I am a jack-of-all trades when it comes to the arts. I paint murals. I sew. I make jewelry. I sculpt clay.
One art form has eluded me, intimidated me, for the past decade:
The textile arts, namely: crocheting and knitting.
Now, knitting I clearly suck at. I took a class back in 2005, and after fifteen minutes of listening to a rather impatient instructor, I walked out.
My mother casually mentions to me the other day, ”I used to crochet back in the 70s. Maybe I should pick it up again. It’d be good for these arthritic hands.”
Always wishing my mom would pursue some sort of hobby with me, I signed us up for a class the very next day.
So last Sunday, off we went to a very zsa-zsa textiles shoppe, in Chicago’s hipster Wicker Park neighborhood, for an introduction to crochet class. The class assumed you knew at least the basics. I knew nothing. That was a bit intimidating. Most of the other class attendees were proficient knitters wanting to learn crochet.
My mom on the other hand, after 5 minutes, picked up the crochet hook, and rocked it like it was 1975. Meanwhile, I struggled and cracked jokes that I clearly needed REMEDIAL introduction to crochet.
but that seems pretty far off, considering I barely learned to make “a chain”, while the others in my class where whipping their crochet hooky-things around like none other using words like double stitch and turn and gauge and I’m all like, “Can you repeat that?”
I’m not used to being “bad” at things. So this latest endeavor, is humbling in the least.
But it’s a start.
What a great thing to learn. So fun! You’ll be making those scarves in no time:>
Fun! Good luck! You are right, we are worth it!
Great reminders!
Stopping by from TT&J…
Saw your blog from the fave blog linky loo thingy over on Vintage Revivals and clicked. Love.
Sincerly,
rebecca-who-just-checked-out-crocheting-for-dummies-from-the-library-yesterday. or follower #659
I love that you took a crochet class with your mom. My mom too can rock the crochet hook, me not so much. However if you can chain and you want to have a finished crochet project, I recommend buying a hemstitched flannel baby blanket/bib/burp pad and doing a simple chain around it. A quick Google search for “hemstitched blankets” will give you dozens of results & people always ooh and aah over them when I give them as baby shower gifts.
I love to crochet. I learned a little bit when I was young and have been teaching myself the rest since. It is fun. Your chain looks very neat. You and your mom will have a fun time.
Ruth
So glad you are getting a little time out. Hope you enjoy the crochet!
I can’t wait to see your first finished project. I, too, cannot knit or crochet. Seems like a pretty portable craft- in the car, waiting, etc. I have only thought about learning. : )
Ha… That’s the only part of crocheting I can do the initial braid or whatever it’s called…:( my mom rocks it too…hope you keep at it and show me later…xo
Lu
yay!! Good for you. Way to go!
I just want to encourage you — crocheting is easier than knitting! You can do it! Strange and rather rediculous how a beginner crochet class assumes you know the basics. Wha?
I’m in the process of doing my “someday I’ll…” ideas — I’m researching sewing machines! Of course I’ll have to learn how to use it as soon as I pick it up, but I’m looking forward to a new challenge.
So glad you’re taking better care of yourself this year! I am, too.