In this issue, we'll take a look at the evolution of the crochet hook, from its rather crude beginnings to the sleek beauties we enjoy today. We'll also share some helpful information on caring for your crocheted pieces to ensure that they will look great for a long time. And, because "April showers bring May flowers," we'll continue our celebration of the season with patterns for a couple of lovely floral creations for your home and information on a fabulous book of beautiful crocheted blossoms.

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The Evolution of the Crochet Hook
With today's wide variety of lovely crochet hooks crafted in a plethora of fabulous materials, styles and colors, it's hard to imagine the rather crude, unappealing tools our crochet forbearers had to use.

Leading crochet designer and author Maggie Petsch shares some interesting facts on the evolution of crochet hooks that make me appreciate the wonderful tools we have today and admire anew the incredible stitch work created by our ancestors with their limited and rudimentary implements.

A Look at Crochet Hooks By Maggie Petsch Most of us give little thought to our crochet hooks other than to check the instructions for the suggested size for the project at hand. If we don't have the appropriate size at home, we can always run out to the nearest craft or yarn store and pick one up. The earliest crocheters, however, didn't have chain stores or mail-order catalogs to fulfill their needs for crochet implements. They fashioned their own, usually of wood, bone or metal. In Ireland, exquisite Irish crochet laces were worked with hooks made from stiff wire inserted into a piece of wood or cork. The end of the wire was filed down and a hook turned at the end. Looking back into history, I am amazed that these early crocheters could turn out such lovely pieces of needlework with the crude tools with which they had to work. In my collection, I have a vintage wooden hook fashioned out of a chair leg by a gentleman in Texas for his wife. At the other end of the spectrum, I have a beautiful, fine-tipped antique sterling silver hook with a mother-of-pearl handle that reads "Savannah." Every time I use it, it conjures up an image of a lovely Southern belle sitting on her wisteria-covered veranda on a sunny afternoon, leisurely crocheting yards of lovely lace to edge her petticoats or trim her pillowcases. From the author's personal collection (from left to right): pelican-topped ivory hook, wooden hook carved from a chair leg and old-fashioned peppermint candy-style hook; at top: antique sterling silver "Savannah" hook. On the whimsical side, I have an ivory hook with a pelican carved at the top, and another hook fashioned out of a material which looks suspiciously like an old-fashioned peppermint candy. This hook has been relegated to the "look-but-don't-use" category. As crochet grew in popularity and technology flourished, crocheters enjoyed a Renaissance in the production of crochet hooks. Crocheters in the upper classes could take their pick of beautiful hooks hand-carved from wood, bone or ivory, or made of mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell, abalone, horn, agate or sterling silver, and sometimes inlaid with gemstones. Beautiful antique crochet hooks in a variety of materials, including sterling silver, tortoiseshell, bone and ivory. From the private collection of Annie Potter. In the early 1920s, sets of interchangeable crochet hooks became popular. Each set consisted of a single handle, perhaps of bone or amber, with an assortment of short steel hooks generally ranging in sizes from 1 to 14. The crocheter simply selected the size hook she needed for her project and screwed it into the tip of the handle. Vintage sets of interchangeable crochet hooks from the early 1900s. From the private collection of Annie Potter. In America, the Boye Needle Company produced the first complete line of American-made steel crochet hooks in 1917. Each hook sold for a nickel. World War II forced the government to order the cessation of nickel plating for crochet hooks in 1942, and Boye began a special black plating process known as "hoto" black process. Nickel plating was not reinstated until the latter part of May 1945. Aluminum crochet hooks appeared in 1923, and hooks for hairpin crochet were introduced in 1935.

Today, we enjoy the convenience and availability of crochet hooks in an almost limitless variety of eye-catching styles and colors. From exotic woods and sparkling glass to dazzling beaded and hand-painted creations, we can revel in the pleasure of using beautiful, finely-crafted crochet hooks that look as good as they work. Here are just a few from my own collection.

Today's crochet hooks are made from many different materials, including abalone, glass and exotic woods such as bamboo, rosewood and ebony, and feature a wide variety of styles and embellishments.

