Girls Write Out
Wednesday, September 10, 2008

You won't believe this. I'm teaching myself how to crochet. Me. Reading directions. Teaching myself. I am woman, hear me roar and all that.

My sister-in-law came for a visit recently and she inspired me. She has crocheted beautiful baby blankets for as long as I can remember. And every time I see her do it, I want to learn how. Problem is she lives in another state, so she can't teach me.  This time I decided to teach myself.

So I bought yarn to make a scarf for my eight-year-old granddaughter. It's beautiful, fun, multi-colored yarn. It's also busy enough to cover a multitude of sins.  I finished it in a week. It's gorgeous. Only another crocheter would notice that the design doesn't match up and the rows are uneven. Oh, yeah, and the holes. There are lots of them. And they're big.

Still, I grab the scarf, feeling a little smug (me, not the scarf), and head for my granddaughter's. I'm just sure she'll love it, right? I mean, she has to. We're family. I pull it out of the bag and guess what? She DOES love it. With much pomp and circumstance, we drape it around her dainty little neck and voila! 

It's longer than she is. 

Well, all right, not quite that long, but let's just say it would have served Lady Godiva well. And she wasn't eight years old.

There must be something to that whole "check your gauge" thing. Or maybe the 12 inch tassles are the problem. Still, my granddaughter won't part with it. Bless her.

So what are your craft hobbies? Scrapbooking? Knitting? Quilting? Crocheting . . .

Got any good tips for beginning crocheters like me? Web sites of interest? A place where I can donate extra long scarves?



Diann Hunt  
posted at 10:09 PM  
  Comments (31)
 
 
Delicious Delicious
31 Comments:
At 11:14 PM, Blogger Cara Putman said...

I love to scrapbook -- can't wait to start Rebecca's book. But I'm not letting myself touch it till I turn in the next two books. The month of December I'll be in scrapbooking heaven -- or so I tell myself. :-)

I can crochet, but my mom does it really well. Baby blankets, beautiful snowflake ornaments, etc.

 
At 12:42 AM, Blogger Beth said...

I started teaching myself to crochet from a DVD. So far I've only managed 1 Granny Square.

As for my other craft hobbies:
Cross stitch (a lot)
Knitting (a little)
Cardmaking (mostly for family)
Scrapbooking (at least my own version of it)
Sewing (some clothes)
Quilting (haven't done any for a while, but I have a project that I've been working on for at least 10 years)

Cross stitch is my biggest thing. I mostly do it while watching TV.
If you like, have a look at my cross stitch blog:
http://projectsbybeth.blogspot.com/

 
At 7:21 AM, Blogger Andrea said...

Scrapbooking! When I first saw it, I thought I would hate it. I have now developed my own style and I am happy with it.

I learned to crochet about 2 summers ago. I liked it. I used to cross stitch a lot as well.

Since I had children, things changed. Now my there isn't enough time (and sometimes money) to do it all. So I had to choose one thing to concentrate on and that became scrapbooking. My oldest is a freshman. I want his books caught up by the time he graduates. I better get moving!

 
At 7:43 AM, Blogger Lisa Jordan said...

My mother taught me to crochet and sew when I was a child. I prefer using thread to crochet with, instead of yarn. I make ornaments, angels, bookmarks, etc., but I haven't done it in a couple of years.

I love to scrapbook and stamp. I have a studio set up in my basement that is my haven away from the masses.

As with anything else, the more you crochet, the better you'll get. You can do it!

 
At 7:58 AM, Blogger Diann Hunt said...

LOL, Cara! Think December! :-)

Beth, I went to your blog--love the projects! You are really good!!

The book for your son sounds great, Andrea!

Lisa, crochet with thread??? Yikes! I'd be all thumbs!

My daughter loves to scrapbook and is awesome at it! It's such a great hobby--especially when you have little ones at home!

I think it's great that many of you are into scrapbooking. What a wonderful book of memories for the kids to have in years to come!

 
At 8:48 AM, Blogger Colleen Coble said...

Gosh, if you wanted to be taught, you could have asked me. I had no idea. I'm a master crocheter. There's no stitch I can't do. I've made tons of afghans with that afghan stitch which is my favorite and then I've embroidered them.

Of course that was before I started writing. There's no time for it now. The last time I picked up a hook was, um, about twelve years ago. LOL

I don't do crafts anymore. Writing is my creative outlet now. I was reading Nora Roberts' bio and she was talking about all the crafty things she did until she started writing, just looking for that right one. Once she found writing, she never looked back. That's me.

 
At 8:54 AM, Blogger Rachel Hauck said...

Too funny, Di. I learned to crochet several years ago and have made about six afghans, but that's all I can make. I know one stitch and pattern. LOL.

