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!
Friday, October 12, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
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!
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.
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!
Thursday, September 6, 2012
"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!
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!
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
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...
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...
Monday, August 20, 2012
"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.
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.
Monday, August 13, 2012
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!
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!
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
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!
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!
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