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October 26, 2006
Hooked and lovin' it!
Although everyone else is having second thoughts.
I love to crochet. I adore it. I think it's more fun than a barrel full of monkeys. I find it relaxing, meditative, calming. I find it's something to do with my hands that would otherwise be picking at stuff, ripping up napkins or peeling other people's sunburns.
I crochet when we're watching television (assuming the laundry's folded), at soccer games, on car trips, in waiting rooms and while I'm on the phone. I crochet birthday gifts, christmas presents, baby clothes and blankets. If I could crochet a car, I would. I think it would be adorable in alpaca!
You'd think my family would be grateful that I found something so productive to keep me busy. Think again.
First of all, everyone is really done with the ponchos. They were cute and retro for a while. Then I hit the point that Things One and Two christened me the Ponchomatic because I was churning them out at such an alarming rate and single-handedly glutting the poncho market.
I moved on to shrugs. Darling, right? Everyone's wearing them, right? They take a little longer than ponchos, but I've pretty much gotten to the point that most of my friends who want one, have one.
Let's not even get started on the scarves and hats I've sent spiraling out into the universe. Still, I keep on yarning over and pulling through.
Second, my family seems to resent that I'm not entirely focused on them. This, I think, is quite foolish on their parts. Things One and Two seem blissfully unaware of how many times the fact that my hands are busy with my yarn have kept me from wrapping them around their precious little necks (metaphorically speaking, of course). Cowboy also seems oblivious to the fact that crocheting keeps me in a near Zen-like state of calm through all kinds of events. I think I crocheted an entire poncho during the photo session for his brother's wedding. I think it was a better choice than running screaming from the hotel into the streets of Manila.
I still can't stop though. I always have another project lined up so I can start the new one as soon as I've finished off on the last one. I can't seem to stop even though no one wants anything else yarn-based from me and everyone wants me to put the crocheting down and look at them and stop rewinding DVDs to catch whatever it was that I missed while I was counting stitches.
I'm afraid, I just love it too much.
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Posted by Eileen at 7:00 AM | Comments (19)
Comments
>>I moved on to shrugs. Darling, right? Everyone's wearing them, right? They take a little longer than ponchos, but I've pretty much gotten to the point that most of my friends who want one, have one.
Um, no. No, not everyone.
Ahem.
alesia, shrugless (although Cindy Holby did crochet a scarf for me and Jenny Crusie did crochet a hat for me . . .)
Posted by: Alesia Holliday ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 26, 2006 7:13 AM
You can crochet stuff for me if you have run out of people to crochet for. ;)
Posted by: laurenjharwood at October 26, 2006 8:04 AM
You are both too kind! Now I need bust measurements and color choices!
LC Eileen
Posted by: Eileen at October 26, 2006 9:21 AM
I'm not wearing a shrug. That could be because I have no idea what the heck a shrug is. Must google it now. I can crochet a mean stocking cap, and I swear I practice at it, nothing else I try comes out right. I made a scraf once, unfortunately, it was wavy, and no one would wear it but me. Hey, I was proud of that thing.
Posted by: Charity at October 26, 2006 9:57 AM
A shrug is one of those cropped sweaters. Sort of like a bolero in length. I made one for myself, too, but unfortunately it seems to mainly showcase how enormous my stomach is.
Posted by: Eileen at October 26, 2006 10:10 AM
Have you tried to crochet socks?
Posted by: michelle at October 26, 2006 10:50 AM
If you don't have it already, pick up Stitch N' Bitch: The Happy Hooker. It has some of the best crochet patterns I've seen in ages, and it's not all just ponchos and scarves either.
Plus, the crocheted skirt I made from it is FREAKING AWESOME. Not that I'm biased, but I took up knitting because there were so few cool crochet patterns out there, and it was great to find something I wanted to make!
Posted by: Jennifer at October 26, 2006 11:50 AM
The socks were a total freaking disaster. One came out looking like it was for an elf and the mate came out looking like it was for a quadruped. I gave u.
Cowboy gave me The Happy Hooker Stich 'n Bitch book for my birthday! It rocks! I'm making the flower scarf from it right now. I've been eyeing that skirt though. It looks adorable.
LC Eileen
Posted by: Eileen at October 26, 2006 12:01 PM
My mom used to knit and she taught me--sort of. It was hard since I am left handed and if I made a mistake it took her awhile to figure out how to fix it. She took up crocheting and for the life of me I just don't get how to do it... So if you want to crochet any afghans or shrugs or whatever, you can always send them my way. My girls would love any of that stuff and since I am so woefully lacking in those skills it would help me score some points with them!! I can always use cool mom points!!
Posted by: Sheri at October 26, 2006 5:24 PM
I think they don't appreciate you and your artistic efforts. I'm still doing the ponchos myself. Must have more yarn.....
Posted by: Eileen at October 26, 2006 9:21 PM
You need Project Linus! They make blankets and donate them to children who might find comfort from them (children in the hospital, homeless shelters, and so forth). My Mom has been working with them for years. The blankets can be knitted, sewn, quilted, and, yes, crocheted! Here's their homepage: http://www.projectlinus.org/index.shtml
Happy hooking! :-)
Posted by: Stephanie at October 26, 2006 9:26 PM
Yes on the Project Linus or any of the ones on this page:
http://www.craftsitedirectory.com/charities/index.html
Or you could change to Irish filet crochet and begin making table linens. Usually worked in motifs, so easier to carry than a poncho.
http://grannys-garret.com/pattern/greek_filet_runner.pdf
Posted by: hollygee at October 27, 2006 5:55 AM
Stephanie and Holly,
Thanks for the Project Linus link! That's fantastic.
LC Eileen
Posted by: Eileen at October 27, 2006 10:19 AM
I have a brilliant idea, Eileen. Brilliant. Much, much better than that “crochet for the needy children” crap.
You could crochet book covers for your entire collection. It would keep you busy and they’d look adorable on the shelf, all lined up with their little wooly sweaters.
It’s pure genius, no?
Posted by: Whitney at October 28, 2006 6:45 AM
It's pure something, Whitney. :-)
Posted by: Eileen at October 28, 2006 3:04 PM
I could use a poncho or any of the other homemade items. Love things that are handmade.
Posted by: Penny (with the flamingo eye patch) at October 30, 2006 11:01 AM
I clearly need to get busy!
LC Eileen
Posted by: Eileen at October 31, 2006 10:13 AM
LOL on reading all of this. What a great anecdote for a work-at-home mom. I find crocheting very comforting and applaud your ponchomania, and have made note of those URLs. Donating to hospitals is a great idea. My son was a preemie and he wore the tiniest creations from crochet and knitting addicts alike.
Deb
Posted by: Deborah at January 30, 2007 9:55 AM
Thanks, Deb. I'm on a baby sweater kick right now. I'm doing a really cute one in yellow and blue stripes right now. It has a wee matching hat.
The LC Eileen
Posted by: The LC Eileen at January 30, 2007 5:33 PM
