Back to My Threads

Back to My Threads       

Time to return to more fun in my life. I’m going back to crocheting. For those of you who think knitting is “da bomb,” sorry. I can’t knit. I crochet. Why is that? I do know how to knit, but I’m left-handed and when others tried to teach me it wasn’t easy, or pretty. Essentially, I have very uneven tension and therefore anything I do looks really messy.

Why crochet? Because I get it. My mother taught me to crochet in 2 hours sitting by a pool in Arizona—no lie. Those were the days when my father sometimes traveled and if I was lucky, and it was summertime, sometimes I was invited along. She was working on a project way back when and I just got to figure it out with her. From there I made an afghan—in sections, with joins to other colors. For a first project it was probably more complicated than it should have been but I actually still have it in a linen closet, and it’s been more than 40 years since I made it. Since then I’ve made a lot of afghans--for my kids, my sister, my husband, even my son-in-law (his matches the one I made for the husband but is a foot longer)—and they all still have them, although sometimes in a slightly dilapidated state.

Then there was the skirt. My mother and I were in a store when we saw this skirt in graduated colors and pieces. It was stunning but way out of the budget. A couple of months later I saw the same idea of a skirt in a pattern book. It was irresistible—and became the project to eat all projects. Took me years. It wasn’t the pattern that was so hard, or even making the 97—yes 97—pieces in graduated sizes. It was putting it together. But it was great when it was done, and I wore it for several years. Got a lot of compliments on it too, but eventually it was just too out of style to keep wearing it. It’s gone now.

I’ve made a lot of shawls, some of which I’ve kept. My younger daughter, who knits incredibly well—and has tried to get me back into that but there’s still that tension problem that no one can solve—and also crochets, pointed out that I don’t have to make the pattern to learn the stitch. I can use the stitch for something else once I know the repeats—lights went off, and now I have several shawls in more complicated patterns.

Learning More

I’m pretty good with most patterns and can usually keep to a gauge. Right after my granddaughter was born, I took up Tunisian crochet. Actually while out there helping with the baby I found a class on the basics and had a great time with it. And I ended up learning several stitches and emerging with a cowl. Now I have patterns for those too. I’ll be heading out for her birthday next month and figure I can work on a scarf on the plane. There’s a lot of downtime.

I was supposed to make something for the granddaughter but that hasn't happened either. It's a supposedly easy pattern that for some reason I can't "get." I'm not sure why because "easy" is usually a no-brainer but I'm thinking that I have to sit down in the next two weeks and just knock it out. I know that if I just spend the time, it won't take more than an hour to do. Hopefully, she'll like it.

But Where... 

My greatest issue these days is where to crochet. I used to have a recliner in my bedroom and I could sit there and work and have the TV on as background--and something to see when I looked up. The chair broke and I put it out for the trash. The only thing keeping me from working now is no place to do it. Still working on that one, but I plan to resolve the issue this week.

Stay tuned for more on crafting habits…

The Closet Purge Returns            

Yes, it’s back. I’m cleaning out my clothes again. I’m not sure why that happens so regularly but I find that if I clean out my clothing, whether due to size changes (fortunately, I’m not getting bigger these days), boredom, or just a general need to clean, I feel better. And I would bet there are a lot of people out there like me.

So this week, it was mainly the dresser. I went after anything I haven’t worn in the last summer—most of the gutting was on the summer side of things. It wasn’t a lot, but I have a nice little pile going. I still have a couple of drawers to go elsewhere—yes, there is an elsewhere with odds and ends that don’t really fit into a specific season. But I’m willing to bet there are items in there that I haven’t even looked at in a couple of years. I remember a pair of shorts I bought for when I first tried out yoga. I must have scared the class not only with my efforts to get to the various positions—a topic for another day—but with the outfit I wore. Looking back I have to ask myself, “Self, what were you thinking?!?!?!

Next, it will be the fall/winter/early spring items. I don’t think there’s as much there because I’ve been weeding out that side of things regularly. I do need to hit the coat closet in the front hall though. And that’s where I might even “lose” some of my husband’s treasured items. I helped my daughter “redo” her front coat and whatever-we-can-hide-in-there closet recently. A lot of the “hidden treasures” weren’t hers, but were stashed by her husband. I think her thinking was that he hadn’t mentioned them lately so he won’t miss them. She knew what really had to be kept; the rest has met the dumpster of history. But she felt really good after the purge. She also routinely clears her daughter’s closet of outgrown clothing. Of course, since my granddaughter is only just 11 months old that can happen every 2 weeks without fear of losing anything.

On a side note, personally, I like the idea of people passing their clothing on by way of donation or giving them to specific people who need them. My granddaughter is a benefactor of that policy, which has given her a huge—and very fashionable-wardrobe. If eventually she gets a little sister, that kid will also be set for clothes. And if there is a little brother, well, someone out there will become the latest mini fashionista.

 Other Side of the Closet

Returning to my main point, my next question is this: How is it that no matter how often we women clean out our wardrobes, the men have nothing to purge? I mean, really? My husband hasn’t needed to wear a suit daily to work in years. If he has one on, it’s either black or navy blue, sometimes with a pinstripe. And he’s wearing a red tie. He doesn’t have to tell me he has a meeting that day; I can just see that he’s going to be talking to the bankers. Plus, in the last couple of years he’s lost 25 pounds. A number of clothes are hanging on him. So when I ask if he has anything to add to the donation bag, the answer is usually no, or he puts in one really old pair of running shorts that I then take out of the bag because they’re really not something that should be given as a donation. It would be embarrassing. Therefore, there’s nothing from his side of the closet. Really?

Anyway, I think I’ve gotten rid of some stress now, which is always good. I’m going back to the purging area now—I have one more drawer to do.