WIDE Color Pooling

Not long ago, like most of you, I began to see "color pooling" popping up everywhere in our crochet world.  I was very drawn to it,  especially since I have never really appreciated variegated before. Now I saw a way to really enjoy some of my favorite variegated colorways!  So, last week I gave it a shot, and it was neat but I had this fairly narrow piece of fabric, and the first method I read about, i.e. chaining 20 or 24, certainly isn't fool proof, I finished not really understanding HOW I successfully color pooled, and with a piece of rectangle crocheted cloth that was not good for very much.   

Meanwhile, also like most of you, I was reading lots about all of these amazing super scarves! I had a super cool idea  for one I Wanted to make myself , but I needed a wider section of color pooling.....Hmmmmmm.....     

Then two days ago, I came across the article that made my "light bulb click".  I REALLY HOPE YOU will checkout this explanation of color pooling by Ann Mancini-Williams, over at the Glamour4You Blog.  The article is appropriately titled, "Planned Pooling With Crochet Made Easy - 4 Simple Steps".  Once I finished her article I felt certain I knew how to go WIDE.  

Go read her tutorial, and then try working TWO full color repeats for the first row.  In the photos above I added one stitch past my color repeats, but I think my next attempt I will try adding 1 stitch for EACH color repeat. I may even try a full afghan size.  Have YOU TRIED WIDE COLOR POOLING?  PLEASE COMMENT AND  LET US KNOW below! 

What IS a Mudd Bubble Hook anyway?

As we grow, we have many fans that have been with us since we began in 2012, and we are happy to welcome many new fans. We understand our hooks are an investment, so please feel free to message us any questions you have!  The caning takes hours to weeks, or must be bought from another clay artist, the sculpting itself takes even more, then they are put through 13 grades of hand sanding, a mineral oil treatment, and cheese cloth buffing to achieve a truly silky smooth feeling on what we feel is the BEST hook you will ever use.  Please note they may be slightly eggshell finish but are not intended to be reflective.  We take our customers feedback SERIOUSLY.  Over the seven years we have even edited and streamlined the sculpt based on YOUR combined feedback.  We are proud to say we have a very successful hook line, but unlike some hook makers with a team of over 20 artisans, I am but one person and an apprentice.  My hands are beginning to argue and dictate how much I can work the clay each day.  Our apprentice is gearing up to take over in the future.

I still had 4 Etsy orders for a total of 14 hooks to finish when I began the sale. As I worked them I decided to start practicing canes, I mean they are mudd hooks anyway, right?  And I think we have found the best solution for both me AND you!  The last 6 mudd hook styles I have made came from one of three places:
1)Practice canes
2) Older canes that needed to be mudded because they were too difficult to work
3) The ends of new canes I have reduced
What this is doing is causing each hook to be more of a surprise design rather than just swirling into muddy colors.  I will continue to work mudds in this fashion, depending on what is on my table or coming off my pasta roller you could get ANY design from an ombre, to a mudd cane, or cane ends.  Here is a photo of the last 6 styles before sanding:

I'm going to keep mudd prices where I have them for now in a matte finish.  Matte finish has only have one grade of sanding and will feel slightly grittier than their 13 grade buffed counterparts, the sale prices will stand.  And those are:

Any size that I have on hand in Bates, Boye, or Amour in Matte finish:

Bates - $27

Boye $25
Amour  - $40

Any size that I have on hand in Bates, Boye, or Amour in silk finish:

Bates - $42

Boye $40
Amour  - $55

To order a specific size not in overstock or on hand in matte finish:
Bates $37
Boye $35
Amour $50
To order a specific size not in overstock or on hand in silk finish:
Bates $52
Boye $50
Amour $65
To order any specific cane design, it will be full price as the canes will be limited and make 10 - 15 hooks each. Also just for the ease of processing I am no longer keeping canes and multiple listings for years on end, we will have them and make hooks with them until; they are gone.  If you want to be one of the 10 - 15 we that we make you'll need to order that specific design at full price in Matte finish:
Any size Boye - $45
Any size Bates - $47
Any size Amour - $57
To order any specific cane design, it will be full price as the canes will be limited and make 10 - 15 hooks each. Also just for the ease of processing I am no longer keeping canes and multiple listings for years on end, we will have them and make hooks with them until; they are gone.  If you want to be one of the 10 - 15 we that we make you'll need to order that specific design at full price in Silk finish:
Any size Boye - $60
Any size Bates - $62
Any size Amour - $72