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Crochet Care
In our wash-and-wear culture, many of us are at a loss to understand how to properly launder and care for our hand-stitched items. Proper care can make your hard work last longer and look better. There is nothing more disappointing than to spend hours painstakingly crocheting a special project only to see it lose its beauty.

First, here are some basic tips to help ensure the best laundering care for your crocheted items:

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Machine Washing and Drying
Machine-washable yarn usually regains its "bounce" in the dryer. If the piece is being machine washed, machine dry it as well. Place the crocheted item in a mesh laundry bag, and use the gentle cycle for both washing and drying. High heat can melt synthetics, so use the lowest setting possible.

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Hand Washing
To hand wash, create lather by running water into a basin with a small amount of gentle soap or detergent. The yarn label should indicate the water temperature, but if it doesn't, use tepid water. Squeeze the suds gently through the fabric. Rinse well. Roll the piece between two clean towels, squeezing gently to blot out excess water. Do not wring or twist! If you prefer, briefly run the piece through the gentle spin cycle on the washing machine. Lay the piece out to block and dry.

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Detergents
Most gentle commercial soaps and detergents are suitable for washing crocheted items. When using powdered detergents, be sure to fully dissolve the powder in water before adding the item. You may want to check out specialty soaps for washing handmade items, such as Soak, Eucalan or Meadows Wool Wash.

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Dry Cleaning
Some yarns labeled "dry clean" are done so only to protect the manufacturer against complaints, but can indeed be carefully hand washed. Test your "dry clean only" yarn by stitching a small swatch and then hand washing it. If you are not happy with the results, then dry clean only.

Some yarns are labeled "do not dry clean." Heed this warning -- these yarns are ruined by exposure to dry cleaning chemicals.

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Colorfastness
Colorfastness refers to the tendency of dyes to run when wet. Sometimes washable yarns are used in color combinations in which lack of colorfastness is a problem. To test for colorfastness, thoroughly wet a test swatch, squeeze out excess moisture and place on a paper towel to dry. If any color bleeds onto the paper towel, it may run onto other colors in the finished project. Dry cleaning may be your best option, or choose a different yarn and/or colors.

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Storage Tips
Taking care when storing your crocheted pieces can be just as important as proper cleaning. Here are a few helpful suggestions.

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Beautiful Blooms for Your Home
Crocheted flower creations always add a cheerful and charming touch to any decor and just naturally seem to brighten any room where they are displayed.

Our lovely Dogwood Afghan is sure to draw "oohs" and "aahs," whether it's showcased in your own home or given as a gift to someone special. You can also use the square pattern, worked in a fine or lightweight yarn, to create a lovely spring or summer scarf. By itself, the center dogwood motif would make a lovely pin or embellishment for hats, purses, scarves and other fashion accessories. Add a couple of crocheted leaves to further enhance the flower and a beautiful bead at the center to really add pizzazz.

You'll love how cushiony our Bachelor's Button Rug feels to your feet, especially when you have to stand while working, like washing dishes at the kitchen sink. It's easy to change the shape and make the rug square or rectangular instead, and you can make it larger simply by adding more motifs to each row and more rows to the rug.

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A Bouquet of Blossoms
Author and designer Suzann Thompson has created a fabulous book of nearly 50 gorgeous crocheted flowers in all shapes, sizes and colors. Crochet Bouquet: Easy Designs for Dozens of Flowers, published by Lark Books, features upscale yarns like ribbon, chenille and silk to create a contemporary garden of blossoms. Some are amazingly realistic and others are fanciful products of the imagination. Helpful information on specialty techniques such as felting, stacking the flowers, stiffening the petals and linking the flowers together is included.

You'll find patterns for daffodils, dahlias, ferns, fire wheels, primroses, sunflowers, violets and much more. The book includes a variety of projects such as hats, backpacks, pillows and cards that incorporate the flowers. Crochet Bouquet: Easy Designs for Dozens of Flowers is available online at Annie's Attic.

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