crochet.for.knitters

I have been knitting for over 10 years. Each time I finish a rather substantial piece (read: any of the 5 baby blankets I made last year. Dear friends of mine: please take a break…) I tell myself “This is the project where you are actually going to learn to crochet and add a border. Do it, Annie. Do it.” And of course I never do. Until yesterday. There was some sort of popping in my wee brain and I started YouTubing instructional videos on how to crochet.

Now, I must admit. There is a story behind my hesitation to become a crafty hooker. When I was in elementary school, the elderly woman down the street was hired to teach me to crochet. My mother made some sort of arrangement for me to have weekly lessons starting on a particular Tuesday. The Sunday before lessons were to begin, we came home to find our little street closed down and full of fire trucks. There had been a fire. Our neighbors house was a total loss – burned to the foundation. Tragically, Florence and her dog Cuddles, didn’t make it out….For some crazy reason over the years, my brain worked up a totally superstitious load of hooey suggesting that if I did crochet, my house would also burn down (Hey, I was a kid.) Well, 4 years ago my husband and I did have a house fire. So, I guess crocheting had nothing to do with the likelihood of that happening.

I’m not sure why I decided that this particular project was going to be the one, but I think the ease of this particular video is the culprit as to make me actually stick to it and do it. This ‘crochet for knitters’ video was great step by step instruction. I suggest you:

• Pull up a chair and dive right in.
• Make sure you have decided to do this while you are at work, and be sure lots of customers come in to shop.
• Now, turn off the sound so as not to admit you are watching videos and being unprofessional.

That makes it a lot easier, right?

Now, I know it’s not perfect. And I’m pretty sure I bastardized the actual pattern a bit, but as I see it – it’s jacked up all the same around the piece, so it works.

I’m super proud. And very sore. This whole single needle witchcraft thing is a whole new set of muscles. And I felt like I couldn’t stop!! With knitting, you can cap your needles or leave your project to sit at the end. Crochet? Nope. Needle will fall out and your project will be ruined, ending in tears and frustration. And probably the prompt flamage of the entire project (there’s a fire theme with my work – you getting that?). I was a crazed, maniacal crocheter. Must. Finish. Border. Can’t. Sleep. Yarn. Nerd.

Now that the mystery and stigma has been removed, I’m stoked to start adding borders to anything that sits still long enough. Look out family dog. I’m coming for you.