The Crochet Buffet

It’s a skill!

I was watching an old episode of Knit & Crochet Today and there was an interview with Nikki Epstein.  She made the comment, “Knitting isn’t a hobby; it’s a skill!”

That rang bells for me.  It’s true.  Crocheting (and knitting) are skills.  You have to really work to hone those skills.  The more you hone, the better the finished products.
I’ve had this rant with friends in real life, but I think I should say it here, too…

Sometimes crochet is ugly!  Why do I say that?  I have concluded that there are pattern makers out there (think king of the jungle brand company), that cater to knitters, and throw in some crochet, just to give us a little bone.  BUT, the bones they throw often look like something hacked it up!  There is a certain pattern for a scarf… it’s modeled by some poor anorexic woman.  However, the scarf is HIDEOUSLY red and WIDE and therefore looks to be eating the wearer!!!  I think this was actually featured on What not to Crochet.

Knitters get nice cardigans, vests, tanks, and socks.  Crocheters get scarves that can kill you, hats that will swallow your head, socks that you can walk out into the snow and NOT get your feet wet in, and … oh yeah, more scarves!

Hello? Is this 1954? I think it really gets my dander up to see so much crochet potential lost at king-of-the-jungle company.  When I look at Interweave Crochet magazine, I see hope.  I see crochet.  I see… beauty.  Beautiful crochet!

I’m not knocking any other crochet magazines, because I’ve only ever seen IC.  I spend time on Ravelry looking at the new stuff posted.  Alot of beautiful crocheted patterns are being designed.  I thank those designers for helping to bring crochet up with the times.

OK, I think my soap-box is starting to cave in one side, so I’m stepping off now.

Loitering online -that’s what I call “surfing”.  Surfing requires some sort of skill or strategy – loitering is clearly just hangin out somewhere with no real purpose, and that’s how I internet.

Anyway, as I was loitering, I stumbled onto this:
Make your own bag handles

Now, as a crocheter, I have found, and fell in love with my fair share of purse patterns, but I never follow through with making any, mainly because the cost of buying the handles.  I have a set of bamboo handles that I just haven’t found a pattern worthy enough – they’re not expensive purse handle worthy, if you will.

But with this new find, I will soon find many of those long-loved-but-not-handle-worthy-patterns flying off my hooks!

Oh, and while I was there, I found this!
I’m so glad to have found this site!  I actually have a bike that has a tattered seat.  I would’ve never in a million years thought to crochet a seat cover, but this project is right up my alley!
Love it!

A friend of mine, who works at our local library, is reading the book, Stone Soup, to a group of small children.
She said she’d love to have props on hand as she read the story, so my son and I crocheted her some vegetables for her Stone Soup.

We made:
tomato
peas
green beans
radish
red bell pepper (not pictured)
carrot
garlic
eggplant
cabbage
turnip (not pictured)

I’m Knitting!
I’m actually making something that will amount to something larger than a dishcloth, but with more shape than a scarf!!

The first question is… what?
I found this cute pattern, it looked easy enough – didn’t require circular needles, and I have the size it DOES call for.  I’ve been wanting to make a tank for my girlies anyway, so what the hay?

The next question is… why?
Well, I think it’s, in part, because I miss a buddy of mine. See, she’s on a bit of sabbatical, and has no contact with friends during this time.
I miss her horribly, and anxiously await her return. I know when she comes back, she will be refreshed, renewed, and reconnected in a way that will allow her to remain on the road to the REAL life.

She and I used to get together almost weekly to sit and knit (and crochet, since I’m not that great of a knitter, and would never feel comfortable knitting in front of another knitter… iykwim.)
I’ve been missing our stitch time. I hope she knows how much I’ve valued her, and can’t wait for her to come back! I’m not sure when she gets back, but I hope it’s sooner than later.
In the mean time, I will divide what spare time I have, into crocheting and knitting.
Who would’ve ever thunk it? 

Yay! I’ve just finished up my oldest DD’s tank top.

DH says it’s too wide, so I see some altering in my future, but she loves it!

She loves the color – which is awesome, since she is the one that picked it out.
She loves how it feels against her skin (Another Yay!)

I’ll be starting the other tank soon. I worked more on my tank today.
I’ve only completed a row or two, but it was nice to hold it again.

The girls and I have been making dishcloths for grandmas. I’m actually very impressed with how the girls did.

Their cloths aren’t exactly square… two are more pyramid shape, and one is like a rounded off square, but they really did a great job!

  I know the recipients will be ever so appreciative!