Yarn Karma

Last night a friend of mine and his wife stopped by the house because she wanted to learn to knit. Of course, I had no problem obliging - taking up knitting or crocheting, in my opinion, is an exciting adventure and I'm more than willing to help anyone learn.

So she and I sat there - I loaned her some size 8 straight needles and a small ball of yarn to practice. She cast on slowly then got faster, then moved into a couple rows of knit - then finished with casting off her small piece of work. The excitement was all over her face.

[FOTH] November 28, 2011

My FOTH vlog for the YouTube Family: Fresh off the Hook.

If you are wanting to check out more folks doing FOTH, click through my video and look at the description of the video.

Year of Projects: Week 22

Project Percentage Complete: 64%

Overall Percentage Complete: 84%

Number of Project Items: 25

Number of Added Items: 70
Total Items: 95

This week was spent with a LOT more crochet dish cloths than I could have ever imagined. I made a lot. I used up a full 1 pound ball of the Bernat cotton so I have a lot of blue dishcloths laying around now.

Related to cleaning, I also made a fun dust mitt. I used pom-pom yarn. This is a pattern I definitely want to write up but need to free up my counter to do so - you see, this is a pattern for those who knit and crochet.

 It worked up relatively quickly - perhaps 2 hours. I have used it on a few small things but I think I'll be dusting the televisions today.

Let's see - what else....

I started knitting a chemo-cap for my friend's son-in-law. He is undergoing treatment now and has shaved his head. I tried to take a picture of it but it is grey outside here and the color of the hat is dark blue. Perhaps I'll be able to get a better picture of it once I finish it and can get it outside. I'm thinking I have about 5 more rows of knitting to do on it then I will start the decreases. I bought some dpn's yesterday so I would have at least 6 in the same size as my needles. I'm really hoping I do ok with the decreases.

As for a pattern on the hat - I made it up. Reading knit patterns is something I'm going to have to get better at. Crochet patterns come easy (years and years of experience) - knit patterns not so much.

Ok - that's all I really have going on. My percentages are looking pretty good considering where we are at with the holidays and such and all that I have finished. I cannot believe I've made over 90 items in the last 6 months. C-R-A-Z-Y

So with that said - here is a picture of the pumpkin pies I made (there were 4 then one disappeared *laughs*) and a list of things I've made with links to patterns where available.



Project List Items (not complete)

- Filet Market Bag
- Lacet Table Runner [...started...]
- Throw for living room sofa
- Round Afghan/Throw
- Angel Tree Topper
- 4 pair Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (office Christmas gift)

Project List Items (done)
- 3 pair of Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (personal use)
- 11 pair of Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (office Christmas)
- Easy Cabled Scarf
- Poncho (early Christmas present)

Added Items (not complete)
- Wristlet Bag (adjusting pattern) [...65%...]
- Angel Hair scarf
- 2 Kitchen Chair Wall Protector
- knit socks [started]
- 1 sock monkey character hat
- 1 knitted chemo cap

Added Items (done)
- Wristlet Bag (making my own pattern)
- Mystery CAL Beach Bag
- 5 Knit Washcloth
- 15 Crochet Dishcloth
- 2 Kitchen Chair Wall Protector
- Ear Bud "purse"
- WW Yarn Runner for  ledge
- Angel Hair scarf
- 1 hour cowl
- Hipster (accidental creation)
- Hybrid Hat (pattern coming soon)
- 1 Loom Knit Hat
- 10  Candy Stocking Ornaments
- 2 Crochet Lid Topper
- 2 wreath pins
- 8 Sherry's Headband 
- EnviroTote Market Bag #4
- 1 crochet headband (no pattern)
- Spiderweb Doily
- Crochet Scarf for coworker's son
- 5 crochet washcloths (Christmas presents)
- 1 crochet face scrub finger mitt (Christmas present)
- 1 dust mitt

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This post is part of the Ravelry Group "Come Blog-A-Long" #yearofprojects Project. If you are interested in joining along or finding other posts similar to this one, visit the group on Ravelry.

Almost Caught...

