Well, amazingly enough, the crochet bug is still here, and making me invest yet more into it. I didn’t even know some of the stuff that I now lust over existed! Take hooks. I’ve used Susan Bates (inline) hooks since I learned to crochet, because they were my Mom’s preference. I learned to prefer them too, and really hate being forced to crochet with a Boye (tapered) hook. But it had been so long since I did anything with crochet, I forgot about the difference until I threw a set of ergonomic hooks with brightly colored handles (yes, I’m a sucker for colors) into my November Big Sale KnitPicks order. I got them and, much to my disappointment, they’re tapered, Boye style hooks.

So, as a frustrated librarian does, I went researching. Apparently, inline hooks with an ergonomic handle are somewhat of a unicorn. Susan Bates makes (made? I think they’re discontinued) ones with bamboo handles, which I found in *one* place, and ordered a set of 10, plus three sizes not included with the set that are sizes I commonly use.

The general consensus online is that Clover Amour hooks are somewhat of a “hybrid” hook – they do taper, but not nearly as much as a Boye hook, and they are well-loved by both inline and tapered hook users. It being Black Friday weekend, I did find a set on sale for like 40% off and pounced. Even at that discount they weren’t precisely cheap, so I really hope I like them.

And then…and then, there’s what are apparently the Rolls Royce of crochet hooks – Furls. Since you can usually pick up a Boye at Hellmart for 2 bucks, Furls come with a hefty dose of sticker shock. They do make several styles, but I was drooling over the Odyssey line. Colors! Again, Black Friday to the rescue and I ordered 2 – one in peach and one in lime, and here’s hoping I love them. Although, if I don’t, I’m relatively sure I can resell them at what I paid. If my suspicions are correct though, and I do love them, I’ll end up having to buy a hook a month or some silly thing until I can get all the sizes I commonly use.

All that isn’t even counting the fact that with the Caron Big Cakes yarn, I found I *needed* a yarn bowl. The biggest one I could find, doesn’t *quite* hold a whole Big Cake, but once I get the cake down to where I actually *need* the bowl to keep it from just disintegrating, I can squish it in there pretty good. Thank goodness, again, for Black Friday sales that started early. I’ve spent more on crochet these last two months than I’ve spent in my entire life. But, considering we’re still in the throes of a global pandemic, and it’s looking like this winter is going to consist of a whole lot of staying home, I’m not sure I’m feeling much guilt about it.