Danielle Branch, Crochet Writer!

I have just been hired as a real life crochet writer for a real live company! This means:

 1) After years of searching I have finally found a legitimate Work-At -Home job,
 2) I get to write about what I know :CROCHET!
 3) I can never ever mock another granny square again!

We crocheters all cut our teeth on granny squares. When my mom taught me how to crochet many years ago, she first taught me the granny square. For variety she threw in a popcorn stitch, but other than that everything we made was a granny square in some form or fashion.

We made granny square afghans and granny square potholders, granny square purses, and granny square hats.We made granny square slippers in every color and every size under the sun. I had always been tempted by a granny square skirt/dress but...didn't we malign poor Cate Blanchett enough! If you check the linked page, you will see that no one even has the words to comment upon this sheath.

But I digress. Granny Squares have progressed from this monstrosity and that monstrosity. 
(Third picture down!)

In fact, in my adulthood, I purchased, The New Granny Square, by  Susan Cottrell and Cindy Weloth.This book actually had some really cute, not square patterns! I did not happen to keep the book in my collection; I think granny squares and I have too much angst to try to start up another relationship.

Still  I love(d) the old gal! She was my first foray into crochet and I appreciate(d) the monotony of her process. Chain 3, 2dc, chain 3dc,ch2, 3dc, ch2, 3dc, ch2 ad nauseum ....kinda sounds like my new job as a crochet writer for a national crochet website...turns out I don't really get to regale tales of crochet,or really write what I know, BUT I do get to write the word CROCHET many, many (many) times. For those of you familiar with SEO writing, you know what I mean!

I'm not sure my first professional writing crochet job and I are a good fit BUT like the old granny square, it started me off into  a world with endless possibilities, the least of which is SEO writing, the most of which is...and that's why I started this blog, MY BOOK!

I Love a Cat!

In honor of I Love Yarn Day, I have reluctantly and unwittingly adopted a cat.

For those who know me well, my reputation as a lover of all things canine should precede me.  This cat, though, persists in pushing herself into my life.

We recently moved into a house where the previous owner left her as they departed. My son dubbed her Remycat after a little dog that my sister has. The cat made its presence known as we attempted to move our things into our domicile. She tried to get inside on two occasions. I dog-blocked her because I was not about to let a yarn-tangler inside of our new home. No animal would come between me and my yarn. That is why I have always prefered to company of canines.

We were away for eight days last week. Failing to call the local ASPCA to get her, I left poor Remycat to fend for herself while we were away. I wondered if, upon our return, I would find her body curled up and expired due to lack of food and shelter.

I did not.

In fact, I almost stepped on her as she tried to get inside of the house again. I had to admire the moxy of this feline, but could I really let her into my house ( and heart?)

Cats, known for their love, nay obsession with yarn have not always been my favorite. However, friends and family member have been posting the most adorable, heart-rending photos of cats and kitties on facebook! One friend in particular enjoys chronicling the tales of her Tomcat Brock as he frolicks on his cat tower and stares menacingly but lovingly into the camera. I believe that is why subconsciously I have begun to actually like cats, even allowing my son to give this feline a name. I was even thinking of letting this one into my house.

There would be one sure way to see if I could co-exist with this kitty. I got out a leftover ball of Red Heart Gold yarn and dangled the string in front of the kitty. She came to it, batted at it, then nuzzled up to my leg! I screeched in delight and surprise! She didn't fight me for my yarn, but actually turned into one of those adorable little facebook cats that I have grown to love. She was so cute!

So, now, I am surprised to say that I love a cat...that just so happens to love yarn! Happy I Love Yarn Day, Remycat!

Crochet for Men

Since interest has picked up amongst strangers and friends about my little blog, I asked my husband what he thought about it. He said that he had visited it, but that it was too girlie for him!

 I told him that men do have interests in crochet. I mentioned The Crochet Dude, who has a line of crochet accessories. The Shibaguyz have a whole  design team behind them,  and Mike from the Crochet Crowd is known on Facebook. My husband, not unlike the aforementioned macho men, is very manly and looks the part. He is bearded and mustached,  stands 6 feet 3 inches tall, and weights 303 pounds, most of which is muscle! GRRRRRR.

 Was there room for crochet in his testosterone-filled body? I wasn't sure!