Last night, around midnight, when I knew my daughter slipped safely to slumber - I broke out a hook and yarn and began making her a sock monkey hat.

You see, my dear readers and friends, my daughter is seriously obsessed with sock monkeys. I don't know why - just that whenever she sees one, she wants it. She goes goo-goo eyed over it and I really don't know why. She loves them.

I have watched a few folks on YouTube vlogging about their projects, and it seems like the sock monkey always makes an appearance. Well - there is now one half made in my house. I think she's going to love it!

I got to working on it last night and was very excited to get the majority of the beanie done. I wasn't sure if it were long enough so I took a break knowing that my son and I both get up very early. She normally sleeps rather late. Boy - that girl can sleep.

Anywhoozles. I did go just far enough down and was ready for the ear flaps. I used my son as a model (again) to get them on appropriately. I was just finishing with the second flap when I heard the pitter patter of little girl feet coming down the hall. I grabbed it up and shoved it behind my back just as she walked into the room.

her new sleep mask

Now, I'm not sure if she saw the ball of yarn with the string going to behind my back. I'm going on the hope and assumption she was too drowsy to have noticed. She was still wearing her monkey-eye sleep mask, pushed up onto her forehead, and was wrapped in her pink princess comforter. She took a quick moment to say good morning before headed off to grab a bowl of cereal. When the last bit of her comforter train turned the corner to the kitchen, I grabbed the hat and ran to my craft room.

I'm sure that wasn't suspicious at all.

As she made her cereal - I finished the last row of the second ear flap. I called my son in to me and he tried the hat on.

YAY - it fits and the ear flaps look normal and fit a kid.

I'm glad I had those two close together; otherwise, I'd be without a similar size child to try things on as I go *laughs*

So the hat is sitting in the craft room on the foam head. I need to go around it twice in single crochet, make the face items (ears and mouth - gonna use buttons for the eyes, I think) and then put on the braided tassle.

And then get it into a box so my sleepy-faced gal won't see it until Christmas morning.

Chemo Cap Patterns for MEN

This isn't really a blog post but a request of my readers/followers:

What is your favorite chemo cap pattern for men?

I am looking for something, knit or crochet, that works up relatively quickly and would be a perfect sleep hat for a man. If you have a favorite pattern, link me in the comments (if its available online, ravelry included) OR if it is a paid pattern, just leave me enough info (pattern name and publication) to find it.

I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks!
- Cris

[FOTH] November 21, 2011

This is a video family I have joined on YouTube. All the lovely crocheters share their finished works via video. I figured I'd post the first few on my blog and if my blog readers (not YT followers) prefer I do not post them, then please do leave a comment. I'm still undecided if I should post them on my blog or leave them specific for people who want to follow me on YouTube.

In order to see the whole list of people who are participating in fresh off the hook (FOTH), you'll have to click through to YouTube and then expand the notes area for the video.

Year of Projects: Week 21

Project Percentage Complete: 64%

Overall Percentage Complete: 83%

Number of Project Items: 25

Number of Added Items: 58
Total Items: 83

Could it be that we are halfway done with the year of projects blog project? Wow - until I typed in the subject line, I hadn't thought about it.

I did get some time to crochet this week. I spent most of it crocheting dish and wash cloths for Christmas presents. I have created a facial scrubber and will work on it to perfect it before posting a pattern on the blog. You can look for that in the next few weeks.

I am also going to start doing "Fresh Off the Hook" or FOTH on YouTube. It's like a big FO Friday only with vlogging. There are several people who do it. The list is maintained by Marcelle, or onevirtuouswoman on YouTube. If you are interested, you can subscribe to my YouTube channel. I will be posting my FOTHs on Mondays.

I have also begun putting some of my WIP Wednesdays on YouTube simply because it is a lot easier than taking a bunch of photos, transferring them, and then writing a blog post. I'm lazy that way :P

I did take off the 2 sets of golf club covers from my list. Why, you ask? Because I started the pattern and quite honestly, I wasn't feeling it. The size was all wrong and I didn't like how they turned out (I made 3/4 of one before throwing in the towel). I think that I could make my own pattern that I'd like more; however, I just don't have the time right now to do that. If I decide to make them for the guys' birthdays, I'll add them to the "added" list. 

