The warming spring weather with it's thunderstorms and humidity bring to my mind summertime memories of my childhood. I spent most days outside, playing with my friends, either swinging on a tire from the tree, swimming in the neighbor's pool, or playing in the shade of the trees. If it was too hot, we would be in the air conditioning...playing board games, reading books, or watching game shows on TV. But one of my most vivid summer memories involves a craft.
I learned to crochet rather young. I don't remember exactly at what age, but my first experience with the hook came when my mom wanted to learn how to make a poncho and decided she could best learn from a friend at church who would take her step by step through the process. For some reason my grandmother came along as well, and there we sat in Mrs. Schaeffer's house, crocheting. Well, I didn't know what I was doing, but Mrs. Schaeffer gave me a little blue plastic hook and some leftover blue yarn and taught me how to crochet. Little did she know that afternoon that I would be telling my friends about that day more than 4 decades later!
I practiced a lot on that piece. I actually became quite good with the hook, gradually learning a couple of stitches and patterns. One memory I have is of sitting outside in the summer, my dolls at my side, crocheting. I crocheted a few gifts that year, a makeup case and a belt. The case was a bit crooked and lacked a lining and a closure, but it did have a nice fold over flap (I am laughing as I type this!). The belt...well...it was a strip of crocheted fabric. No buckle. Silly kid I was, thinking that was a good gift, but it was the thought that counted and I was thinking of my dear sister the whole time I made it.
Hopefully I have improved many times over since those days. I go on crocheting binges here and there throughout the year. Sometimes I am bored. Sometimes I am not sure what I want to make. Sometimes I get involved with other projects and do not have the time or energy to start with the hook. But inevitably I come back to crochet because it is so ingrained in me.
Crocheting is a skill I learned early on and have honed over the years and I will continue to crochet throughout my life. It is part of me. I know my personality shows in my creations, for better or worse. And isn't that what creativity is all about?
Do you have a craft that you have been doing since early on? A childhood memory, or something you just keep coming back to? I would love to hear your stories. Please share!!!
3 comments:
I have always liked to draw as I got a little bit older I found a love for writing free verse poetry.
Beth
I make jams and jellies, as well as canning and preserving many other foods. I helped my mother when I was a child, and when I was 19 and a young mother myself I made my first jam by myself. I've been hooked ever since.
Lovely blog!
My Nana always crocheted and "tried" to teach me. I was pretty good at crocheting a very long row but never could turn. Guess I could have made scarves! Thanks for reminding me of her this morning.
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