But B and Little Miss are also learning through what I do, not just what I say. (This is a scary thought). So if I expect them to be always learning, shouldn't I show them that I can learn something new too?
Well yes! Of course. So what do I want to learn?
Crocheting.
Crochet might make you think of your Granny, or unreliable bathers at the beach, but I am really loving all these hand made goodies available on Etsy...
Flower embellishments from here
Blanket from here
Chicks from here
My Mum taught me how to knit a long time ago so crocheting can't be much harder than that. Can it?
With thanks to YouTube and the many generous people who have videoed themselves crocheting. I have started to learn. It is quite fiddly to begin with, but I have learned it's easier to use a large needle and thick yarn as a beginner.
I started out really wanting to make some flowers as hair ties for Little Miss. But my attempts at flowers didn't go so well, I never ended up with the right amount of petals. Then I bought a larger hook at Big W for about $2.50 and found a very simple hat pattern on YouTube. I must have watched and paused that video a hundred times. And B and Little Miss kept coming into see if I had made anything yet.
Once I got the hang of the stitches this hat was done in a couple of hours. (Thanks to B and Little Miss's Dad who gave me some child free time) I also finally mastered some flowers through lots of trial and error.
As I needed buttons for the flower centre we searched and rescued some from the bottom of our meager sewing kit. Then I had a small revelation, suddenly a button collection seemed very important to me. I can remember visiting my Granny and playing with her button collection. It was kept in an old lolly tin. I would spread out all the buttons on the floor and arrange them into colours and sizes, often loosing them in her heavily patterned carpet. So many memories, smells and sensations came flooding back to me as I watched B and Little Miss get excited and engaged by our own misplaced buttons, bought together at last to become their own collection of memory makers. Did you know that buttons really rock?
Learning something new is a wonderful path to take, opening new and old doors along the way. I love being able to make something that Little Miss can wear, it feels all very warm and fuzzy inside.
But now B wants me to crochet him something Army!
6 comments:
CF, crochet, and only one type is the only wool thing I have ever been able to do, but what satisfaction in making something out of it. When my Kate and I were on our own in a very cold Winter I quickly made her a rug for her cot (which she still has at age 21). I have tried to teach myself other stitches, haven't tried YouTube though might give that a go.
The hat is gorgeous, well done!
Can't wait to see what you make for B.
And yes, button jars do rock.
How did you manage to find time to blog in the school holidays? It is such a bonus when putting ideas to your children you become inventive yourself. I shall have to start collecting buttons for you.
My Mom was teaching me how to afghan. I don't know if that's a form of knitting or crocheting. I do have a panel of a blanket that I've been working on for the last four years, though :)
Many of my friends crochet and make a whole array of different things like you have here.
Good on you CF for tackling something new and in the process discovering the world of buttons again.
Love your work my talented friend, hope it sells well on Etsy.
Hugs
Peggy xxxxx
You winner! I've bought the crochet needles but will wait till winter to buy the yarn and settle in with the kids. You've got me motivated though :)
Your crochet is amazing! I am super impressed that you managed to make anything, never mind a real, functional item.
And my Nanna also had a button collection. Now I seriously NEED to make one for my kids.
Ahh, buttons.
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