Sunday, September 25, 2011

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 :)

40 comments:

  1. I love your little hook monster. Very cute. Thanks for sharing your instructions :)

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  2. This is absolutely adorable! I'm working on one right now :)

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  3. LOVE your project! I'm crocheting the head section now. My dd is going to adore this!

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  4. Oh wow that's gorgeous :D Definitely have to make one of those for my hooks. If I can be bothered I might try adding some hair as well :)

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  5. Hello I love this cute case :) I made it in blue and lined the opening with a red wool so it looks like i have a lady monster :D

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  6. too cute - thanks for sharing! got here from the Michah Makes blog.

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  7. Just made one yesterday, is now trying to make a bigger one for my sister for her knitting needles, and is thinking of making something similar for my new phone when it arrives... :)

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    1. Good idea, Mettie. I think one for the knitting needles is a good idea and your new phone.

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    2. Good idea, Mettie. I think one for the knitting needles is a good idea and your new phone.

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  8. just made one for my little moster's felt tips yesterday - so cute with little wobbly eyes

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  9. I am getting confused..... Can u post a video tutorial?

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  10. thank you soooooo much for the instruction. all this time i have been looking around for a patterns that shows how to make an opening like what u did.. the instruction is very clear.. well done.. !

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  11. Awesome! I love this little monster :D

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  12. Thank you I am making this for a friend that needs the handle chocheting hoold and can't find choc. that would work till I fornd this one thank you again.

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  14. Thanks, Penelope for the free pattern. I just learned how to crochet last week and was looking for a simple but useful project. Yours was perfect, simple to follow and produced great results. I look forward to your other projects

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  15. decorative blog design http://casinogamesonlinee@blogspot.com

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  16. Hello I do not really understand how to do the opening part, could you explain it more in detail to me please? Thank you! I really love this pattern, I'm going to do it for my cell-phone!

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  17. Hi Penelope... I was wondering how you added the spiral stripe... Do you single crochet a few stitches in each round with the new colour? Thanks!

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    1. Hi Wammer,
      Please see my post here http://peneknitcrochet.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/crochet-diagonal-stripe-colour-changes.html with a chart and instructions :)

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  18. Hi Penelope,
    Just finished my first extremely cute little monster crochet hook case from your pattern and I'm immediately in love hahaha! Thank you so much for sharing your idea :) I'm getting some eyes for him tonorrow, so will take a pici after I've glued them on to show you...it's like a global community of them growing daily lol! :)

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  19. Love this pattern. I just finished one for my hooks and needles this morning. Made it in orange and added 2 little lime green buttons for the eyes. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  20. Just made one for myself! Super quick to work up and works perfectly.

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  21. How is the video tutorial going? I'm Jana, a Dutch girl, only a beginner in crochet, and I don't really understand this explanation, however it seems to be really easy to others. So I'm really looking forward to the video, because I absolutely LOVE this case. Otherwise, could someone try to explain these sentences (maybe with pictures), please?
    'Single crochet in one loop only of first chain from hook'
    and
    'Now single crochet up the other side of the foundation chain in the other loop not already worked'
    I would be so so grateful!

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    1. Hi Jana,
      I would love to make a video tutorial, but at the moment just don't have the time or resources. I will work on some photos for you of the two steps you have mentioned, and hopefully that will make it clearer.
      If you need more help, feel free to contact me via Ravelry :)

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    2. That would be really kind! Where are you going to post those photos? :)

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    3. The photo tutorial has been posted as a new entry. Here's the link http://peneknitcrochet.blogspot.com/2013/08/hook-monster-photo-tutorial.html

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  22. Hi Penelope,

    Love this hook-monster and making one myself. I would like to blog about it, since I'm trying to blog about all my crafting projects. I'm fairly new at blogging so correct me if I'm wrong but is it okay if I use a link to this page as a reference to your pattern?

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    1. Hi Paula,
      I'm flattered that you would like to share my pattern with your readers. Go for it!
      Happy crocheting :)

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  23. Such a lovely pattern... So quick and easy... Adding this to one of my favorites... Thanks for sharing :)

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  24. We soooooo love your pattern!! It's so cute!!! I'm making one right now:D Sooooo excited;) :) :D

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  25. Love this pattern!! So cute, I was in need of a hook case and I was loo king for a fun, cute and practical one and I found this, this was the best. Thank you for sharing!

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  26. Thanks, and thanks for the laugh I got from the name of your site!

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  27. Hi! I love this pattern because its functional. I hope you would have a video tutorial for this because the written pattern is quite confusing. :D

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