I really don't have much more to say other than I am going to go put more of a dent into my cotton stash with some more dishcloths a few folks from work have ordered.

Because I don't want to leave you without a photo, here is quite a silly photo I took of myself after playing restaurant with my youngest daughter. I call this: banana brow.

Happy Crocheting!

Project List Items (not complete)

- Filet Market Bag
- Lacet Table Runner [...started...]
- Throw for living room sofa (no pattern selected yet)
- Round Afghan/Throw (potential Christmas present)
- Angel Tree Topper
- 4 pair Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (office Christmas gift)

Project List Items (done)
- 3 pair of Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (personal use)
- 11 pair of Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (office Christmas)
- Easy Cabled Scarf
- Poncho (early Christmas present)

Added Items (not complete)
- Wristlet Bag (adjusting pattern) [...65%...]
- Angel Hair scarf
- 2 Kitchen Chair Wall Protector
- knit socks [started]

Added Items (done)
- Wristlet Bag (making my own pattern)
- Mystery CAL Beach Bag
- 5 Knit Washcloth
- 5 Crochet Dishcloth
- 2 Kitchen Chair Wall Protector
- Ear Bud "purse"
- WW Yarn Runner for  ledge
- Angel Hair scarf
- 1 hour cowl
- Hipster (accidental creation)
- Hybrid Hat (pattern coming soon)
- 1 Loom Knit Hat
- 10  Candy Stocking Ornaments
- 2 Crochet Lid Topper
- 2 wreath pins
- 8 Sherry's Headband 
- EnviroTote Market Bag #4
- 1 crochet headband (no pattern)
- Spiderweb Doily
- Crochet Scarf for coworker's son
- 5 crochet washcloths (Christmas presents)
- 1 crochet face scrub finger mitt (Christmas present)

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This post is part of the Ravelry Group "Come Blog-A-Long" #yearofprojects Project. If you are interested in joining along or finding other posts similar to this one, visit the group on Ravelry.

Like a kid again...

I know I have touched base on the feelings of accomplishment crochet, or any craft for that matter, offers an individual. There is just something about the excitement of finishing a new object whether it be something for yourself, a family member, a friend, or someone else via donation or purchase.

I like the satisfaction of knowing I have done something with my time.

But there is something else that comes along with learning anything new - the excitement and joy of learning. Not through the satisfaction of knowing, but through the discovery of something new.

It almost makes me feel like a kid again. Perhaps this is why I continually put myself into situations where I have to learn something new. Could I possibly be addicted to this wonderful feeling?

This last Wednesday, as mentioned in my WIP Wednesday vlog, I have been working on an epic sock - a knitted sock. The story of the sock is a long one I believe I have already told; however, the short story is that I had the foot of a sock done and needed help doing a short-row heel. The best plan of attack, after my first attempt, was to take it to my yarn group and ask one of them to help me through it. Diane was more than willing to help, which is an exciting blog post all it's own.

She gathered her items and came and sat next to me, reading through my book and instructing my shaky hands on what they should be doing. I followed her instruction and the more we went row by row, the more sense it made. Things just "clicked" - and I swear, I felt as if I were 3 years old and first discovering the magic of an escalator. There was something there - something pure and fun about learning this. I know I clapped a couple times and was smiling ear to ear.

I know it must sound absolutely cheesey to anyone reading this post, but I really did feel like I had discovered something new and I was genuinely excited to know that I did it... that I finally did it - and it looked good!

Perhaps it seems insincere or fake, but I thanked Diane several times over for helping me through. Before I made it to the car, I had already texted the man and told him that I did it and that my sock was awesome. As I type out this message, I'm still pretty hyped up and excited to get to work on it more tonight. I cannot wait to slip it onto my foot - I'm thoroughly excited.

That is the beauty of crafting and the fiber arts - there will always be some new discovery waiting for me; a discovery that allows me to enjoy the simple and pure sense of joy that comes from learning something brand new.

