Why Crochet?

I started teaching myself how to crochet in July 2011, because I was painfully bored after having my gallbladder removed. The surgery forced me to be out of work for about a week and it was during this time I got sick of sitting in front of my TV doing nothing. The year before I had lost my last grandmother and my last grandfather was in poor health. I was thinking of things we had starting cleaning out of my grandmothers house and the things that were the most disputed amongst family members were the old quilts, afghans, etc that had been made by someone at some point in time in the family.

This nostalgia, the pain killers, and sheer boredom drove me to a decision that has changed my life for the better - I wanted a hobby that would generate something my future children and my children's children could have and remember me by. Anybody can take pictures. Pictures can be erased. Anybody can beat video games and watch TV - but that doesn't generate anything lasting that can be used.

So, I drove myself to Wal-Mart and bought some yarn and a teach yourself to crochet book and got started. (I chose crochet because I didn't trust myself to be coordinated enough to knit. The two needles were intimidating. lol!)

At the time, a dear old friend of mine was due to have a baby within the next month. So I started working on a baby blanket for her. As I worked on this at home, work, or even waiting in the doctors office, I got compliments and comments of "I wish I could learn how to do that." These compliments and comments made me more determined to finish the blanket and continue to crochet even after I completed my first project. I took many "in progress" pictures, because I loved the way it was turning out and I desperately wanted feedback.

Molly, my precious dachshund loved it. She would lay in my lap just so she could get under it. I blame the soft yarn.

Finally, I finished the baby blanket.

My friend, Kat, seemed to love it, which made me extremely happy.

With my first project complete, I knew this was a hobby I would always want to keep. It's fun, it helps my carpel tunnel, and above all, I get a sense of fulfillment from this craft. And that's the best feeling in the world.