Best Of

@carolehalston I used to sew my own clothes when I was younger. I walked into my first home ec class wearing a dress I had made and was disappointed when the teacher said everyone was going to start making an apron. I even did some alterations work as a young bride. I used to do a lot of needlepoint and knitting when I was younger, then raising kids and working happened. I started crocheting when I was dxd and retired and it is what I enjoy most now. I started with Agurumi dolls for my grandkids (lots of information in Disney kits of how-to) and I do a lot of different things now. I have tons of pictures I won't bore you with, but I can include a couple. I have made all the Disney princesses. The first one was my own creation as my DGD wanted a Moana who was not included in the pattern book… The second one is her basket of dolls I made over the years.

What a delightful conversation about knitting and crocheting! I began crocheting when I was a young teen or pre-teen and made doilies that we used. One I particularly enjoyed making had pansies around the outside. Chris, I love your cloth hanging, displaying old doilies. What a clever idea and such artistic arrangement.

I use crocheted dish cloths that I make. I also do/did hand embroidery and sew. I made my younger sister's wedding dress many years ago. I made all my simple window curtains and placemats that we use daily. I have tried selling my wares at the farmers market in MN but wasn't successful. I don't think I priced them cheap enough. I also opened a store on Etsy and enjoyed the whole process, but the store wasn't successful. Illinois Lady bought some of my dish cloths.

I'm about to start crocheting again making items to donate, possibly lap afghans.

I taught myself simple knitting but crocheting is more "natural" for me.

I would love to see more pictures.

It took me seventeen years to get three thousand hits in baseball. I did it in one afternoon on the golf course.

Hank Aaron

If you count seven in the bottom row, number two is tatted, number four is knitted. The top center configuration, suggesting Mary at prayer and stained-glass windows are bobbin, as are the two on the left with butterflies. All the rest are crocheted, including the astounding one in the upper right corner.

I have many crocheted pieces including linen hankies that an older neighbor of my parents made for me as a child. She gave me one every birthday and I treasured them. The edges are crocheted with different patterns, different colors, and they all look like spider webs they are so fine. I have a box of them and one she made for my wedding. I had a small set of dolls dressed like a wedding party and all except the groom had crocheted dresses. Does anyone remember those small dolls?

I have crocheted pieces in varying sizes to protect my good furniture from rough edges and have framed ones my mother made. My BFF's mother used to make me ones for holiday occasions, so red, white and blue thread for 4th of July, etc.

I have a whole small bin of antique ones I purchased at the Pennsylvania Dutch fairs. I love them, don't care if they are no longer in vogue or make my house look like my grandmother's (she actually had none). I have purchased them in Hungary from the local street vendors and display them on my dining room table.

Chris, I love your display and I have a framed piece of Irish tatting lace.

I admire anyone who can crochet or knit. My DH's GM made us a lap blanket once. When she finished it, she decided she did not like the pattern and ripped the entire thing out and started over! She used to crochet watching TV and never looked at her hands unless she was at the end of a row or running out of yarn.

We made a quick run to Costco in this brief pause between nasty weather. We needed some regular stock supplies, but I also wanted to replenish some of the things I have used lately from the freezer. DS decided to join us and told us he was able to get some of his stolen account back, but had just received a notice that someone from Kuala Lumpur had tried to breach his DSS's account. Of course, in spite of being told to change his PW, he hadn't as of yet so DS was annoyed with him. Costco was busy, but not as bad as it was the last time we were there. We lucked out when they opened a new line, as we were waiting in line. We got to be first in that line.

I found a great deal on a new HP laptop and this one has had wonky letter and number keys for the past few months. When the "J" or "K" on your computer work intermittently, you know it is time to let this one go. It is old enough it can't be updated to Windows 11. My family laughs because my non-standard typing style (hunt and peck and hard hitting with nails instead of finger pads) means you can no longer read the " e, r, t, y, u, i, o, a, e, h and n" keys because I have worn the letters off. DH will look into doing the transfer of data over for me and if necessary, I will ask DS to do it. I think I was using this when I was still working, so it has well served me.

It was cold today, with a nice warm sun until the breeze hit you. It got into the 30's but still felt like it was in the 20's due to the wind.

Hope everyone had a great day and waving "hi" to everyone.

@teka

What a treasure those doilies are. Do you use them or display them in some way? My grandmother and great grandmother both made those.

@intolight

I've been following your treatment on another thread. Seems like you're handling it well. Fingers crossed for a good outcome. Don't you find that crocheting is calming? I think it would be awesome if cancer treatment centers offered lessons to patients. I'd be willing to help.

@mcbaker

Hope the thumb surgery goes well. I have arthritis in both thumbs (and many other bones!) for which I take celebrex. It works well. Oddly, even though I am right handed, my left thumb is more painful. Not surprised the Aran weight yarn was more difficult for your hands. I've attended two classes on ergonomics for knitters. In one of those classes the speaker talked about how using finer yarn like fingering or sport was much easier on aging hands.