The First Project of the Blog

Imagine a ruby red curtain. You wait with a crowd for it to slowly open. You, being one of the first ones to see this act, this big reveal, are a bit nervous, waiting for whatever is behind that curtain. A deep voice rumbles through the auditorium "Reveal the project!"  The curtain slowly opens and to your amazed eyes is a one eyed ball with pieces beside it. What could they be? That my friends is a monster...it is currently in the works for my first "official" project of the blog. Unfortunately it is not so new that I haven't crocheted it before. I am revisiting it to continue to give these wonderful creatures away. My nephew was the first to partake of them (there is a three-eyed one I want to make too). My sister-in-law Allison thought they were cute, so I thought I'd make her one for her son as well. The monster is made of 100% cotten Sugar n'Cream yarn. This yarn is wonderful, being soft and  machine washable. I have made many projects from this yarn already, including the disclothes I made in the last post.  But these, of course, are not the only things I have in mind to make..I already have a rather long list of which I would like to create in the next couple of months. Let me lay them out for you...so you can watch for other "reveals":

1. Green Monster
2. Yellow Monster
3. A light looking triangle scarf
4. A Granny Square Baby Blanket
5. Various amigurumis: currently in the middle of making a monkey

Now that it is out in the open, it does not seem as long. Looking at the order, I doubt that they will go in that order. I need to spread my wings again and broaden my horizons. The triangular scarf I was especially excited about, and the Granny Square Baby Blanket? Well, when I found it on the knit/crochet site of Raverly.com I could not wait to put it together and find the beautiful fiber in which to make it with. Thus those may be the next projects. I still pine for that time when I can start to whip them out...the yarn is waiting patiently for the scarf, it is a soft cotten mix that I think will be nice once it is created into something.

A Crochet History

Do you ever feel like creating something? Throwing caution to the wind, taking out some yarn and a hook, whipping through stitches one on top of the other only to create a blanket or a pillow or any home decorative delight? I have, I constantly have the urge to finish my latest project. Even if the project seems to take forever. I keep moving my hook, just to see how my project will turn out. It has been a small journey to get where I am today.

How my obsession with Crochet began again.

I think the first time I ever took up a hook and yarn was when I was about fifteen. I had bothered my aunt about wanting to learn to crochet. She took me under her wing and she taught me how to make chains with a hook and yarn. I made many chains before I stopped crocheting.  I'm thankful for her willingness to teach me how to do it, even though we crochet with opposite hands! My next adventure with crochet was in high school. We were lucky enough to have a special Home Ec. class that specifically taught the old-fashioned pastimes like crochet, knitting and needlepoint. That is where I learned to read crochet patterns and I was able to create a afghan using granny squares. I have fond memories of crocheting with my friends in the class and my hook moving quickly through the yarn as my project took shape. I still have that final project, but I unfortunately have not done granny squares since that time...but there is a lot I want to do with my hook and yarn...its a matter of finding time! Well, that brings me to present day. My husband encouraged me to take up a hobby. So, the one thing I knew I probably would still enjoy, was crocheting. My first project was a baby blanket I found in a Learn to Crochet book. I took up my hook, found some tasteful yarn and began to crochet. Thank goodness that it was like riding a bicycle. At least the stitches were,  I had a little trouble understanding the pattern and making sure I was producing the right stitch. But again my husband helped me out, by encouraging me with my thoughts on the pattern and suggesting how the stitch should go. It was a process, but I got the blanket done in time to give as a gift. Up til now I have been crocheting like mad. I have made stuffed animals (amigurumi, amigurumi stuffed Hedgehogs from Amigurumi World Seriously Cute Crochet) and dishcloths. I plan to continue to work on the traditional stuff as well, such as more afghans and maybe a scarf or two. The possibilities are endless! I would love for you to join me on this journey of crochet, yarn and patterns to see what I have made and hopefully hearing what you have made or want to make. Crocheting is an art not dead, but alive in all of us who have kept up the craft and made it what it is today, a wonderful past time perfect for those fingers who want to be busy with a creative, productive and useful craft.



A Bear I created for a friend