Current Crochet Challenge

I have attempted to crochet clothing. Something other than hats and scarves. (still loving hats and scarves) One success and one failure, so far. Not only is the crochet technique a challenge to learn but finding the right pattern and learning how to fit it to a larger woman's size. And then there is the right kind of yarn to pick. Texture, color, weight. And the washing and the blocking and how is it going to turn out when I'm done. I'm not giving up yet. I'm determined I will get the mesh crochet pullover I have always coveted and it will fit. We will see.

In the meantime, bags are still my #1 love.

Currrent Reading List

I finished reading The Friday Night Knitting Club. It's a "feel good" kinda book and not the type I normally read but I am glad that I did. I have decided that the "sweater left unfinished" that she talks about is going to stay unfinished. It's going to become "unraveled" to become something else.

I am currently reading Outlier's. It's non-fiction and very interesting. I am about halfway through it. I plan on reading Hooked on Murder by Betty Hechtman soon. Probably another "cute" novel but I can't resist. And then there is always an inspirational book by Joyce Meyer that I could read. I haven't decided which one of hers will be next.

My Favorite Projects to Crochet

My favorite projects to crochet are handbags, totes, purses, bags, whatever you want to call them, so I have added a few pictures to my blog. To my internet friends who have gotten to know me they are nothing new. They are the same pictures I have on Flickr and Ravelry. One of these days I will get creative with some pictures but photography is not my forte. Some of the patterns are free and some were purchased. If anyone is interested in the free pattern links send me an email or leave a comment and I will get back to you.

What we have known all along

A friend shared this video with a group I am in and I had to share it with you. It's called Knitting For Your Health and it's done by CBS. It shares a lot of good stuff which we have known or suspected for a very long time, like "Everything old is new again" and "sewing mends the soul." They also share a scientific study done by the Mayo Clinic which proves that memory loss is decreased by 30-50% in people who involve themselves in activities like quilting, knitting, crochet and other sewing activities.

I know for myself that I picked up the hobby a few years ago to improve my mental health. My memory loss was getting so bad. It's still not great but it has improved a great deal in the past 3 years. The repetition of crochet has always been soothing to me and working with the different colors of yarn gives me a creative outlet I really enjoy.

When I found crochet sites on the internet that's when the hobby exploded for me. I am constantly amazed and inspired by all the things I see others have created with the yarns we have available today.

Thumbing thru my podcasts today

I was thumbing through my podcasts today and happened to find one by Yarn Thing: Crochet and Knitting Podcast that has an interview with Kate Jacobs. It is titled Kate Jacobs: Friday Night Knitting Club & Knit Two. I learned about the book through a group of friends on the internet and had to listen to the interview. I thought it was a very good. Marly had some really good questions for her. The original air date was 4/21/09.

Marly is a designer and I came across her name from a Ravelry group I joined called Interweave Crochet. Marley is the Administrator and the Moderator of the group. I just recently learned she is one of IC's designer's when I received my first issue of IC last month. I plan on attempting her Tremendous Tote when I get some WIP's done.
On her radio show she has some very interesting topics as well as interviews with Robyn Chachula, another designer for IC, and Marcy Smith, the editor of IC. So it looks like I have some catching up to do.

A quote from The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

I ran across this quote the other day while reading this book. It was so appropriate to where I am at on several levels. I am not a knitter but the wisdom of this book still applies.

starting again

Every knitter has a sweater left unfinished; the bags of bits and pieces stashed away and never picked up again. And why? A change in fashion? A change in season? If that was so, you'd just pull out the stitches and use the yarn for something new. No, there's a secret hope that makes you hold on, to dream that you'll get it right someday, that you'll go back and take it up again and it will finally come out right. That this time all the pieces will fit. The mistake is waiting until you feel renewed enough to give it another try. You simply have to pick up the needles and keep at it anyway.