When Crochet Today recently queried, "Would your guy, or any guy you know wear a granny square sweater?" my answer, with 203 other crocheters was am emphatic  "NO WAY!" I would love to be like the 9 crocheters who answered, "Yes, because I made it"  But I know my husband.

Still, he has been helpful with my obsession with crochet. He never stops me from buying yarn, which is a big plus, and he put up with my crocheted toilet paper cover AND slept next to my crocheted bed doll. He loves the crocheted gifts that I make and asked me to make sure to make the best baby afghan EVER for his brother who just had his first child.
He was brave enough recently to offer a critique of my art, though.  I told him that although my handle is Dani Does Doilies, I don't care for doilies because I am not used to working with small needles. Ironically I I am  now inundated with requests for doilies!  I was grappling with whether I should "change with the change" or stay in my comfort zone.  A post on my new favorite facebook page(Change Your Attitude...Change Your Life) said it all.

Since I want to SUCCEED with crochet and in  life, I decided to take his advice and buy the special yarn and tiny hooks required to make dainty doilies. I've already scoped out a "My First Doilie" pattern on Crochet Pattern Central, so I'm ready...all thanks to my guy!
 Although he will likely never wear a cool granny-squared sweater (how much yarn would it take to cover those muscles!) he has prodded me out of complacency and into and a new, exciting world. He has noticed my efforts, causing change in me, making him a great LEADer! I don't know what is more manly than that!

"Say Thank You"

I recently listened to a podcast where the speaker complained about giving gifts made from the depths of her heart. She did not even receive a simple thank you. That statement sent me down a serious thought spiral.

I, too, love making and giving gifts. I love surprising people with homemade gifts made from the depths of my heart.

I gifted one friend, named after a famous line of dolls, with an adorable little doll key chain. I "broke" into her place of business, snuck past receptionists and strangers and put the key chain in her mailbox. "Lalaloopsy" never acknowledged receipt of the gift, nor did she question where it came from. Wanting to remain anonymous,but still found it, I made sure that she saw that I had had the exact same key chain as the one that mysteriously showed up in her mailbox.She never said a word about it. I hoped she hadn't thought I was a stalker.

At school's end I love giving my children's teachers appreciation gifts. One year I filled a mason jar with Hershey kisses, crocheted a little Hershey kiss onto the top and snuck it into one teacher's car. This time I signed the names of my children."Hugs and Kisses from the Branches" read the card. She never once said thank you. Come on!

After that, I made crocheted Peruvian-styled hats for every student in my daughter's class. Granted her class was small but I crocheted day and night for days and nights! This time I made sure that my children told them that their mother had made the hats specifically for them. It didn't make me feel better that only one out of the 12 parents said "THANKS!".

I then questioned why I felt so compelled to give people things that they hadn't asked for. Just last week as I prattled off the list of crocheted gifts I was in the process of making as gifts, my son asked me something that had obviously been on his mind for a while.

"Don't you get tired of making so many gifts?" He asked

"Nope" I responded. "I need something to do."

"You don't care that you don't get paid?" He challenged

I am getting paid, I told him, in my soul. There is benefit in giving things with no strings attached.

"What if you run out of yarn?" Was his last postulation.

"I will NEVER run out of yarn!" I stated emphatically.

A simple THANK YOU does not fill the criteria of "strings attached". Saying thank you is polite and mannerly. If we lose that ability to vocally express gratitude for given objects then we have lost all of our humanity.

A recent post on Facebook by Change Your Attitude, Change Your Life told me why I felt compelled to give things, even if I'm not given so much as a simple THANK YOU in return.

Be The Type of Person You Want to Meet, said the post. That made things crystal clear.

I really wanted someone to break into my place of business and leave a secret gift for me! If they didn't go all out, as I tend to do, they could at least be mannerly and vocalize receipt of the efforts that was done in their honor. Say THANK YOU!


With that being said, I would like to finally say, Jane Doe, it was I who put the  cute doll key chain in your mailbox 12 years ago! PHEW! Feels good to finally say that!

Don't worry, now that she knows I gave it, I can hear her say it.

THANK YOU!

Fight the Power?

Yesterday was school shopping day at my house! While my children got things they absolutely needed for school, I got some things I absolutely needed too; the newest crochet magazines!

One of the many things I like about living here in Monroe County is the availability of crochet magazines. In Berks county I could only find the mags at Wal-mart and the local Barnes and Nobles bookstore. I complained at the Michael's that they had ever knit magazine in creation, couldn't they make room for at least one crochet magazine?

