My lovely friend Sandra - a super-creative mum at my kids' school - has been giving me crochet lessons. You might think that with all this sewing under my belt I'd take to it readily, but you'd be wrong. For the first few lessons I forgot everything the minute I walked out of Sandra's house - and then when I tried to practise at home our kitten Morry would go crazy trying to get my wool. So when we went away on holiday recently I took my crochet gear and a couple of how-to books from the library, determined to get my head around it. Despite the hopelessly dim light at our rented holiday house I managed to get a few things made in the evenings, consolidating what Sandra had taught me with the help of the books.
My crochet ambitions are pretty humble - I just want to be able to make little things like garlands, baskets and trim for clothes. With mild arthritis in my fingers I don't anticipate being able to make clothes, let alone bedspreads and blankets. So I was very happy when I managed to make two garlands and three baskets. The garland pattern is from
here although I don't think I followed it correctly, but never mind. The baskets I just kind of made up as I went along, having miraculously remembered Sandra's instructions on how to make a magic circle (the starting point of any circular crochet). They're kind of wonky but I'm very proud of them nevertheless.
My crochet teacher is running the craft stall at the upcoming school fete, and asked me to make a few things for it: chalkboard
bunting (I made three, each backed with two different colours of felt)
and girls' fabric headbands (I made ten reversible ones). I enjoyed putting together these little items and I really hope they help raise some money for our school.
You
know how I mentioned
a while back that we got a kitten? Well, we ended
up getting two: Morry (top left) and then Zindzi, a beautiful tabby girl (bottom right). They are regular visitors to my sewing room and besides crocheted items are especially fond of dangly bits of bias
binding, large pattern sheets from sewing books and magazines, cotton reels and elastic. Nothing is safe from cats around here!
I have had arthritis in my hands for over 20 years. Six years ago I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in my hands. I am still able to crochet, knit, smock, & hand embroider. I can do doll dresses & baby blankets. Some days better than others. Just do what you can. It is relaxing. I found the gloves for arthritis & needlework. Take it a day at a time. My biggest problem with my body is tennis elbow from crochet. Once you're comfortable with the stitches it will be easier on your hands. Remember it's good for your health! Enjoy your new hobby! I learned to crochet over 30 years ago. I enjoy it too. Have fun.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Sharon. Good to hear that you're still making things after having arthritis for so long. One of my fears is not being able to sew. When I crochet I try to remind myself to relax my hands and that seems to help a bit...
DeleteI am loving crochet! And you know, the great thing about crochet is that you can work up small motifs, at your own speed, and then sew them all together to make a fabulous afghan! So it's a very portable hobby, more so than knitting in my opinion because you don't have the worry of your work falling off the needles in your purse.
ReplyDeleteI actually took it up so I would have something portable to do - every time we go away I'm frustrated because I obviously can't take all my sewing gear but I still want to make stuff. I'm loving taking my little crochet bag out with me to the kids' cricket training, dance lessons etc :)
DeleteGreat to have a friend teach you. Much nicer than learning from YouTube! Hope your makes sell well.
ReplyDeleteYes much more sociable, but also much easier to understand! I tried learning from online tutorials prior to in-person lessons and I couldn't figure out how to hold the crochet hook!
DeleteLove a good cat-thwarting-craft story! The cats are looking beautiful as is your crochet. School will be delighted - I should probably let it be known that I make stuff by the time our school fete comes around ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks Shelley. You'll know I've really lost it if I start crocheting accessories for the cats...
DeleteThe baskets look great! Sometimes I do get frustrated that sewing is not portable, looks like you can take crochet wherever you want so you can get in your craft fix :) I have mild rheumatoid arthritis which comes and goes, I won't whinge about it other than to say it is so inconvenient!
ReplyDelete