The year was 1984.My daughter was about 8 months old and we were living in a tiny two bedroom trailer in a very small town in North Dakota. I was a stay at home mom and we didn't have very much money. I knew I'd have to make our gifts that year, so I went to K-mart and bought 100 skeins of acrylic yarn at 94 cents each. I ended up crocheting 10 ripple afghans in two months and, needless to say, never picked up a crochet hook again.
Last year, I started seeing the colorful ripple afghans on all of the blogs and I got the itch to make one again. I would sit with my instruction book, a ball of yarn and hook and try to spark my crocheting abilities buried deep in the recesses of my brain. But then I'd start to get nervous, hyperventilate and give up. The memory of crocheting so many afghans in 1984 would come flooding back. I'd recall how difficult those years were, the frustration would rise and the yarn would end up in a jumbled mess.
About five years ago, I purchased the book Simple Crochet. It's a beautiful book and I love the simple blankets, pillows, bags and boxes crocheted with different materials like leather and hemp. I pulled it out the other day and I have to say, it really was ahead of its time. The photography is beautiful, the projects are easy, and the book reminds me of the Zakka Japanese craft books which are so popular right now. It really inspired me to make my house so much simpler and minimalistic looking.
This year, I decided one of my resolutions (yes I do make resolutions) was to learn how to crochet again and complete a ripple afghan. Even though I have several books on how to crochet, I opted for this kid's version instead. Not just simple crochet, but extremely simple crochet! Hey! It says it's for kids of all ages, so I figured I fell into that category.
I completed a book bag with some scrap yarn and have now started my ripple afghan. Even though I've pulled it out about 10 times, I'm determined to complete it and finally get over the mental block that's been haunting me for so long.
Wonders never cease.
7 comments:
I learned to knit a few years ago with instruction from the book, Kids Knitting by Melanie Falick. I think the kid's books are great for adults! I want to make a ripple afghan, too, but haven't been able to figure out decreases and increase yet.
The croquet book bag looks great!!! What a cute little book of crochet goodies. I hope you over come the emotional hurdle you have with making afgans and get your most recent one completed. Good Luck!!!
Jodie
Your blog is so much fun to read! Really, you need to write a book - the first two sentences of this post "had me at hello".
maybe this is what i need to do...
simplfy it a bit...
crochet eludes me.
love the bag...
very cute!
I just found your blog through wise craft, and i am hooked! I have just bought myself a crochet hook and don't realy know what to do with it! But you have given me hope :) Good luck with the afgan, sometimes the hardest projects are the most rewarding.
I am going to add you to my daily reads list if thats ok.
Laura
Looking forward to seeing it. Hey, when you are done, there are lots of wonderful patterns for all kinds of cool stuff - maybe you will fall in love with the craft again! It is -6 freakin' degrees here this morning. Needs to be against the law!
i think the hardest thing with crochet is reading the pattern. the book bag is a splendid effort! and as for that miss violet - too cute!!! xxx
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