NO!

Here in Monroe County, they speak my language. I have found copies of different magazines all over the place. They are at every grocery store I frequent and at the A.C. Moore in town ( so there, Michael's!) I have even found one at my local library. Piecework is dedicated to all of the fiber arts, and they seem to give equal time to crochet.

I was pleased with my purchases (Love of Crochet and Interweave Crochet) until I happened to look down at my receipt. Crochet again, was being given a kick in the face! See for yourself!

Although I had purchased crochet magazines, the department stores reckoned them with knit magazines! I was so mad that I did what I hadn't done in a long time... I went to the magazine racks at Wal-mart and I...I...moved the knit magazines to the back and pulled the crochet magazines to the front. I was only brave enough to take one picture of my "misdeed".

When I lived in Berks county I would do this all of the time. I would move the Interweave Knit magazines to the back and put the Interweave Crochet magazines to the front. I would take the copies of Crochet Today;( their covers are so pretty!), and place it prominently in front of all of the other craft magazines. I would fold my arms and feel pleased with my little act of civil disobedience!

Now that I am living in a county that is so in LOVE with crochet, I hadn't felt the need to be so bad! That was, until yesterday.

So crochet magazines take heart! I am on the job!

By the way, I hear that a brand new crochet magazine, Crochet 1-2-3 will be available (at Wal-mart!) on September 8th.

I will be watching and waiting...

"We interrupt this blog to enter a contest...How Crochet (Is Saving) My Life"

Once I realized the benefits of crocheting I began to do it with serious vigor.

Dementia had overtaken my grandmother. Unable to care for herself, my mother moved her in with us in my late teens. “She was too good of a mother to send to a nursing home” mom would declare time and again. She directed these comments at me, not-so-subtlety suggesting what I was to do with her should the time come.

The time came much too quickly. My mother started forgetting and having trouble telling stories she had told hundreds of times. Two people in one week asked me, “Is your mother okay?” I had no choice but to confront her about her obvious problem. She was angered at my questions; they were probably hitting close to home. She said that nothing was wrong her, and I let it go, already knowing the truth. Still, I read an informative book on defeating Alzheimer’s and prepared a lovely gift basket with all of the things that the author said should be used to banish Alzheimer’s to the ends of the earth where it belongs. Amongst the crossword puzzles, fish oils and multivitamins was a crochet hook and yarn. Crochet is supposed to reduce the risk of memory impairment. As long as the mind is actively engaged in a task, such as reading, learning a new language, or crocheting, the brain has a fighting chance. She refused the gift, the reality of her situation being too much.

I am not only fighting for myself, I am fighting for my daughters. I want them to learn crochet to fight off mental decline too. We make fun of the old grandmas rocking in their chairs, hook and yarn in hand but Granny had a point. We should not wait until old age. At 60, my mom knew something was wrong but her decline had begun in earnest. Today, three years later she tries to wash the dishes with olive oil, wandered and was lost for hours, and does not even remember that I am her daughter. With the strong genetic history going against us, my daughters and I do not have time to waste. I want to give myself that chance. Alzheimer’s has claimed two women in family. I do not want it to claim a third.

So I read voraciously. I do crosswords and Sudoku, although I am still on the easy puzzles. I try to get my eight hours of rest. I eat blueberries ad nauseum. I swim and/or bike almost every day. I take a daily multivitamin alongside a dose of omega-3 oil, and I crochet. I do it for once and future self. I do it for my grandmother and my daughters. Most ironically I do it for my mom, who in teaching me to crochet was actually teaching me how to save myself.

Switching Teams ;)

Yesterday I went on a recognizance mission with my daughter. We were scoping out the newest and BIGGEST bookstore in Monroe County, Pa. Bargain Book Warehouse opened recently filling a huge void because there are no bookstores in this area. As a crochet fan I hoped to find a huge cache of crochet books.

Perusing the miles of aisles (the spot used to be a grocery store!) I was overwhelmed with the amount of books I saw. I found quilting books and crafing books. I saw books on scrap booking and books on sewing. I found beading books and too many knitting books to count. I found only four lonely crochet books (Huggable Crochet, 150 Crochet Trims, Happy Crochet and Loop-d-Loop Crochet) amongst all of the hundreds of fun knit books. That totally unraveled my yarn!

