Posted by Administrator on 4/21/2019 to
The All Time Best Way to Spend Your Time. . .
According to the Craft Yarn Council of America there are over 50 million
people of all ages who crochet or otherwise work with yarn. And it’s no
wonder. It’s not just the destination of getting an afghan, scarf or
sweater made; the journey is full of benefits. Crocheting is a great
anxiety buster, offers something productive to do and can be a social outlet
when done with a group. Want to Join in?
Who's Doing It?
Everyone!
Young, old and in between! Let’s just say that the image of gray hair and
rocking chairs has been replaced by tattoos and pink hair. Okay, maybe
not everyone has pink hair, but today's crocheter is young (no matter how old,
we’re young at heart!), hip and through various electronic devises virtually
connected to other fiber enthusiasts. And it’s definitely not just for
the ladies. In fact some of today’s top designers are men!
What's Next?
I
think that we’re at something of a crochet crossroads. Historically we’ve
seen that what we make and how much time we spend making it has been influenced
by what’s going on in the world. Given our current climate, history would
dictate that we’re making utilitarian projects and not spending a lot of time
enjoying the leisure arts. But that’s not what we’re doing. Sure,
we’re making (pretty, colorful) things you can use, but we’ve discovered that
crochet is a great way to relax and unwind. Our lives our hectic and
busy, we’ve got lots to do, and our resources are limited. We’ve learned
that we have to take care of ourselves and that we need economical outlets that
help us to decompress when dealing with tough situations. Crochet fits
the bill perfectly. For a minimal investment you can purchase several
balls of yarn and a set of hooks that will keep you stitching for months!
It’s portable, easy to learn, and convenient. There’s also the added
bonus of the on-line crochet community. Not only can you find groups
dedicated to crochet on social networks like Face book, Pinterest, and Google,
we have our very own network in Ravelry! It’s like the modern version of
the quilting bee where like-minded fiber enthusiast get together to share
friendship, tips and encouragement!
Getting Started
It’s
great if you have a friend or family member to teach you, but if not, there are
a lot of other options. Check out your local yarn store. Some
of the craft stores like Michael’s or Jo-Ann’s offer group lessons. Try
your local community college. Believe it or not even our local colleges
are now offering yarn craft classes as part of their extension programs. Your
local library is another spot to check out. Many have groups that
welcome sharing their skills and experience with new members.
If you’re more of a do it yourselfer, it is also very possible to learn on your own. There are numerous books on the market with step by step instructions for many stitches, and with our technology today we have access to millions of great tutorials via the internet.
If you’re more of a do it yourselfer, it is also very possible to learn on your own. There are numerous books on the market with step by step instructions for many stitches, and with our technology today we have access to millions of great tutorials via the internet.
The Beauty of Handmade
Every
crochet item has its own story. The experience of picking the yarn,
making the project and what was going on in your life are all woven into the
stitches. Remember that what makes handmade items special is they look
like real hands made them. That means there might be a wiggly stitch here
and there, but just look at it as part of the tale.
Are you inspired?
Are you ready to grab your hook and
get started creating something exciting? If you’re worried that it’s too
hard or too small, don’t be. The stitches and techniques are the same
whether you make them with yarn or thread. Yes it does take some time to
get your tension right and to feel comfortable with the hook. But, with a
few helpful hints and a little practice you’ll be amazed at what you can do!
I
hope that you’ve enjoyed this look at the evolution of crochet. We are
the new generation and it’s up to us to carry on the traditions while
continuing to expand our craft. We have the opportunity to make our mark
on history by ensuring that the designs we create today are available to the
crocheters of tomorrow.
What kind of fun crochet projects will you make this spring to share
with us? If you haven’t decided what to
work on yet – don’t be afraid to try one of our pictorial afghan patterns. Once
you make one you’ll be hooked like the rest of us.
We
would love to hear from you. Comment and let us know if you have any questions
or just drop us a line to say hello. Your opinion means the world to us and we
will use your feedback to create some new amazing projects that we can share
with you.
Thanks
for dropping by today