WIP Wednesday: Nov 16, 2011 vlog

A video reviewing what I'm working on including a sock. I touch base on joining the FOTH family on YouTube as well as request what I should be doing with some boucle.

If you are interested in other WIP Wednesday posts, hop on over to Tami's Amis blog.

Year of Projects: Week 20

Project Percentage Complete: 59%

Overall Percentage Complete: recalculate%

Number of Project Items: 27

Number of Added Items: recount
Total Items: recount

I have gone on a headbang making spree! I have made so many of Sherry's Headband pattern to help me keep my hair in check and then my daughter decided she liked them too - so you will see that number jump which will cause my number of added items, total items, and overall percentage complete to go up significantly. Go fast projects!

The reason I do not have everything counted and recalculated for this week is because I'm on the thows of my Comprehensive Exam. The headbands have been good for stress relief - but I'm headed back to research-ville!

Have a great day everyone!

Project List Items (not complete)

- Filet Market Bag
- Lacet Table Runner [...started...]
- Throw for living room sofa (no pattern selected yet)
- Round Afghan/Throw (potential Christmas present)
- Angel Tree Topper
- 4 pair Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (office Christmas gift)
- 2 sets Golf Club Covers (no numbers) - (Christmas gifts)

Project List Items (done)
- 3 pair of Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (personal use)
- 11 pair of Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (office Christmas)
- Easy Cabled Scarf
- Poncho (early Christmas present)

Added Items (not complete)
- Wristlet Bag (adjusting pattern) [...65%...]
- Angel Hair scarf
- 2 Kitchen Chair Wall Protector
- knit socks [started]
- Kid's Scarf (purchased, needs finished) [started]

Added Items (done)
- Wristlet Bag (making my own pattern)
- Mystery CAL Beach Bag
- 5 Knit Washcloth
- 5 Crochet Dishcloth
- 2 Kitchen Chair Wall Protector
- Ear Bud "purse"
- WW Yarn Runner for  ledge
- Angel Hair scarf
- 1 hour cowl
- Hipster (accidental creation)
- Hybrid Hat (pattern coming soon)
- 1 Loom Knit Hat
- 10  Candy Stocking Ornaments
- 2 Crochet Lid Topper
- 2 wreath pins
- 6 Sherry's Headband 
- EnviroTote Market Bag #4
- 1 crochet headband (no pattern)
- Spiderweb Doily
- Crochet Scarf for coworker's son

---------------------
This post is part of the Ravelry Group "Come Blog-A-Long" #yearofprojects Project. If you are interested in joining along or finding other posts similar to this one, visit the group on Ravelry.

Z is for Zeitgeber

Ah - like X, I decided to find a good Z word for crochet and boy have I found it!

Zeitgeber

First, an exercise - in the comment box, before you read the actual definition - you tell me what you THOUGHT the word meant. Maybe you already knew the word - maybe not. But it would be fun to see what you thought it meant.

Zeitgeber is a German word meaning Zeit = time and geber = giver. Basically, zeitgeber is any rhythmic cue that allows an organism to synchronize their internal "clock" with the environment. The most common zeitgeber is light. When we see the sun rise and set, our internal selves know when we should be sleeping and when we should be up doing things.

Zeitgeber's do not have to be biological or environmentally driven. They can be non-photic. Other zeitgeber's would be things like exercise and social interactions.

I think crochet could be a zeitgeber if you do it enough. It is definitely a rhythmic motion and if you do it at a set time each day, your body would begin to pick up on the activity and link it to the general time. During the week, I tend to crochet at night - so when the evening starts to drag on, I find myself with a hook in my hand right about the same time each day. During the weekends though, I through that off because I tend to pick up the hook multiple times a day and even when I'm in the car.

Of course, I also think crochet can be an anti-zeitgeber because I can definitely lose track of time when the hook is in hand.

What are your thoughts - is crochet a zeitgeber or an anti-zeitgeber in your life?

WIP Wednesday

A video talking about my projects currently on the hook (and a little side rambling, per norm).

