handled ones, so I’m not sure if I have a strong preference one way or the other… but the fun of covering the hooks may be the deciding factor.  ;o) 

Last week, I covered a couple more crochet hooks that I have in duplicate sizes– an “I” and a size 7 steel hook (both Boye (g)):

I only covered the “I” hook up to the thumb-rest, to give that style of handle a try. If I do decide to cover more hooks, I want to know which type fits my hand better.

I guess I was too eager to get those two hooks in the oven, because I completely forgot to give the steel hook handle an indentation for a thumb-rest. Oops. Well, if I try it and hate it, I could always use a linoleum cutter to shave away some of the clay, then sand it smooth. (Doing it all by sanding would take forever, and sanding is just not that much fun.)

I notice now that I managed to show the most distorted part of the “pattern” on one of the hooks, in both photos.  (Good work!)  Well, anyway, they’re just for personal use.  If I were making them to give or sell I would try harder for perfection, but I’m not, so… At least I had fun making them. ;o)

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel on Phase 2 of my two 3-Phase Big Secret Projects.  I could easily finish Phase 2 tonight, then weave in the several loose tails to really be done with it.  After that, I think I’m taking a break before embarking on Phase 3.  I need a rest from those projects– and since they’re Christmas gifts, there’s plenty of time to spare.  (For once.  I am so glad I started them early!  Come December, I’ll actually have a few gifts ready to wrap!)