All Boye Review
As they say, "patience is a virtue" and "all good things come to those that wait" and while I consider myself an optimist I have on occasion been known to want to hurry up and finish the waiting process which isn't much different from planting a seed and wanting fruit from it the next day. Over the last couple of years I have been collecting quite a few crochet hooks and knitting needles in my search for the perfect match to my style of crafting. It didn't take long for me to discover that I like the style/shape of the Boye brand hooks. And in crochet you seem to be either Boye brand or Susan Bates brand, not that there is anything wrong with that (and I will spare you dear reader from having to hear my Boye/Bates joke because, well, this is a family friendly blog).
Anywho... I've seen many a "Bates" style hook come on the market in ergonomically friendly wood and bamboo and all the while I've been "patiencing" until virtue was coming out of my ears. But at last the crochet hook gnomes heard my silent pleas and passed the word and just recently I discovered that Wright's, the makers of the Boye hook, have come out with a line of bamboo hooks and needles!
Can I get a "heck yeah" ?
Heck yeah!
Before I blogged about them I wanted to do a swatch or two. So I grabbed a ball of Fibra Natura Mermaid that I have laying around because I may or may not be using it in a new project that I may or may not be able to tell you about sooner than later, and did a swatch in crochet and in knit:
I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised with how nicely these felt as I worked with them. What with St. Murphy moving in recently I was a bit cautious that I would be all "hooray it's the right shape...but...." but that didn't happen at all. The hook fit in my hand perfectly and I had no need to adjust my crochet style to work up the swatch. And there is nothing like the organic feel of working with a hook that has been made from bamboo.
The knitting needle that I tried was the circular set because I wanted to see how the cord performed. The needle was just sharp enough to make knitting very quick and effortless, and the cord did not snag at all. Kudos to the Wright's company for figuring out a way to overcome that glitch that other needles makers have ignored!
I have to admit that I am very enthusiastic about this new product because it's the style of hook that I use for my work. If you prefer Bates style hooks I know they make bamboo ones also. If you use the Boye style of hooks then check with your local retailer (I believe Joann and Micheal's both carry Wright's/Boye products) and I think you will be very pleased. I will definitely be replacing my metal hooks with all bamboo ones now!
Anywho... I've seen many a "Bates" style hook come on the market in ergonomically friendly wood and bamboo and all the while I've been "patiencing" until virtue was coming out of my ears. But at last the crochet hook gnomes heard my silent pleas and passed the word and just recently I discovered that Wright's, the makers of the Boye hook, have come out with a line of bamboo hooks and needles!
Can I get a "heck yeah" ?
Heck yeah!
Before I blogged about them I wanted to do a swatch or two. So I grabbed a ball of Fibra Natura Mermaid that I have laying around because I may or may not be using it in a new project that I may or may not be able to tell you about sooner than later, and did a swatch in crochet and in knit:
I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised with how nicely these felt as I worked with them. What with St. Murphy moving in recently I was a bit cautious that I would be all "hooray it's the right shape...but...." but that didn't happen at all. The hook fit in my hand perfectly and I had no need to adjust my crochet style to work up the swatch. And there is nothing like the organic feel of working with a hook that has been made from bamboo.
The knitting needle that I tried was the circular set because I wanted to see how the cord performed. The needle was just sharp enough to make knitting very quick and effortless, and the cord did not snag at all. Kudos to the Wright's company for figuring out a way to overcome that glitch that other needles makers have ignored!
I have to admit that I am very enthusiastic about this new product because it's the style of hook that I use for my work. If you prefer Bates style hooks I know they make bamboo ones also. If you use the Boye style of hooks then check with your local retailer (I believe Joann and Micheal's both carry Wright's/Boye products) and I think you will be very pleased. I will definitely be replacing my metal hooks with all bamboo ones now!
I use my bamboo hooks whenever I can and I love the smooth feel. It took me a little bit to get used to how lightweight they are as compared to the metal ones, but I love them now.
Not sure of the brand...I got them almost 2 years ago - winning them in a fundraiser for crochetville.
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We all know you are fashion forward, you must be hook forward, too. The new bamboo isn't listed on the Wright/Boye site yet so I guess we just have to wait a little longer. But I can't wait to cut some down to "my" size.
Will you be replacing all of your master set?
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Have you tried out the Clover brand bamboo needles and hooks? I really love them and the local Michaels and Hobby Lobby stores carry most of the sizes I tend to need.
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Heck YEAH!!!
I MUST try these out - I much prefer Boyes....yay!
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Heck yeah! I'm a Boye hook fan, so I'm going to be all over these. Thanks for the review, Drew!
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I have been looking everywhere for these Boye Bamboo hooks (yeah, only Boye for me!) and have not been able to find a store that carries them. The JoAnn's & Michael's in the Midwest have not even heard of them. Is there an online store that carries them?
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Walmart has a limited supply of them.
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I admit, I really like bamboo and wooden hooks, They're honestly to die for!
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I do not own a single wooden hook! I really like the shape of the boye crochet hooks and now I hunger for wooded ones. I'm currently, slowly, growing my knitting needle supply of bamboos and I guess it must be hooks next! A Hint: Do not buy the bamboos from Walmart! They are not well made. Terrible for splintering. I keep sanding with fine paper and now the tips are starting to get funny shaped.
Thanks for the heads up on the new Boyes, Drew!
Keep your eyes open for that, he ain't no saint, Murphy!
Folks, have a good day.
Pam Murphy
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I agree with you regarding the joys of wooden crochet hooks. I have been crocheting since I was 7 and always with metal hooks. The first time I picked up a bamboo hook two years ago, I was addicted (and you thought I was going to say hooked didn't you?). I love them!
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Dear Drew: Now that you have all of those double pointed needles and fancy crochet hooks, when are you going to design some socks? By the way, I own a set of the Susan Bates crochet hooks with the bamboo handles--they are my
favorites by far.
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I dont care for the crochet hooks (and I'm more of a crocheter than a knitter) but I absolutely LOVE these knitting needles. I've only seen them at WalMart, and they only seem to carry the 5.0mm size (which is cool, because that's my favorite size knitting needle. I think I have 7 or 8 of these now)
I think these are the best circular needles that I've got. I love them more than my Addi Turbo circs.
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Dude, that bamboo hook doesn't look like a boye to me. Maybe a long necked Bates? If it really is a Boye, and isn't "in line" I'd sure like to see how they got the lip of the hook to stick out further than the shank diameter.
Coincidentally, I just last night tried to make a true Boye in wood. It worked but took WAY longer to do than the in-lines.
Tell me if I'm all wet would you?
Jimbo
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Any updates on the Boye bamboo crochet hooks? I know this post is from April, but it is August now and I still have not seen these hooks in my area (SF Bay area).
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