If you are interested in seeing what others are doing or you would like to share your own WIP Wednesday blog post, then head on over to Tami's Amis blog.



My Blog:
http://crochet-with-cris.blogspot.com/

Curly Girl Book (on Amazon):
http://www.amazon.com/Curly-Girl-Handbook-Lorraine-Massey/dp/076115678X/ref=s...

My Review of Sherry's Headband Pattern:
http://crochet-with-cris.blogspot.com/2011/11/review-of-sherrys-headband-patt...

My Candy Stocking Ornament Pattern:
http://crochet-with-cris.blogspot.com/2011/11/candy-stocking-ornament-pattern...

Y is for Young

I know you are looking at this and thinking "Y, Cris... you are still at Y? This meme is over!"

Well, I know I'm a couple weeks behind. I would like to throw out my schedule but I know I'm not the only busy person in the universe, so I will digress and just get the Y post over with so I can move on to Z *laughs*

Hmmm maybe you could look at it as I am extending a fun meme :P

So what in the world does the word young have to do with crochet?

I am going to say that crochet helps keep you young. Yup - I believe it.

Ok, it may not stop you physically from aging, but I do think crochet offers benefits to people to assist with physical and mental well-being that helps keep the mind alert and the fingers nimble. All it takes is a quick search on Google News to get a list of people well into their 90s and 100s helping others through crochet. I have known several elderly people who crochet and they always seem to have aged better than their counterparts.

I know I'll be crocheting my entire life - from age 5 to whenever the good Lord calls me home. Could it be an influence to my life and how I lived it? Can I attribute some of my good health to crochet? I know the stress and anxiety relief it offers when I'm moving towards a panic attack. I would like to think it has stimulated me mentally and allowed me to grow intellectually beyond if I had not crocheted and I would like to think it has offered some to my general good health.

So, what do you think?

A Review of Sherry's Headband Pattern

If anyone watches my YouTube channel or knows me personally, then you may know I got my hair cut. You also know I have seriously curly, thick hair. In fact, I refer to it as "the mane" when its this short. I didn't expect it to be cut this short, but that's just the roll of the dice with hair stylists.... unfortunately.

So, with this new found plight haircut, I now have need for headbands. I prefer something soft - ie not plastic. Growing up, my dad called me Conan.... and not after Conan O'Brien. Yes - Conan the Barbarian. If I get a plastic headband, consider it snapped in two. So plastic is completely out of the question. The cloth stretchy ones from stores slide right off my head. So - crochet is my only real option for quick hairbands. I know that if I crochet a headband, I'll end up needing to use bobby pins to affix it to my head, but that's ok - anything to control the mane.

So I did what any good crocheter would do - head off to Ravelry to find a great pattern to solve all my hair woes.

I looked at several and decided upon Sherry's Headband by Sherry Lichtenwalner. You will need a Ravelry account to view this pattern. I did not see a link to the pattern on a blog or anything like that, so I'm using the direct link her Ravelry listing.

So, first thing's first - I liked the pattern and overall design. It was simple, not too wide, and easy to work through. If you can work a granny square, you can work this head band pattern. It reminded me a lot of working through my Pointed Granny Scarf pattern, without the points.

I think the pattern, as a whole, is written fairly well. There were a couple places that did not specify to turn. Since I had not turned previously, the assumption would be to not turn; however, to work the pattern (knowing from experience) I had to turn between Row 2 and 3. The pattern did not cover how to handle that transition between rows. Maybe I wasn't supposed to turn but because she did not write in how to transition between the rows, the natural instinct was to turn. I worked through it; however, it would be nice to have that area clarified a bit, but the pattern did start out saying that if you can make a granny square - so if the person did find themselves in trouble, they could easily look up a granny pattern and muddle through.

I think the size is good and the recommendation of using sock yarn is a good one. I used Red Heart "Heart and Sole" sock yarn in the color Tequila Sunrise.