The uneven ratio made me for a moment want switch teams. I wanted to go from hard core crocheter to happy-go-lucky knitter. Knitters have so many fun and quirky titles. (Knitting for Peace, Pretty Knits and Naughty Needles!) I wanted fun and quirky too. I wasn't too disheartened though. When I look into the crochet world I see that that idea of toggling between knit and crochet is not new.

Nicky Epstein, whom I only knew from her beautiful book Crocheted Flowers is actually a prolific knitter and more known for that than for her crochet.

Mary Beth Temple, who inspired me to write my own book of crochet stories has focused on many other crafts than crochet . Her latest book is Curvy Girl Crochet, but The Secret Language of Knitter is considered, “…the project of her heart.”

The ubiquitous Debbie “Stitch and Bitch” Stoller has famously taken up both hook and needle in very successful books on the fiber arts. I have to admit that there is appeal and beauty in both.

Because it is more popular, crocheters are often urged to “to come to the dark side" and knit! Teva Durham in Loop-d-Loop Crochet was the only one I saw that invited "knitters taking up the hook" to try one of her twenty five crochet designs.

So there is hope! I intend on remaining a crochet purist, and I can do so by helping fill the market with fun and quirky crochet pattern books, just like they have in the knit world. So, get ready for Naughty Hooks, the crocheted version of Nikol Lohr's Naughty Needles!

I Heart Math?

I am in the throes of recreating my very first crochet pattern and I have discovered that I love math. I have not always loved math. In fact, I have what people would call a math phobia. I hate to blame my junior high school math teachers (all male) but this is where I feel it started. Regardless, I can not let this fear of facts, fractions and factors stop me from my new career. I have to design pattern to go with my great stories about crochet so I have to get over it!

I say "recreating" because I want to make a pattern that I have been looking for for decades. Back in the 80's I made numerous dolls from a pattern I found in a book; I can not recall the title, which makes it impossible to find. My doll looked like a ballerina, perched atop her toes in a lovely little tulle skirt.

She resembled a rudimentary paper doll and was as simple in her design. I have scoured the internet, message boards, and websites to find her, but always come up short. I decided that if I could recreate this pattern from memory I should have no problem writing down any other pattern design I have in my head. As of this morning, I am pleased to report that my little ballerina is three-quarters done! I dutifully wrote down every stitch and I saw the math dance in front of my eyes. I find this especially true working with even numbers.

I am recreating a human form and I want her to be symmetrical. I scaled her to 32-26-30, my previous (hourglass) proportions! The top (32) is larger than the waist (26), and the waist is smaller than the hip (30). To replicate similar proportions in my doll, I did a row of 6 single crochets for the bust, a row of 4 single crochets for the waist, and a row of ___ for the hips. Mathematically, can you fill in the blank? If you could figure that out then you understand (and probably HEART) math like I do now.

Danica McKellar a.k.a "Winnie Cooper", you were right!

One Crochet Book...MINE!

In my attempt to get my stories about crochet published, I have received several pieces of feedback. One publisher told me that I should wait a year and work on developing my personal brand and writing style; I started the blog to develop my personal brand, and my writing style will continue to improve as I work my blog.
She agreed that I have interesting stories to tell and told me to come back in a year. A YEAR!

She said that I should try to be more like Kristin Ohmdahl, Vashti Braha and/or Twinkie Chan who focus upon blogs and vlogs. I appreciate her suggestion, but also see the value in the work that I want to present. Why can't I just do what I want to do and not mimic what those talented ladies have done?

I think there is value in stories about crochet.

The best advice that this publisher gave was to submit some works to magazines; she suggested submitting some to a new knit magazine, which seems so contrary to my purpose that I just shook my head. I considered it for a minute, but thought that would be contrary to what my personal brand will stand for, so I respectfully decline, thank you. Parenthetically, I'd like to mention that I submitted a story to a crochet magazines, and hope to see it in print soon.

Another publisher said that the industry is now more interested in pattern books and I agree. In an effort to make my book a little more marketable, I have agreed to add some patterns to accompany the stories. For instance, to my story about my yarn stash, I am creating a harmless little kitty amigurumi pattern who won't get into your yarn!

This may take a while because I've only created ONE pattern in my entire life! It will be an adventure!
Instead of changing my blog into something that I am not comfortable with just to get published (See July 24th post) I have decided to chronicle my battle to get my book of crochet stories published. Additionally I will talk about trying to create patterns to go along with my stories. It will be FUN and I'm always up for FUN; come along with me!