A crafty-type fried tried to teach me more, but who are we kidding? I'm a one stitch girl.

But it's fun, isn't it. Knitting and crocheting are back in vogue, especially with the younger girls.

You should post a picture of the scarf! And if my grandmother made me something, I'd not part with it either!

Love, R

 
At 8:57 AM, Blogger Rachel Hauck said...

Okay, I just read Colleen's post and I think we should have a little crochet workshop or LNC at the conference. Who's with me!? Anyone? Anyone? ;)

I also agree with C that writing is my creative outlet. I'm not that creative in the first place, so writing takes all I have.

And, I think leading worship is an outlet for me. Especially if it's not a big production and just me on the keyboard singing.

Okay, I need to get to work.

Hugs to the Girls Write Out!

 
At 9:38 AM, Blogger Pam Sanderlin said...

I like knitting--but I only know how to do one thing, so I just make scarves. I cross-stitch book marks sometimes, too. I like to water color, but can only paint flowers and moutains and trees. My favorite is macrame, but haven't done that in a while because I haven't found anyone in Istanbul who sells jute. I've tried scrapbooking a bit. I like sewing curtains and pillows.

 
At 10:11 AM, Blogger Southern-fried Fiction said...

I LOVE to crochet. I've done it for years and have made several afghans and even crocheted a kingsize bedspread for my brother and his wife when they got married.

I've been trying to teach my granddaughter, but she didn't do so well. And when she went home to Texas, she left it here. I think she thinks it will miraculousy (or is that grandmaculously) be done when she somes for her next visit.

 
At 10:12 AM, Blogger Southern-fried Fiction said...

I neglected to say I also do needle work. I have several unfinished projects. :D You see ... I became a writer. Now all I do is read and write. :o}

 
At 10:26 AM, Blogger Diann Hunt said...

Colleen, I totally understand the writing and not having time for anything else thing. But I'm MAKING myself do this because writing consumes me. I LOVE to write and everything involved with that, but sometimes I feel it possesses me. So that's why I took this up. Probably won't last, though, since I'm obviously needing help. LOL!

Rachel, that's a GREAT idea! I would LOVE to have a crochet moment with you all! :-)

 
At 10:27 AM, Blogger Colleen Coble said...

Oh I KNOW it possesses me and I'm great with that! LOL

 
At 10:44 AM, Blogger Diann Hunt said...

Yeah, it's not that I think it's wrong to be all about writing--it's just that I wanted some margins. That's just me. I tend to be a workaholic and don't want to put the computer down--ever. I'm trying to have more specified work hours and specified play hours. :-)

Plus, it's been fun doing something for the grandkids.

 
At 10:51 AM, Blogger Sarah said...

The hardest part of crocheting is reading the patterns. Once you get that down, it's not too bad.

Diann, when you're tired of making scarves, you should try doilies. There are some great books at craft stores with tons of patterns. Makes for a very impressive gift, but really it's the same as crocheting afghans or whatever. Just a different medium with the crochet thread.

 
At 10:56 AM, Blogger Sarah said...

But yeah, I used to sew a lot and do other creative projects. But with working full time (about which I'm forever whining), I found the projects would take over my small house and not get done very quickly. So I have pretty much stopped for the present.

And now I'm all into writing, which I think is what I was trying to find with all the aprons I made and doilies I crocheted. Something creative that's more a reflection of who God made me to be. I love crafts, but just can't do it all.

And writing makes so much less mess than sewing. So it's easier on my house. :)

 
At 11:02 AM, Blogger Tiffany Amber Stockton said...

Crochet? Isn't that like sewing? Yeah, I can't do that, so there's a high chance I couldn't crochet either. Then again, I've never had anyone take the time to teach me. Mom was too much of a perfectionists to have patience. :)

I do cross-stitch, though, or at least I used to.

Scrapbooking is an on-again-off-again hobby, but with a new baby on the way, I'm determined to get into it full-forced.

Photography is a passion, for certain. I'm only an amateur, but I love taking pictures and sharing them.

Hmm, other than that, reading and writing take up the rest of my free time. Sometimes travel.

Di, if you want to relax your all-consuming writing schedule, go for it! I hear crocheting is a fantastic way to get lost as well and pass the time. Just don't neglect those deadlines. LOL!

 
At 11:08 AM, Blogger Rachel Overton said...

I have to brag. My sister Sharon crocheted (with thread) an entire wedding dress for a friend. Top to bottom, train and all. Complete with lining and sequins, and...it was amazing. She crochets things all the time, but that was her crowning glory.