I also like that at the end of the pattern, she shows a variation of her headband as more of a head scarf. The only problem is that she states on the Rav listing that it's easy to extend it out to make it longer, but does not tell you that you have to extend in multiples of 4. She tells you an exact number for the foundation chain for the head scarf, but I think that would have been good for people with larger heads (like myself) or people who want to make the head scarf instead of the smaller headband to actually give the multiples of 4 increase number.

One other change to the pattern I will make in the future, and does not count against her in the review, is that instead of dc'ing into the 6th chain from the hook when starting row 1, I will dc in the 5th chain from the hook and then at the other end, I'll have 4 dc's in the last cluster. This is so the band will be more even.

Allow me to explain - With Sherry's Headband, one side has a large ch 5 space followed by a dc cluster of 3. The other side has a dc cluster of 3 that you have to split into a chain space with a cluster of 2. I would just do it more for evenness of the pattern - Both ends of row 1 should have a dc cluster of 3. with a ch space to work the next row into.

But that is all just personal preference and has nothing to do with the pattern itself.

I am getting ready to go put on the headband and head out for dinner. I'm happy to have something quick and easy to maintain the mane (thanks, Sherry!).

I have to average this pattern's rating out because  I would rate this pattern 4 balls of yarn for simplicity, speed, and aesthetics. I would say a 3 for the couple little areas in the pattern that could have used some more explanation, that I got through based on experience. I would also give it a 5 for pure practicality and just that I like it very very much. With that being said, the total rating for this pattern would have to be 4 balls of yarn.

I will make this one again with the modification mentioned above. I would not have a problem making this as a gift for someone or even recommending it to my intermediate+ crochet friends or those beginners that have made a granny square before.

Year of Projects: Week 19

Project Percentage Complete: 59%

Overall Percentage Complete: 76%

Number of Project Items: 27

Number of Added Items: 43
Total Items: 70

I decided to type this message up a lot earlier than Sunday simply because my comprehensive exam begins on Friday.... as far as when I'm actually writing this - that means tomorrow (its Thursday night). I'm not overly stressed about doing the exam or even passing, I just know that it is going to be a very intensive 9 days with all that has to be written and all other time commitments like work. It makes me wish I had another week to take off work - I'd seriously schedule vacation time to cover this just for the extra time.

So before Friday, I began working on several smaller items. One of those was the candy stocking ornament, which I posted the pattern to earlier this week.

My friend, the one who does craft fairs, approached me after the last one and asked if I could put some more items on her table. While I do have a few scarves left that I could send back to her, I thought it would be best to try out a few small items. In addition to making 10 of the stocking ornaments this week, I finished 2 lid-holders, 1 crochet dishcloth, and 2 wreath pins.

In addition to all of that, I sat down Saturday for an hour and whipped up Sherry's Headband pattern from Ravelry. I will be posting a review of that pattern tomorrow.

All in all, rather productive excluding the fact that none of these items were on my original list. Because of that, my project percentage complete hasn't gone up at all; however, my total percentage is rising really quickly.

I did do something a little different this week too - I visit Crochetville a lot and hang around the "need help" forums in case there is something I can help with. Another forum member posted a question this week about teaching a one handed person how to crochet - I sat there for a moment and picked up a couple different hooks and gave it a whirl. I figure the only way to answer that question is to try doing it yourself. I posted a video about that yesterday - There is a lot of rambling in it, talking about where my inspirations and ideas for the technique came from, but the last half of the video is me actually crocheting one-handed. 

I highly doubt I'll get much crochet done in the next week because of the exam, but I am going to try to crochet at least 30 minutes before bed just for relaxation.

So, with that said - here is my detailed list showing progress.

Enjoy your day everyone.