101 Crochet Books

Since I will likely NOT finish The Grouchy Ladybug, I have decided to send myself to a veritable boot camp.
It is not punishment but more of a test of my endurance and patience.
I have at least 101 crochet book (Yes, I am copying off of 101 Cookbooks from the Healthy Recipe Journal!)
I promise to attempt to try and complete one project in each of my many crochet books, patterns and leaflets. Maybe knowing that I have accountability, if not the puss eyes of Baby #4

then to the 80 whole people who have visited this site within three day (AND HAVE NOT LEFT ANY COMMENTS!)
Tonight I will dig through my books and see what pattern I can use to begin my crochet challenge. If you happen to have completed the same pattern, please leave an email, or send me a picture.

Socorro Ana-Paula!

Look at this face... Look at those eyes!

Wouldn’t you do just anything for him!
When Baby #4 looked up at me with those eyes just like those and said, “Ladybug?” I determined to recreate said ladybug just for him. He’s 33 months and really into his board books. He is particularly fond of Eric Carle’s The Grouchy Ladybug. Being a toddler with a notoriously short attention span, I had to abbreviate the tale for him.

“Hello!”
“Go away!”
“The ladybug met a yellow jacket.”
“Wanna’ fight?”
He got stuck on, “Wanna fight?”
He liked all of the animals that the ladybug met, but he loved the “wanna fight?” line.
“But Baby #4!" I reasoned
“You have to understand that the grouchy ladybug has a change in attitude.”
I continued “She met all of those bigger and tougher animal, couldn’t beat them and now she is the NICE ladybug…”
“Wanna fight?”
No matter, I was still going to make him that adorable NICE ladybug. I embarked upon a ladybug pattern in the April 2012 that Crochet World deems EASY…We will see because I have an inexplicable fear of amigurumi crochet. I don’t mind buying those books. I have too many of them to name. Ana-Paula Rimoli’s blog on blogspot is one of my favorite and I have all of her books(and I'm buying her new despite the $1,500 price tag!)BUT I had to stop buying ami books because I just wasn’t making them. I wasn’t making them because I was afraid of them.
I will start on an amigurumi, crafting the head, easy orb, done that before. When it comes time to branch out and make that body…I can’t do it. Is it he designers? Is it my mind? Is it the amigurumi? I don’t know.
Since the ladybug isn’t a traditional amigurumi (small crocheted thing, no torso to scare me) I decided to push past my fear and pick up my hook. I made the body easily, but tired because I like quick and easy projects. I made the head, stepped away from the project after all of that work and found that Baby #4 had pulled out 3 of my rows! I would not be deterred, although I did stop to take a break and to write this blog.
You see, this is where I usually get stuck. This is what turns a half-completed ladybug unto a UFO (UnFinished Object!) I’ll stash it in my workbasket, then reason that he didn’t really want that ladybug after all, I could pass off a store brought one for him, even though I promised him and myself NO MORE UFO’S, and he is looking at me, and then at the creature that is his ami… Look at those eyes...
Sóccoro Ana-Paula!

I Do Not Make Doilies

My title is a misnomer, I do not make doilies. In fact I do not even like to work with the tiny steel crochet hooks that are required to make those dainty fancies. I suppose it is for the same reason that I will never, not ever make another granny square. When I learned to crochet, my first pattern was the infamous granny square.

I made granny square slippers, hats, afghans, pillow covers, bags, and scarves, but not a skirt. I have seen many a granny skirt pattern, but never felt inclined to make or wear one, Cate Blanchett notwithstanding.

I suppose there are some parts of crochet that deserve to remain in the past, doilies and granny squares amongst them. I love the new crochet. I love all of the colorful books on the subject that abound now. I love all of the cool magazines (6) that crocheters have to choose from. When I was young and funky fresh in the 80’s

it seemed that the only books my library had on crochet were from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. They were never in color and every page had either a granny square vest or dainty table doily on it. No wonder the magazine McCall’s Crochet and Magic Crochet

went out of business. I have had enough. Although I am not hostile towards knit I have also had enough of crochet taking a back seat to knitting. I am a little jealous that knit and not crochet is mentioned in the Bible, I am jealous that when I am sitting and crocheting in public, people ask, “What’s that that you are knitting?” I am jealous that if you search for a crochet clip art in Microsoft Word you get four choices. If you enter the word “knit” you get an overwhelming choice. Go ahead, give it a try and see. I was thrilled when I found out there was an entire museum devoted to the art of crochet…till I learned it was no larger than the Fotomat booths of the past. If you are crocheter, you already know these disparities; if you are a knitter, please feel my pain! So, it is with this post that I make a stand for crochet! I love that crochet has made a resurgence with the likes of Allison Hoffman who makes cool celebrity amigurumi. I am/was afraid of those cute little things so my I applaud you Allison for having Hollywood clamor for your cute stuffed things.

