Knitters' Tips

Well, maybe not the kinds of tips you were thinking

More QueerJoe Communist Ideas
I've always found the concept of tipping to be quite a communist idea, and so very unlike most American practices. Basically, the folks that get tips in our society are allowed to be paid a pitance by their employer, and have to make up for their small salaries through the generosity or satisfaction of customers.

I have always been an excessive tipper regardless of service. It's one of my ways of charitable giving. Unless a waiter/waitress is clearly being purposefully bad, I will always give about 20%. If the service was poor, I'll round down a dollar, and if it's good or better, I'll round up a dollar. Not a big distinction between good and bad service, but I figure the wait staff in restaurants need the tip money more than I do.

Also, since I stay in hotels about half my life, I always tip for housekeeping.

I'm interested to hear from any readers on what they consider to be a standard tip for the person that cleans their hotel room, and what they would consider to be a good or excessive tip. Does that amount change based on the quality of the hotel? Or if the hotel is used for vacation or business?

Current Knitting/Crochet
Shockingly, I kept up my rather fast pace on the lace tablecloth.



Not only did I complete three additional stars, I also did one filler star motif. I think this weekend I will try and do all the filler stars so I don't get too far behind on that part of the task.

Readers' Comments/Questions
Sherry W. asks, "What type of hooks do you enjoy working with, Joe?

I use a lot of different types of hooks, and I'm honestly underwhelmed by most of them. The Boye metal hooks are what I use for small lace work, like the tablecloth. I also use Susan Bates Aluminums and plastic hooks. Both the Boye and the Susan Bates are too small (in length) for my hand based on how I hold the hook, and they annoy me by poking me in the palm of my hand. I have a 12" afghan hook that I use that is more comfortable, but still not great. Even an Amazon search for crochet hooks doesn't show me much else that I feel would make my hooking experience better.