Project List Items (not complete)

- Filet Market Bag
- Lacet Table Runner [...started...]
- Throw for living room sofa (no pattern selected yet)
- Round Afghan/Throw (potential Christmas present)
- Angel Tree Topper
- 4 pair Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (office Christmas gift)
- 2 sets Golf Club Covers (no numbers) - (Christmas gifts)

Project List Items (done)
- 3 pair of Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (personal use)
- 11 pair of Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (office Christmas)
- Easy Cabled Scarf
- Poncho (early Christmas present)

Added Items (not complete)
- Wristlet Bag (adjusting pattern) [...65%...]
- Angel Hair scarf
- 2 Kitchen Chair Wall Protector
- knit socks [started]
- Kid's Scarf (purchased, needs finished) [started]

Added Items (done)
- Wristlet Bag (making my own pattern)
- Mystery CAL Beach Bag
- 5 Knit Washcloth
- 4 Crochet Dishcloth
- 2 Kitchen Chair Wall Protector
- Ear Bud "purse"
- WW Yarn Runner for  ledge
- Angel Hair scarf
- 1 hour cowl
- Chunky Cowl
- Hybrid Hat (pattern coming soon)
- 1 Loom Knit Hat
- 10  Candy Stocking Ornaments
- 2 Crochet Lid Topper
- 2 wreath pins
- Sherry's Headband 
- EnviroTote Market Bag #4
- 1 crochet headband (no pattern)

---------------------
This post is part of the Ravelry Group "Come Blog-A-Long" #yearofprojects Project. If you are interested in joining along or finding other posts similar to this one, visit the group on Ravelry.

Remembering my Dad and One Handed Crochet

I wasn't even sure that I would blog today; however, a question on Crochetville inspired me to sit down and try something new - something inspired by memories of my dad and wanting to help out a fellow crocheter.

It's a 16 minute video - my hair is wet, my face is fat, but it turned out a'right in my book. *smiles*

A Conversation with Aggie

I have a very good friend, AG - that I'll just call Aggie for the purpose of anonymity.

She'd think this was funny....

Aggie and I met a couple years ago through a mutual friend who thought "we were perfect to be friends" - and that mutual friend could not have been more right. Aggie and I enjoy each others company and things like strange conversation, crazy weird freaky items, and the color brown.

With my semester the way it is and my work schedule, I have not got a chance to sit and talk with Aggie that much at all. Today we were able to have lunch together and while I sat and crocheted, we had a terrific conversation.

Let's back up a little.

Several months ago Aggie brought up that she'd like to learn to crochet. She had always seen herself as a knitter but would like to learn crochet for the diversity of intricate, lacy stitches. She said her grandmother, if I remember correctly, had shown her the basics. She only needed a refresher to get moving. It only took a couple sittings for her to catch on and it wasn't long until she picked up a pattern for a ripple afghan. She's on her last skein and is ready to move on to another project.

Like me, time is not on her side right now. It also doesn't help she accidentally left her craft back and afghan at her parent's house after a visit.Before our conversation, she asked "is it bad that I'm sitting here, watching you crochet, and am actually drooling - I want my craft back. I want to crochet again."

Of course, like a good friend and crocheter, I offered her some of my extra cotton and a hook from my craft bag. *chuckles* She declined stating she'd be picking her bag up tonight.

Anywhoozles, the real meaning of this blog post is to recap our conversation and to find out if you feel the same way.

She brought up that it seems odd that crochet and knitting are pretty much "cool" again - many younger people are picking up the hooks and needles. Some are even starting yarn groups in colleges. We conversed about an article I read about how it seems crochet and knitting skipped a generation - what was once considered a grandma hobby was spreading like wildfire. It seemed to be taking over as a popular hobby once again.

We talked about why we felt this was going on: 1) with the economy the way it is, some people are being more open to learning how to do something rather than buying it in a store, 2) the idea of "going green" and reducing one's carbon footprint is more viable if the person learned how to make things, and 3) while not learning to craft related, the popularity of owning hand made items is more appealing with the push to support local growers, crafters, and artists.

Needless to say, it was another enjoyable, thought provoking lunch with Aggie - a reminder why I enjoy her company so much.

So..... what are your thoughts? Have you  noticed the same in your community? If so, what do you think it can be attributed to?

Candy Stocking Ornament [Pattern]

THIS PATTERN HAS MOVED

Please click the link below to be taken directly to the pattern on the new site.

My apologies for any inconvenience.

http://iyarny.wordpress.com/2011/11/02/candy-stocking-ornament-pattern/