And I love Shauna Robertson whose hands are no doubt cramped after crocheting those GIANT lion sculptures for Olympics this year.

She coined a new term called, “crochetdermist.” COOL! And I love Gordana Gelhausen. When I heard there was a crocheter in the Project Runway I was thrilled…till I saw that her work was actually knitwear! She made up for it on her website where you will find some lovely crocheted jewelry. Way to go ladies, you are championing the cause of so many crocheters out there who want to see our stuff in the media. Keep it contemporary and keep it crochet! ++

What a Difference a Weight(and Gauge) Makes

Dinah Washington, I should have listened to you!

Crocheters eschew gauge to their disadvantage. I remember when learning to crochet many years ago I asked my mom about gauge. She said, "Nobody pays attention to gauge!" That lesson was imbedded in me young and I passed it on to my daughter who is learning to crochet as well. "What's gauge?" she asked me as I had asked my mother, "Nobody pays attention that!" I told her, parroting the saying of my mother. So as I tried to complete an adorable little ladybug pattern from the April 2012 Crochet World magazine I am faced with a quandary. And all of those years of ignoring gauge has turned around and bit me in the back!

I completed the top in red and with a yarn that I purchased from a thrift store. I could tell that the weight was thinner than my favorite Red Heart, but that cute little ladybug needed making! I had some black yarn(Red Heart) and was able to complete the bottom. I was so happy because I have a slight fear of amigurumis( I will blog on that issue later!) When it was time to put it all together...well the pictures will tell the story, they did not match!

I did not take the time to CHECK THE GAUGE as most every pattern I've ever seen screams! Back to the yarn store I went sans 40% off coupon, to purchase more yarn. I am a YARNAHOLIC

so I don't mind buying yarn, but I do mind delaying gratification...that little ladybug is wondering what's the hold up! Because I ignored the difference in the weight of the yarn AND I ignored the gauge (THANKS,MOM) I was forced to complete another red top for my ladybug.

Both red top and black bottom are done and all that's needed is to join them with a single crochet. They will match because they are the same size because I made sure to follow simulate the weight and CHECK THE GAUGE. Pretty soon my lovely little ladybug will come to life. Stay tuned for the lovely picture!

Dani Does Doilies!

The Happy Hooker, Chicks with Sticks, Dani Does Doilies Do you see a pattern here? Is it any wonder that I chose a “naughty” title for my book of crochet stories?

My crochet stories are far from dirty though. They are varied and will fill a void in an industry dominated by all things KNIT. I have found very few copies of stories straight from crocheters. Stories about the lives of knitters abound, but stories about crocheters are few and far between.
Crocheters have stories to tell that are different but similar to knitter stories. Knitters and crocheters have gauge and yarn and patterns in common, but only crocheters have hooks and only crocheter have beautiful lace work and only crocheters have Allison Hoffman!

Alright, so if you knit you can make a cable knit sweater;

I so want a cable knit sweater. You can make(comfortable) socks and you will use much less than yarn than if you crochet; crochet is known as a “yarn gobbler” but knit has only two stitches, the knit and the purl. Crochet has so many different stitches and techniques there are entire books devoted solely to that.
Sure crocheters and knitters can both Zen out together because all fiber artists gather relaxation from the melody of the movement, and we can really groove to the fact that we are actually creating a hat, or scarf, mitten, toy or sweater or skirt even. You can’t make lace with knitting needles!

It’s okay that Michaels.com says that knit is the “favorite for sweater making”! You can make a sweater with crochet, although it’ll be a little…boxy.
To be fair, Michaels.com also admitted that crochet is a versatile and popular. So there, knit!

So, come on…be naughty with me, be a rebel with be, go against the grain with me…Crochet With Me!