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.

 

Eco-Friendly Plarn Top

Eco-Friendly Plarn Top

Eco-friendly: Not harmful to the environment.

For the past few days I worked on creating a crop-top for an Eco-friendly fashion show. Made solely out of plastic bags, I recycled 70 of them in a variety of colors into plastic yarn aka Plarn. Using plastic to create *plarn* for use on mats, bags, or other items of use, helps prevent plastic bags from finding their way into the landfills. Plastic bags can take up to 1000 years to decompose. (as per several internet sources)

I used 3 handmade natural wooden buttons that were made out of a fallen tree branch. The design on the back is an earth mandala. I added soft felt liners in the bust area to conceal and prevent discomfort from the plastic as it will be worn by the model without anything underneath. I have not made a video tutorial for this piece, but I have provided the free written pattern. Recycled plastic clothing may not be for everyone, but I enjoyed creating this unique piece for a great cause!





**You can always contact me via Facebook if you have any problems with the pattern. I am happy to help if you have any questions along the way.
***These patterns are copyright YARNutopia © so PLEASE DO NOT COPY, SHARE, ADJUST OR RESELL MY PATTERN. I wrote and tested this pattern myself, from beginning to end. It took a lot of time and work, and I would really like to have it remain “my pattern.”
***You can sell anything you make from my patterns, please just link back to my website YARNutopia.com. Thank you!

Teacher: Nadia Fuad
Video and Editing: Fuad Azmat (My Daddy)
Share your work on Facebook!
Add me on Snapchat: YARNutopia
Follow me on Instagram
Visit My Ravelry Store and add this to your Favorites!
Follow me on Twitter: @YARNutopia
Enjoy this video and subscribe to my channel on YouTube for more tutorials on how to crochet!
Leave a comment, and share with your friends!

Pattern
:

“Designed by Nadia Fuad
You *may* sell items made from my pattern, but please reference my website YARNutopia.com.
Please do not copy, sell, and/or post this pattern and claim it as your own.

Materials:

Large Plastic Grocery Bags

Felt for Bust

Original Tacky Glue

-H-5.00mm Crochet Hook (Find the hook I use)

Yarn Needle

Scissors

Fiskars 5 Inch Titanium Micro-Tip Easy Action Scissors

NOTES:

-This project uses less than 2000 yards of yarn.
-Use a smaller hook to make these smaller
-Use a bigger hook to make these bigger
-There is NO video tutorial for this project.
-If the instructions are confusing, please message me on Facebook, and I will answer any questions you may have. Please be specific in your questions. Thank you!!
-The measurements for this top are: Length from shoulder to bottom: 18 inches, Shoulders across: 15 inches, Waist: 34 inches, Bust 36 inches.

Special stitches:
Ch(s): chain(s)
YO: Yarn Over
St(s): Stitch(es)
BLO: Back Loops Only
prev.: Previous
Sl st: slip stitch
SC: Single Crochet
HDC: Half Double Crochet
DC2TOG: Single crochet decrease
DC: Double Crochet

Pattern:

If you have any confusion or difficulty with reading this pattern, please watch the video tutorial to have visual instructions.

Front:
Make 2
Ch 38
Row 1: HDC in 3rd ch from hook and across, put [3DC, ch 1, 3DC] in last ch, work on opposite side of foundation HDC across, turn.
Row 2: Ch 2 (counts as st), HDC in each st, put [2DC, ch 1, 2 DC] in ch 1 sp, HDC in the rest of the sts, turn.
Rows 3-5: Repeat row 2 (until your piece is as big as you need it to be to cover chest)

Outer edge: Attach plarn to bottom right corner of your piece. Ch up 3 (counts as DC), [DC, ch 2, 2DC] in same st, DC in 20 sts, HDC in 16 sts, SC in 10 sts (or the rest of the sts until ch 1 sp), [2SC, ch 1, 2SC] in ch 1 sp, SC in 10 sts, HDC in 16 sts, DC in last 20 sts (or opposite of other side), [2DC, ch 2, 2 DC] in corner, DC along the bottom side of the piece, sl st to beg. Fasten off.

Center Front:
On one panel, start in the bottom left corner of the panel, Ch up 1, 2 SC in same sp, SC in next 10 sts, HDC in next 8 sts, DC in next 6 sts, TR in next 4 sts.  Fasten off with long tail for sewing.

On the other panel, start in the bottom right corner of the panel, ch up 1, 2 SC in same sp, SC in next 10 sts, HDC in next 8 sts, DC in next 6 sts, TR in next 4 sts, Fasten off.
Sew both front pieces together.

 Sides:
On each panel:
Row 1: Attach yarn to Bottom corner ch 2 sp, ch up 3 (counts as st), DC in same sp, DC in next 30 sts, turn.
Row 2-4: Ch up 3, DC across, turn.
Fasten off with long tail for sewing on one side. and short tail on the other side. Weave in the end of the short tail.

Back:
Ch 6, sl st to 1st ch to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch up 3 (counts as st), 11 DC in ring, sl st to ch up 3. (12)
Rnd 2: Ch up 3, DC in same st, 2 DC in each st around, sl st to ch up 3. (24)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, SC in same st, *Ch 3, SC in next, repeat from * around, sl st to first SC. (24)
Rnd 4: In any ch 3 sp, Ch up 3, DC in same sp, *ch 1, 2 DC in next ch 3 sp, repeat from * around, sl st to first ch up 3.
Rnd 5: Ch up 1, HDC in same st, HDC in each st and each ch 1 sp around, sl st to first HDC.
Rnd 6: In any st: Ch up 3 (counts as st), DC in same st, *DC in next 2 sts, HDC in 3 sts, SC in 6 sts, HDC in 3 sts, DC in 2, 2 DC in next, ch 2, 2 DC in next, Repeat from * around, sl st to beg. ch 3. (square made–20 sts on each side)
Rnd 7: In ch 2 sp: Ch up 3, [DC, ch 2, 2 DC] in same sp, *DC in each st across, [2DC, ch 2, 2 DC] in corner, repeat from * around. Sl st to beg ch up 3.
Rnd 8-10: Repeat Round 7
Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Left side:
Row 1: In ch 2 sp, Ch up 3, DC across side, Turn
Rows 2-4: Ch up 3, DC across, turn.
Fasten off with weave in ends.

Right Side:
Row 1: In ch 2 sp, Ch up 3, DC across side, Turn
Rows 2-5: Ch up 3, DC across, turn.
Fasten off with weave in ends.
Sew buttons to row 5 of the Right Side.

Assembly Step:
Sew pieces together using photos as a guide.
Straps:
FDC until your piece is 15 inches (36 Foundation DC) Fasten off with long tail.
Sew straps to piece.
Add felt in the bust area by gluing it in.

Enjoy!!

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on the link and buy from the linked websites, I will receive a small percentage of the value of your order. The amount you pay is not changed.

See how great this piece looks?! I love it!!