I recently resumed crocheting after a pause of several years. My first true project was a handbag I did using a pattern in one of my mother’s magazines (probably Woman’s Day). It was lined with felt and got dirty quite fast because I was a child in the late 60s, but it was my proud achievement.
Other projects came along, such as an Easter bunny in white yarn (bleach bottle plastic kept the ears perky), a hat made from a wonderful yarn dyed to look like denim (still have it), and a few side items I attempted to knit. Later efforts included baby blankets which were, to put it lightly, a bit raw in execution but useable.
A granny square afghan I crocheted for my mother is still at home. It was a late 1990s project I took on to make something to match the upholstery on the couch, and required buying yarn colors from memory. I would do up to two squares a day while riding to and from work on the train, and an occasional third if my lunch permitted. She was thrilled to open the package at Christmas.
I then took on making half-day throws and managed to make countless ones for coworkers and friends. Then my family dynamic changed, and I didn’t have time for crafting. The “big return home” in 2000 didn’t nudge me to resume either, but now it’s five years later, and an event spurred me to pick up the hooks again.
I have bins of yarns I had bought during sales from craft stores which went out of business, the latest of which is Joann Fabrics, where I bought some great quantities of yarn for what I anticipate will be a retirement filled with rows of patterns and special effects lovingly hooked with joy by my anxious hands.
A friend of mine had her own home for some time, which had been a life-long goal for her, so I made her a throw while I was on my biggest creation kick back in the 2000s. When she moved out of the home and into a small apartment, many of her household goods went into storage bins. It turned out that, during a culling of the hoard, the throw accidentally got sent out with other charity bins for pickup. At least I know somebody else will likely be using what I made, but it left my friend without one, and she was rather embarrassed by the incident.
She went out and did what anybody in such a situation would do. She hit up an estate sale and bought some yarn for a replacement throw. The bag contained several balls of an Italian merino in a purple colorway (a mix of several go-together colors in one), along with some solids which may have come from Michael’s, and a large skein of Red Heart. Only problem was, the main yarn was discontinued years ago, so finding enough for the project was nearly impossible if not extremely expensive. After-market buys on such rare yarns can be pricey. A listing in Etsy or eBay would have gotten me six more balls of the main colorway, along with four of another color I didn’t need, for about $80.
So I did what anybody in such a situation would do. I got advice from a local yarn shop. They pointed me in the direction of similar types of yarn in complementary colors. I came home with freshly-balled yarn from their establishment, to add to my already yarn shop sized collection.
Will I get an afghan or throw out of these? I’m not sure. I do know that I have plenty of colors on hand and could easily use any of them for a similar effect. I’ll need to strategize on this one. It’s venturing into a whole new territory of crocheting for me.
I just hope these old hands can withstand the paces I will be putting them through to crank out these new projects. Wish me luck.
Susan's Scribblings the Blog 