I've learned a new craft recently - crochet, and I'm really enjoying it. My friend Dawn and I brought our crochet hooks to Artfest this year, committed to figuring out the elusive hook and how it makes fabric from string. My partner's mom taught me some basic stitches before we went, so I had a very rudimentary knowledge of what to do with the hook. My motive for learning to crochet? To make some cool ponchos and flower items. Like the flower scarf in "Stitch n Bitch, The Happy Hooker". Dawn said she's figured out how to join the flowers (something I just couldn't dope out, despite several hours worth of effort) and she's going to show me how to do it, hopefully today. Very exciting!
The photo is a crocheted basket that we both bought the pattern and yarn for at a yarn shop on Bainbridge Island last year. I finished the basket last week and felt the satisfaction one feels when one has had a project hanging around for awhile and finally finishes it. I remember being in the yarn shop and looking at the baskets, how cute they were and how much I wanted to make one. I also remember thinking, "it'll be a miracle if I can figure this out." And here I am, a year later, finished basket in hand. I even made the flower myself, no pattern!
Lately I've been feeling pulled to quilt again. Several years ago, my partner got me into quilting, and that was the key that unlocked my dormant creativity. Now I work in lots of mediums and don't quilt anymore. I enjoy knitting and crocheting, but I feel drawn to add hand quilting and applique back into the mix. I feel such a sense of peace and contentment when working with my hands in that way. It's a moving meditation for me. If someone asked me "do you meditate", I would reply "absolutely; I do handcrafts". There's something so soothing about the repetitive motion; if I'm feeling anxious it helps calm me. And I'm feeling drawn to make pictures with fabric and applique. I have some projects that need finishing and I'll focus on those before I start something new.
In the meantime, it's off to meet my crochet buddy and master those flowers!
1 comment:
i wish I knew that you were learning how to crochet at AF- I could have helped you out! I used to crochet a lot. Now, I pretty much knit. But I've made large blankets and afghans. It's been a while though, but i figure it's like riding a bicycle.
I want to learn how to quilt so bad! I may give it a go soon. Wish me luck!
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