hook me up

I helped to organize a craft day at our church. It lasted around 4 hours and we served lunch. Mind you, I volunteer for this. Don’t know what I was thinking. There were 15 classes. Some were come and go so you could do several during the event and some were for the duration of the day. Our intention was for everyone to leave with a completed item from each class.

I taught the crochet class. It was an all day class. I had 10 women sign up for my class. You never know what their skill level is so I prepared as if they were all newbies. We did a skinny scarf using Lionbrand Jiffy Thick and Quick. The pattern was ch 75, 1 row sc, rows 2 and 3 dc, row 4 sc. Some added fringe.

Once we started I had people coming out of the woodwork! I brought some of my favorite books , patterns and examples of some of the items I have crocheted. They were surprised by how “hip” crochet really is. I had to schedule an evening for those who didn’t sign up.

One of the handouts I gave them was for online tutorials and free patterns. You can bet that Crochet Me was on the top of the list.

I found that crochet is a universal language. There was a young woman in the group that didn’t speak English and I don’t speak Spanish! However, I can count to 3 in Spanish and that’s all it took to teach her make this scarf. She and I laughed, struggled and celebrated her success without understanding more than a handful of the same words. That alone made the hours and hours I spent preparing for this event more than worth it. She learned to crochet from me and learned more about determination and overcoming barriers from her.

I have been browsing blogs and articles that have been unreceptive to even the mere mention of crocheted granny squares and doilies. There has even been some finger pointing OUCH at the creators of said doilies and grannies as the cause of pigeon holing crochet into an unfavorable light-destined to be categorized as “grandmotherly” and out of touch.

As I have mentioned to anyone who couldn’t out run me, I am a grandmother (laptop toting, violin playing, career woman, crocheting grandma), While I have never and probably never will crochet a doily, I have been known to whip up a granny square or two. There is room for of all us.

My personal crochet crusade is to show others that there is sooo much more than just “doilies and grannies”. I love this craft and sincerely appreciate the diversity. My personal style might not lead me to thread and hook for a doily (probably a patch for my jeans instead or hey, how about a beaded eye patch) but I can appreciate the talent and beauty of the item and the workmanship of the creator. I recognize these as an element of my craft.

Dang! I feel better

Happy crocheting to you and I hope it is whatever expresses the real you.

My son and his wife are expecting their second baby. They have an adorable 3 year old little boy. Of course I thought it would be nice for them if this baby was a girl. Well the ultra sound photos are in. Drum Roll please……. It’s a girl! My son sounded a little strange on the phone when he delivered the verdict. He said he was happy but he said, ” You know I am afraid of teenage girls”. I said of course you are. EVERYONE is afraid of teenage girls.

Don’t you just love frilly girl stuff? I can’t help it. I have always been a girly girl. This little blankie is crocheted in simple shells with a shell ruffle and pink ribbon added for more foof. The yarn has a little silver thread running through the white. Babies need bling too.