I seem to
have taken a completely unintentional 9 month hiatus from my world of Cabled
Hearts! It seems unreal to me, because my last post is still relatively fresh
in my mind. As cliché as it sounds, real-life really did get in the way of my
blogging…
But it did
not get in the way of my crafting! Thankfully. Before I get started, I am going
to put up a little disclaimer: I have been exclusively crocheting for the last
nine months. One lone sock remains half-knitted
in my yarn bowl. As good as my intentions may be, my desire to crochet, as well
as a myriad of other distractions cause this poor half-sock to languish. One
day it will be finished, but I can’t promise that it will be any time before
everyone rides around on hoverboards, all while wearing their own pairs of
Google Glass.
I never
thought it could happen to me! With the help of some inspirational patterns and
fibers, I have gone down the rabbit hole of crochet. The two worlds aren't as
separate as they at first seemed. The battle line separating knitters from
crochet-ers is nothing but a false construct. I could go on and on about this
rivalry, and how it must stop, but I think that is best saved for another blog
post.
What it all
comes down to is a matter of need. Ask yourself: Do I need something to wear to
get through the coldest day of winter? Am I seeking something intricately
cabled and colored? Painstakingly detailed? Or how about sturdy hosiery? Your best bet is to go
with knitting.
 |
| Sturdy Hosiery! |
If what you
need or desire is something decorative, fun or exceedingly large, like a
blanket, crochet is the most likely means to your end. For whatever reason the
crochet process just goes faster,
with the average project taking a few hours to a couple of days to complete. Unless of
course you are undertaking a blanket or an afghan….more on that later.
So, what
exactly have I been crocheting all this time? Today I will share the one
creation of which I am the most proud. This being:
An amigurumi
zebra! A zebra seems pretty random. How did I come to the decision to create my
own zebra, you may ask? The answer is quite simple. I was challenged. Aggressively
so. After completing and giving away an amigurumi elephant for a dear friend’s
birthday, the challenge was presented to me. A certain female individual, who
shall remain nameless, said rather thoughtlessly, something to the effect of
that she thought the elephant was nice, but that I probably couldn't make a
zebra. You know, all those stripes and finer details…
I
practically felt the sting of the glove slapping my face. Challenge accepted.
It was ON!
The timing could not have been better, either. It was 4th
of July weekend, and I had an extra day off to prove that I could, in fact,
produce a zebra. A darn good one.
Long story
short, I found a unique, inspiring pattern. With a few balls of black and white
Red Heart from my stash, some buttons, some deep breaths and a little belief in
myself, I had my very own zebra 48 hours later! I never officially named him,
but that was ok. He doesn't need a name, because I will always think of him as
my Glove-Slap Challenge Zebra.
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| It can even do the crossword! |
Okay, let’s
go back to the topic of blankets and afghans. During my life as a crafter I
have made one granny square blanket (see first zebra photo) of which I am incredibly
proud. It took me almost a year to make and sew together the 100 separate,
colorful squares. Making it was a blast, and I sleep under it every night. Once
I climb under it at night, it no longer matters if I have had the best day or
the worst day of my life. It is my very own personal reset blanket!
What also
makes this blanket special is that it is the exception to my rule. This rule
being that I really, really don’t like crocheting blankets! Ripple and wave
patterns that are all made in one piece inspire frustration bordering into rage
inside of me. Maybe it’s the repetition? Or it could be the seemingly eternal
process of working back and forth across one long row after one long row? The
wrist strain? I’m not going to spend a whole lot of time over thinking it,
because it doesn’t matter. I am so enamored with my animals, granny squares and
funky decorations that perhaps these blankets are best left to someone else.
I don’t mind
a long slow process, as long as it comes to me in the form of knitting. I guess
that is what these last nine months in the world of crochet have taught me: That the creative process can be fast and fun sometimes, and it is ok. When life gets long, slow and heavy, relief awaits me in the form of an aluminum
hook and some light, cotton yarn.
**Next Post Coming In Less Than 9 Months**
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