Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

AMAZING NEEDLE? Is it a hook or a needle?

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amazing needle, crochet, tunisian crochet

http://www.amazingyarn.com/Pages/amneedle.html

Here’s a link to Crochet With Dee’s blog wherein she writes about the Amazing Needle on March 18 and 19. She calls this a ‘new’ technique. Dee is such a cheerleader for crochet and has loads of good ideas to share.

http://http://journals.aol.com/crochetwithdee/CrochetWithDee/entries/2007/03/18/amazing-needle-vs.-tunisian-crochet/2052

I first became familiar with the Amazing Needle at the Crochet Renaissance in 2001. That’s the only crochet convention I’ve ever been able to attend. The Amazing Needle class was taught by Nancy Nehring and Janet Rehfeldt . Click here to read a description of the class:

http://www.crochet.org

I was still relatively new to crochet so I soaked up a lot of good stuff at the convention. I even got to met Bill Elmore in person!

So what is the Amazing Needle? It looks very much like the locker hooking tools on the market right now. It’s a crochet hook with an eye in the non-hook end of the tool. You thread a leather thong thru that hole and crochet over it. I was told that one can use any knitting pattern with the Amazing Needle. The finished product looks very much like Tunisian and the loops are worked off the needle the way tunisian is.

At then convention, we were given a pattern for a sailor’s scarf and everyone in the class began to crochet it using the Amazing Needle.  I’ll admit that the technique was pretty easy to learn.  I was enthusiastic about it because I thought it would allow me to interpret knit patterns into crochet.  However, it didn’t turn out to be that easy for me.

I later learned to knit and found that I really do not enjoy it.  Same for tunisian.  I know how to do tunisian crochet and find that it’s really well suited for certain crochet projects, but I find it too repetitive and boring – and it seems to be twice the work since one works each row twice!  Well, that’s my take on it.  I’m sure others feel differently.

Patterns designed specifically for the Amazing Needle are available at www.amazingyarns.com.  But, you don’t really need specific patterns.  You can use it for any crochet pattern – and, as I am told, any knit pattern.  The downside is that I’m only aware of this one site to obtain an Amazing Needle.  It’s available in sizes E – P and is made of wood with an in-line hook design.

This site contains a picture of a work in progress:

http://www.rexie.com/AmazingNeedle.html

At any rate, it’s another crochet technique that I wanted to share with my readers.  Check it out for yourselves by reading Dee’s article and others:

Comments

  2. This is not a new technique, I have had my set of Amazing Needles for four years now, and this has been around for at least ten years that I know of.
    Just not to many know this and when they run across the Amazing Needles site, they think it’s new.
    Just thought you would want to know this.
    Kathy

Have you read?

Emotional Support Ollivander Octopus Free Crochet Pattern

There is something about a tiny crochet octopus that just makes people smile, and this Emotional Support Ollivander Octopus free pattern has that sweet, slightly quirky charm that makes amigurumi so hard to resist. It is the kind of project that feels fun from the very first round, and it is small enough that you can actually finish it without it sitting in your project basket for three months giving you side-eye.

This pattern creates a cute amigurumi octopus using simple crochet techniques, worsted weight yarn, and a 4.00 mm hook. The finished piece comes out at around 4 inches tall, so it is a lovely size for a desk buddy, little gift, shelf sitter, or pocket-sized comfort toy. The supplies list is nice and manageable too, with basics like stuffing, a yarn needle, stitch marker, and either safety-style eyes, beads, or embroidered eyes.

What I like most about this pattern is that it has that classic handmade amigurumi look without being overly complicated. The body is worked in rounds, the lower section is sewn on separately, and the eight little legs are made one at a time before assembly. That means it is a good pattern for crocheters who are comfortable with basic stitches and ready to practise shaping, sewing pieces together, and working in continuous rounds.

The design itself is very giftable. This would be adorable for a child’s room, a funny “thinking of you” present, or one of those novelty desk companions we all pretend we do not need and then absolutely love once we make one. It also has that slightly whimsical emotional support toy vibe that is doing really well right now, especially for crafters who want something quick, cute, and personality-filled.

One thing worth noting is that the formatting of the original instructions is a little old-school and compact, so you may want to rewrite the rounds onto your own working notes before you begin. Even one of the commenters mentioned that the round layout was a little hard to read, although they still thought it was a good pattern. That is honestly pretty common with older free patterns, and it should not put you off if you are used to reading crochet shorthand.

Because the octopus is made in separate sections, it is also easy to personalise. You could make it in bold rainbow shades, soft pastel nursery colours, or even a moody sea-inspired palette. Swap the expression with embroidered sleepy eyes, add blush cheeks, or make a whole tiny octopus family if you are in full stash-busting mode. Every crocheter I know has at least one leftover yarn pile that keeps “becoming useful later,” and this is exactly the kind of project that helps chip away at it.

If you enjoy easy amigurumi patterns with lots of charm, this one is definitely worth a look. It is small, cheerful, beginner-friendly for anyone with some basic crochet confidence, and cute enough to make more than one.