Sharing Stories About Knitting and Crocheting

We've been enjoying reading stories from some of you who donate your knitting and crocheting for Ohio's Homeless and others in need.  If you've missed any, here's a chance to catch up on the fun, cute, and sweet stories about how folks learned their craft.

My story about Knitting and Crocheting is Here.

Sandie P's crochet story is HERE

Marjorie M's story is HERE

Sherry K's story is HERE

Tristi's story is HERE

Sue F's story is HERE

Sorry this picture is so blurry folks, but I took it from my yard as the sunset was waning using the zoom as far as it would go on my camera.  I thought the cross against the soon to be night sky was cool.  This is far enough from my house you couldn't through a ball that far, it's farther then a football field and is a block away and a street over to give you a feel.  It's not a scene we see often either, as the trees really fill in it's blocked out.

Where's your story?  I know you all have one.  Who taught you to knit or crochet?  How old were you?  Why did you learn?  We want details.  Send them my way via email sandycrochet at gmail.com and I'll share it so we can all enjoy it.

**There's still time left in June to focus on slippers, but for those who like to look ahead.  Mittens will be our focus for July.  I've added a few months to our working calendar, please check it out.  Some of you may remember we lost our whole page of mitten information and patterns.  Please send me links and or patterns (that don't break copyright issues) so we can rebuild our mitten page.**


2013 Donations:

Hats:  374
Scarves: 289
Socks: 200
Afghans: 30
Slippers: 141
Rain Ponchos: 203
Mittens: 77
Cotton Wash Clothes: 419
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's, Skirts etc. : 12
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, hand-warmers, cowls/gators and all meal prep related items, Dolls & associated items, stuffed/crocheted/knitted toys... etc aren't tabulated.


All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Left Handed Knitted and Crocheting

Thought you all might enjoy some pretty flowers.  These are Tiger Lilly's in my side yard.  A few years ago Daddy brought me starts from his yard, as he was in need of thinning out.  Aren't they gorgeous!  This is last years picture, yesterday the first one opened for this season.  I love the color, and how much they've spread........so much so my SIL will be getting starts from me.  I also love that we're able to share things from his yard.

I've got another sweet story for you all about how, when, why etc people have learned to knit and or crochet.  I sure am enjoying reading and posting them for you, please keep them coming.  This story comes from Sue F.  Thanks so much Sue for sharing.

I learned to knit and crochet when I was about eight years old. Because I am left handed, my mother had trouble showing me how to knit. I think she must have showed me some of the basics, but then I used a book to learn the rest. What I remember about learning to knit is that I would knit all the stitches from my left needle to my right and then back again from right to left without moving the needle to my left hand. This created a natural stockinette stitch so I was confused when the book showed a sample of garter stitch which is what you are supposed to get when you knit every row. I continued knitting like this for a few days, probably just making a square or something, until my mom noticed my switch-hitting knitting and showed me the correct way. 

My father is actually the one who taught me to crochet because he is left handed. I don't think he taught me any fancy stitches, but he did show me how to hold the hook and make chain stitches and that was enough to get me started. 

Over the many years since I was eight years old I have gone from making misshapen afghans to all sorts of items. On a crazy day, sitting and knitting or crocheting for a few minutes helps to settle my thoughts and calm me down. 

Now that my family and friends have all the knitted items they could ever need, I am thankful to be able to send my items to you, knowing they will be put to good use. 

**Just a couple weeks left to get your slippers made folks, we never get enough slippers so hope you're all busy knitting and crocheting away.  Plus...they're a good item to work on when it's warm.  Slippers needed for Men, Women, and Children.  Please see slipper tab above for details**

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

A Crocheters Story

 Saw this cute comic the other day on Facebook and thought I'd share it with you all.  While this may be about knitting the same holds true us crocheters too.  I'd be a rich person if I was paid for every-time I said, just one more...how bout you all?

A while back I asked you all to email me your stories about how you learned, where you learned etc. to knit or crochet.  Here's another enjoyable story to read.  This is our friend Tristi's story.  Thank you Tristi for sharing.  Still happy to receive other stories to post. 

 

I learned to crochet when I was a child.  My mom taught me basics, how to chain and maybe single crochet, not that I knew the terms,  I never did much with it then.  When I was in college my roommate learned to crochet so I picked up the hook again, re-learned and started an afghan that never got finished.  

Fast forward a few years and I picked up my hook again, this time to make a baby blanket for my baby, I was maybe 3 months along.  I still have that blanket and I have to be honest I have no idea what stitch I used, it definitely wasn't a "basic" stitch" but it worked so...  once again I laid down my hook.  

Another few years passed and we were in our house and my aging neighbor knew that I, as well as my family, liked to craft (at the time it was plastic canvas).  She offered me 2 or 3 huge black garbage bags of yarn and a few boxes of magazines and books, as she couldn't crochet anymore.  I looked thru the bags picking the yarn I wanted to keep and what I would pass on to my mom and sisters.  I found a swatch of a beautiful stitch and I was determined to figure out what it was so I could make a blanket.

Looking thru the magazines I found a little booklet that taught the basics and a few "fancy" stitches.  I dubbed this my crochet bible.  For the first time I learned what I was doing, what single crochet and double crochets were.  I also learned how to read a pattern.  

That swatch that inspired me was a closed shell stitch and I made a baby blanket with it.  It wasn't the prettiest of pieces as I didn't know how important counting stitches was, it grew in some places and shrunk in others, but it was a jump off point.

