Some new at Whimsical Ewe:  (but do read the update at end of page)

NEEDLE FELTED SPINNING WHEEL THREADING HOOKS  Ordinarily I carve wooden hook handles, which is grand fun, but challenging… (a euphemism for:  #bleepin*# difficult at times).   With a needle-felted handle instead of wood, a broader range of playful ingenuity is possible, including embellishments of beading and embroidery.

The wool design is needled FIRM to withstand frequent handling.   Next, the hook itself must be embedded permanently in the wool.  I chose piano wire again, albeit a thinner version.  Piano wire has amazing strength and flexibility – superior in every way to craft wire.  Opting for a ‘loop’ model gave a pleasing appearance and allows the customer to easily pinch-bend the hook to best fit their wheel’s orifice.

I had to avoid the possibility of wire pulling loose, or ends poking through wool handle.   Experiment 4.0 was the winner, and ~ without giving away “trade secrets,” I can assure customers the wire is NOT going to work loose.  I don’t just glue wire straight into a poked hole.  No, no, no…  MY wire is tied / cinched / crimped / bound / looped & locked.  It is #%# secure!!  (You’d have to hack it out of the wool handle with a chainsaw).

That said, I do ensure the handle itself is all soft on the hand.  Legs – ears – leaves – fins — they don’t poke, they flex.  Most hooks have a cord to hang prettily on your wheel, others could be tucked into a wee bag.

Visit our Whimsical Ewe booth to see new hooks at Black Sheep Gathering, 2018.

Edited months later to observe: this idea utterly failed. The charming needle felted shapes were mistaken for Christmas ornaments EVERY time we displayed them. When they did sell, request was made to clip and remove the wire loop. Vendor lesson learned: hooks? no. Ornaments? heck yeah. Customers approved of the change. Ornaments sell very well indeed.