Me--I am NOT handy with any form of craft that requires a needle. I have NO patience! People talk about how needlecrafts relax them? Embroidery actually used to make me angry! All my sisters are crafty that way except me. My motto is, if you can't hot glue it, I don't do it. Put it this way. I stuck a sewing machine needle into my middle finger in junior high for a home ec project. If there ever was interest, that ended it! :-)

Somehow, though, my daughter got the needle-gene, except we live too far away from family for anyone to teach her. Poor kid! Mom is definitely not gonna help on this one!

 
At 11:27 AM, Blogger Diann Hunt said...

Rachel, your sister is AMAZING!!! Crocheting a wedding dress?!!! I would LOVE to see a picture! That is one special friend!!!

Sarah, doilies sounds like a neat idea. I love doilies. I think they're so pretty and they remind me of my grandma--she used to have them at her house.

 
At 11:34 AM, Blogger Kristin said...

My crafting is in the house. I took a sledge hammer to a pony wall on Monday. I've learned to break out studs, cut drywall, plaster the wall and I regrouted the shower. None of them are very girly.

You know Youtube has great directions for things online that shows you how to do it. I'll let you know if the tiling video works. That's next. LOL

 
At 12:19 PM, Blogger undoubtably_me said...

My sister, mom, and mother-in-law all know how to knit and crochet, but I think I missed the gene. My one attempt at knitting was a disaster -- my loops were so tight that it became waterproof! Now I do sewing and quilting and I love it. It was my destressor when I was in a bad job, and now that I have my own place I can buy more fabric and take up more space. :)

 
At 5:23 PM, Blogger Christy said...

Before long, you'll be knitting...lol ;)

 
At 10:26 PM, Blogger Beth said...

Thanks for visiting my blog Diann & Kristin. Your comments were really encouraging.

Rachel - WOW! A crochet wedding dress. I'd love to see a photo of that. It sounds amazing.

 
At 7:58 AM, Blogger Suzanne said...

I'm an avid scrapbooker. Just don't have the time to work on it as much as I'd like to.

Can we count baking? I love to bake, totally theraputic!

 
At 10:45 AM, Blogger Diann Hunt said...

Yes, Suzanne, baking counts! I love to bake in the fall more than any time in the year.

I'm sitting by a spiced pumpkin candle right now and it's making me hungry. Do you think eating qualifies as a hobby?????? ;-)

 
At 3:20 PM, Blogger Kayla said...

I love to crochet. I can't read a pattern very well, because it all starts running together, but I think it's really fun and relaxing. My grandma can whip up a doily without even looking at it. I can just make a mean afghan. haha.

 
At 11:24 PM, Blogger Sarah said...

Rereading my old Love Comes Softly books always makes me want to bake. There's so much cooking and eating in those books. Good inspiration.

 
At 8:50 AM, Blogger Suzanne said...

Yes Diann, eating is definitely a hobby! I'm always sharpening my skills in that area!

 
At 10:48 PM, Blogger T said...

Hi, everyone! I came across this blog and wanted to share a great website with you. It has free patterns for everything. But my favorite section would be all the free preemie patterns. NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Units) are always in need of donations for preemie size items. A super easy one is the hospital shirt. It's a great way to learn new stitches, and feel great about the items you are making. Just call your nearest hospital with a NICU and find out what they are in need of the most. Then you can set up a night with your best friends and make things! I am a military spouse and I do this when my husband is away. It helps bring some joy to very lonely times.
Hope this helps. God Bless,
Tiffany Leone Richard

 
At 10:48 PM, Blogger T said...

Oops! I forgot to leave the website! Here it is:

http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/preemies.html

 
At 5:14 PM, Blogger Diann Hunt said...

Thanks for the website, Tiffany! It sounds like a great idea--I'll check it out!

 

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The Authors
Kristin Billerbeck
Kristin Billerbeck is a proud Californian, wife, mother of four, and connoisseur of the irrelevant. She writes Christian Chick Lit; where she finds need for most of the useless facts lulling about in her head.

www.KristinBillerbeck.com

Colleen Coble

Colleen Coble writes romantic suspense with a strong atmospheric element. A lovable animal of some kind--usually a dog--always populates her novels. She can be bribed with DeBrand mocha truffles.

www.ColleenCoble.com

Denise Hunter

Denise Hunter writes women's fiction and love stories with a strong emotional element. Her husband says he provides her with all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too.

www.DeniseHunterBooks.com

Diann Hunt

Diann Hunt writes romantic comedy and humorous women's fiction. She has been happily married forever, loves her family, chocolate, her friends, chocolate, her dog, and well, chocolate.

www.DiannHunt.com

Hannah Alexander

Cheryl Hodde writes romantic medical suspense under the pen name of Hannah Alexander, using all the input she can get from her husband, Mel, for the medical expertise. For fun she hikes and reads. Out of guilt, she rescues discarded cats. She and Mel are presently taking orders from four pampered strays.

www.HannahAlexander.com

 
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