I turned into a crochet friend.  I made afghans, toys, bags, dish cloths, anything to practice different stitches and reading patterns.  I finally was brave enough to try making clothes.  I made myself a few tops, some of it was as a pattern tester.  I took a class and made my eldest a hoodie.

I almost always have a project on my hook these days, usually 2 or 3.  It is my sanity.  I have made lots of things over the years, alot of them given as gifts and alot to various charities.   After the birth of my 2nd, I didn't get to crochet as much, a little bit here and there and then she got mobile and loved to play with my yarn.  She's 2 and a half now and she has phases where she's fascinated by my crochet and times when she takes my hook.  It's been challenging but I still find time to do a bit.

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Crocheting with 12 Children

Still enjoying sharing our stories about how and when we learned to knit or crochet.  Please email your story, it's fun to see how we all started these crafts that have become such big part of our lives.  These skills/gifts given to us that share with the  with those less fortunate.  I believe our hearts and hands are guided down this path.  Please keep up the good work, One and All.

Love to post your story, please email at sandycrochet at gmail.com

Here's our good friend Sherry K's story, enjoy!

When I was about 7 or 8 my mother had a friend who had 12 children yet she had time to crochet baby afghans.  She was quick and it fascinated me.  I didn't actually pick up a needle until I was 19. I had lots of time on my hands because my first husband was a Marine and gone all the time.  I purchased a basic book to learn the basic stitches.  I didn't start small though. I went right to an afghan. I made afghans for everyone except myself of course.  Over the years I have made baby clothes, hats, scarves, and more but my real love is to make afghans. I recently made a knitted hat for my son and I have made a few knitted wash cloths but I still prefer crochet over knitting.

My story is quite simple but that is the way I roll.

 *I love how so many of us have a common thread, whether it's knitting or crocheting, so many of us used the craft to fill a void, and it truly does*

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

The Things we do for Love

Another awesome scarf crocheted and donated by our friend Sandie P from Louisisana.  Awesome shades of blue, what type of yarn did you use?  I've not seen this mix before but really like it.  This would be well suited for male or female, adult or teen...Nice!



**June is slipper month, be sure to check out the slipper tab above, before you begin knitting and crocheting**

**Email me details of when, how etc you learned to knit or crochet, please don't leave the details in the comments below**

Few days ago, Sandie shared her story of how, when she learned to crochet.  It's a cute story, hope you enjoy it.

I learned to crochet in 1980, in Mississippi, from my cousin's wife Katy and her friend Diane. I used a J hook. From that trip I took away the basics. When I got home, I got yarn and hook of my own, along with a leaflet for how-to. No Internet then. I made afghans for everyone in my family. I only made afghans (large, bed size ghans) for many years.

I started a ripple afghan for my boyfriend (now my husband) just a year or so after I learned. He asked if it could be wider so I made another strip, attached it to the first few inches I'd already done, and continued the pattern forward. The things we do for love. LOL


2013 Donations:

Hats:  374
Scarves: 288+1=289
Socks: 200
Afghans: 25
Slippers: 132
Rain Ponchos: 202
Mittens: 77
Cotton Wash Clothes: 369
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's: 10
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, handwarmers, cowls/gators and all meal prep related items, etc aren't tabulated

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

When, and Where did You Learn to Knit or Crochet?

*Oophs, just realized this scheduled post didn't post.  So, popped in to do a little edit.

Last year we shared some of what makes each of do what we do, knit or crochet and donate.  People had very sweet and inspiring stories.  I thought for the next couple of weeks it would be fun to share how and why/where we began to knit and or crochet.

Mo Mother taught me to knit, I think I was about 7 years old and I knitted one little scarf.  The type that's about 4 inches wide goes across the top of your head, covers your ears and ties beneath your chin.  It was everyother row knit, purl...very basis.  I think she then crochet to taper the ends and crocheted the tie.  It was variegated, looked like the variegated you now see that's called Mexicana.  I think it took me forever to finish it and I never knitted again again about 12 years ago when the knitting with big needles and using novelty yarn to make scarves as The Thing.

I learned to crochet from my neighbors Grandmother when I was about the same age.  She taught me to chain, do single and double crochet and I made a mint green Dollie from rug yarn that she gave me.   I never crocheted again until after getting married, back in 1972.  Hubby was working full time in the evenings, and going to school during the days when I worked, so I had lots of time on my hands and decided I needed a hobby.  I got a book, learn to crochet in a day or something like that.  Following the directions some, mostly the pictures and kept at it until I remembered and have never stopped crocheting since then.  Except for a period of a couple of years when I was wearing writs braces for my carpal tunnel

How bout you?  What's your story?  Email at sandycrochet at gmail and I'll be happy to share it.  Do you remember what your first projects were?

The ghan above is one I've been working on off and on for a good long while.  It's knitted, feather and fan pattern.  I've named this one Sea and Sand.  I'm on the 2nd to last section, then need to weave in end...decide if I want an edge, launder and block.


2013 Donations:

Hats:  368
Scarves: 288
Socks: 182
Afghans: 24
Slippers: 132
Rain Ponchos: 202
Mittens: 77
Cotton Wash Clothes: 349
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's: 10
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, handwarmers, cowls/gators and all meal prep related items, etc aren't tabulated


All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.