Hook Monster

As I've been getting more and more into crochet, I've gathered quite a collection of hooks. I had this lovely knitting bag that had pockets to keep needles and hooks in, but they were always falling out or slipping through the lining into the abyss. So I stopped keeping the hooks in the bag. I had planned on buying a pencil case or pencil tin to keep them in, but then decided I should crochet a little case. And that is how the hook monster was born!

It took a few tries to get the shape and the opening right. When I finished, the opening looked like a little mouth - so I decided to add some eyes. I think he looks pretty cute!

It's a pretty straight forward pattern, and it can easily be adapted to any size - a bigger version would also work well for knitting needles or even pens & pencils.

Materials
I just used some old yarn I had lying around from years ago. I bought it at a cheap shop (Crazy Clarks) and no longer have the ball bands. It feels like cotton and is about sport weight. You could use just about any yarn you have lying around.
To achieve nice, tight stitches (if they're too open, your smaller hooks may fall out) I used a 2mm hook.

Instructions
I was inspired by the construction of the hexipuffs used in the Beekeeper's Quilt by tiny owl. It's cast on in a straight line but worked in the round. This is the first time I've encountered this method, but it's apparently used to create socks from toe up.

I started with a chain of 10, but increase the number of chains to suit the width needed. Single crochet in one loop only of first chain from hook. Continue along until the end of the chain. Single crochet in end chain once more.
Now single crochet up the other side of the foundation chain in the other loop not already worked. Clear as mud? I wasn't paying a whole lot of attention to what I was doing, but ended up with 2 more stitches than double the foundation chain (so 22 stitches) and this worked out well.
Once you get back to the start, just keep going and work in the round without joining. As you can see, I also added a blue spiral stripe to mine. You can do almost whatever you want to decorate your case.
I kept going in spirals until the case was about 5/6 of the length of my hook. Again, this was a bit of an arbitrary decision - I just kept going until the length seemed "right".
To make the opening I worked until I got to one of the sides, chained 12, skipped the next 12 stitches and then rejoined and worked around again until I got to the chain (10 stitches). To get a nice opening the chain section needs to be wider than the stitched section. Next I worked 12 single crochets around (not through) the chain. Continue working in the round until the desired length is met. Once the case is long enough, starting from the side, single crochet the next two opposing stitches together (that is, one stitch from each side). Continue until the top is closed up. FO and weave in end. Attach some eyes to the front and voila!

If you have any questions about the instructions, please let me know in the comments and I'll do my best to explain :)