Wednesday 24 October 2012

Another Hobby

Well I've started another hobby, it's one I've wanted to do for years but I've never managed to conquer. Finally, fingers crossed, I've got the hang of it. What is this new hobby of mine? Crochet!

When I was a small girl my aunt used to crochet dresses and cardigans for me. I used to watch her fingers flying like shuttles hooking the wool and I was fascinated.

Years later I asked her to teach me and, bless her, she tried. She showed me how to make doilies but mine always ended up looking like bowls! My tension was to tight and I couldn't really work out where to do the stitches. I think the problem was I wanted to be as fast as she was, trying to run before I could walk.

Since then, every few years, I've gone out and bought a hook and some wool thinking I'd be able to master this craft. I never could and just ended up with quite a collection of hooks!

Last year I turned up at my aunt's and asked her to show me again. She looked at the wool, then looked at the hook, then looked at me and laughed. "I've forgotten how to do it" she said! My chance had gone, the master of crochet had lost her skills.

I'm not a quitter though, I knew I'd learn one day, then I saw this post on Katherine's blog. Time to buy another hook and some more wool and try, try, try again!

This time, though, it clicked! I was crocheting, slowly at first but speeding up the more I did it. I started on the Wednesday and by Friday I had made this:


I had managed to crochet something I could wear, something I was proud to wear:


Now I'm just a little bit addicted. So I've made one cowl, I've nearly finished another and I want to do a Granny Stripe blanket. I've done a practice piece for the blanket:


Just needs a little more practice. But…I finally feel I've cracked the art of crochet.

Now that's something crossed off my bucket so what next? :)

I hope you're having a good week.

Thanks for stopping by
Jo xx

8 comments:

humel said...

Oh, good for you! :) Crochet has long been on my list, too, so I shall bookmaark the link - I learnt how to do a chain, but couldn't get onto the second row, so just ended up with a really long chain!! I'd better wait till I've finished my scarf though, not that I've got the hang of knitting, or I'll get distracted... The cowl looks lovely x

Unknown said...

Wonderful! I love to crochet and have a few free patterns on my site suitable for beginners. Help yourself!

Sian said...

Fantastic! good for you. Seriously, it's been on my list of things to learn for ages now too. Still haven't done it, but there are so many lovely patterns around at the minute it would be a shame not to give it a go. You have come on really fast!

Sandra said...

I'm so in awe of you Jo, you've really got the hang of it, I'm so jealous :)

Sandra said...

That's great how you've picked it up Jo and ended up with a lovely garment already. I can tell you're going to be addicted!

Alison said...

I've been promising myself to learn how to crochet for ages...one day!!!...love what you made
Alison xx

Allycat x said...

Welcome to the happy land of crochet! I love crocheting! There are so many crochet goodies out there to make! Well done for persevering. My mum tried to teach me but to no avail. Then I got a Teach Yourself Crochet book from the library & bingo! Within two days, I was crocheting granny squares faster than my mum! :D

Lisa-Jane said...

Well done Jo! Its something I've wanted to learn too but knowing me I would get addicted and then the house would be swamped with wool as well as paper!