The Wood Be Fancy Story

The Wood Be Fancy Story

Many of you have seen my videos on YouTube and commented on the type of crochet hook I am using in a majority of my tutorials. My dad started mass producing these crochet hooks after so many inquiries flooded in. Each hook handle, as demonstrated in this video tutorial, is individually crafted and designed. A great deal of time is spent on every single hook handle.

These special crochet hooks are ergonomically created to fit perfectly into the palm of your hand. I use these in each and every video we film.

I spent much of my early crochet years in the hospital. My mom taught me the basics, and I used crochet as a time pass for those long stays trapped in a hospital bed. I loved watching YouTube just like many of you. I watched the Crochet Crowd, Moogly, and Naztazia and learned more advanced techniques through their tutorials.

I started noticing when using a traditional aluminum crochet hook, my finger and wrist joints would start to pain while holding the thin hook. Most of the pain was in part from being so ill. The disease, and side effects of my medications caused bone deterioration and joint problems. It wasn’t unusual to have swollen hands and rusty joints almost every day. My dad saw my struggle, and when I would tell him it hurt to crochet, we started to brainstorm ways to make things easier.

My dad is not a master craftsman. He didn’t even own many power tools. He didn’t carve or do woodworking, yet, he decided to experiment a little and began to design handles for my crochet hooks.  In fact, his early introduction to the world of wood craft had him on a first name basis with the local Emergency Room doctors from all the mishaps he encountered trying to perfect his design. Eventually, he was able to craft this final design, have less trips to the ER, and rarely ends up with stitches anymore!

Not only are these the most comfortable in my hand, but due to those arthritic effects from long term illness, the joints in my hand and wrist feel better with this handle when I work. These handles make it so much easier to crochet for a duration of time and reduce the stress on my joints.

This blog is in part a plug for the hooks my dad makes because, why not? Besides filming and editing my video tutorials, he works so hard to make each and every one of these crochet hooks as demonstrated in his documentary video. Each individual hook is made exactly like shown. The time and care put in to each one is unsurpassed! Just check out the testimonials on his Etsy Shop to hear what others have to say.

More than a shameless plug for this product, this blog is about a dad who cares so much about his daughter that he found a way to make her passion easier on her. He designed this amazing hook handle so that I don’t hurt any more. He took to learning wood crafting and carving, taught himself how to use all these power tools and even sacrificed his own hands to make mine feel better. Those numerous ER trips to get stitches in his hands are testament to how far he would go to make me happy and pain-free.

With Father’s Day approaching, let’s remember the selfless sacrifices our dads have made. The hard work and dedication they show us and their unending acts of love they provide. I am pretty lucky to have one of the best! Thanks, Daddy for everything!

Love, Nadia

If you would like to try one or more of these hooks, you can visit his shop here.

 

Oh, my hands hurt!

If you crochet as much as I do, there are going to be days that you push those hand and wrist muscles to their limits! Combine that with the fact that I have auto-immune issues including swollen joints from arthritis, there will be days when I wake up and my hands hardly function.

Today is one of those days.

Even typing this blog has forced me to take breaks because the muscle in my hand going into my wrist is causing a lot of discomfort. That discomfort is impairing my ability to do what I love!

Have you experienced something similar? 

From time to time, I switch using a standard crochet hook to using an ergonomic handled hook to alleviate some of the tension and pressure in my wrist. There are points in time where even that doesn’t do enough to help my issue. After talking to my best friend, Nida, about my concerns, she sent me a pair of these fabulous gloves by Copper Joint.

Nida works in the medical field, so I trust her guidance and I decided to give these a try. I wasn’t disappointed. Although my pain can be far beyond the scope of what most things can help, these Copper Joint Gloves have been a crochet life-saver! Today I’ll be wearing them throughout the day as I work on my latest designs.

I know that I’m not alone in this experience, so I ask you, my YARNutopians to share with me your methods of finding relief for your tired and aching joints! Maybe your technique will help others who suffer the laborious tasks of chronic crochet syndrome! 😉


On a serious note, this truly is an issue that many can relate to. I’m looking forward to hearing your suggestions!

You can get the same gloves that Nida gave me by clicking here!