Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Found a Crochet Site I Really Like.

Update:

Oct. 12, 2010 11:51 a.m. 

Sadly, the Slip Stitch Crochet blog no longer exists. *sigh*

__________________________________________

My mom taught me to crochet when I was eight. Since then I've put the hook down and picked it up many times. 

My mom only taught me to chain. Over time, I learned the rest from library books and other crocheters. After a long break from crocheting, I picked my hook up again a few years ago. 

For the most part, I had avoided reading patterns because they always seemed to leave me frustrated. But the past year or so has been a really big one for me in terms of what I'm learning in crochet. I became willing to take my time with crochet definitions and learned to read patterns better. The result is that I've been able to make lots of fun new things. 

I've also joined a few needlework groups -- one specifically for crocheters -- that have not only inspired me to crochet more and better but have also expanded my social circle. Today in my travels on the internet, I came across Slip Stitch Crochet

If you want to take your crocheting skills to the next level, go check it out. I was surprised at what I read there. While I'm not ready yet to delve into slip stitch crochet, I know that one day I'll have more time to sink my hooks into it. 

In the mean time, I'll be admiring it from afar and passing on the URL to every hooker I know. 

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Help has arrived.

For those of you who, like me, just could not decipher patterns written in the crochet symbols shorthand, I would like to tell you that help is here. 

Today I stumbled across this wonderfully transparent explanation by Faye over at crochet by faye. Here it is: Symbols - criptic or logical? Thanks Faye! 

Now I need to take the time to sit down with a pattern written only in symbols to see if I can understand it well enough to actually make something. 

Let us pray. 

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Link to photos of my tiny little baby hats on Ravelry

Who knew making hats could be so easy? I surely didn't! 


 ___________________________________ 


Oct. 10, 2010 1:23 a.m. 

Ahhhh well... 

I just realized you can't see my tiny little baby hats on Ravelry.com unless you already have a Ravelry account. Ravely.com is free and it's fun. If you don't have an account, why not? 

If you do have one, log in to see my tiny little baby hats. 

Either way, here are a few:

Crocheting for charity

Last year I crocheted for two charities. It was my first time participating in such a way. I felt good, knowing that things I created with my two hands and one brain would be appreciated and welcomed by someone somewhere on the planet. 

The two charities I crocheted for were Save the Children and the Special Olympics. I sent in 13 tiny little baby hats for Save the Children's "Knit One, Save One" campaign. Nine (crocheted) hats were mine and 4 (knitted) came from a member of a needlework group I belong to. The 2009 Winter Special Olympics received 4 scarves from me, mailed this year but at least two were started last year. I have photos somewhere... I'll post here when I find them. 

Someone once said that helping others is good for the soul. Who ever they are, they were right. I might never know what baby will wear one of my hats but somehow, our lives will always be bonded. And I might not ever know the athlete who will wear one of the scarves I crocheted but I hope he or she will love it as soon as s/he lays eyes on it, and feel like it was made especially for him or her. My heart is full and I was thankful for the opportunities to help. 

I look forward to doing more crocheting for charity in 2009. 

Amen.