Little House Wannabe: Venture into Crochet

I have known how to crochet for years, but I was lousy at it. My rows were crooked, I didn't recognize my stitches, and patterns confused me. Every once in awhile, I would get interested in trying to improve my crocheting skills, but I would get frustrated quickly and put all of my yarn and hooks away. My mom gave me a pattern for a baby layette, probably 13 years ago, and it was the first pattern I ever successfully completed. It wasn't a roaring success, but I did finish the pattern, and it was recognizable as a dress, bonnet, and booties. My confidence was boosted, but I was so busy taking care of my babies (and having more babies) that I did not continue to crochet.

In the Fall of 2012, I went to a fundraiser at a friend's house. I noticed a bundle of cute crochet items on the table for the silent auction and no one had bid on them. I talked to the sweet lady who had crocheted (and knit) the darling little purses, slippers, headband, and scarf to donate to the fundraiser and then I made sure that I bid on those items. There was something about going home with my auction-win that inspired me to get out my yarn and crochet hooks.

I found a simple scarf pattern online and made this:

After receiving a few compliments, I made more scarves. And a few hats. And then I decided to make a toy.

The penguin was the beginning of the end for me. I could not stop crocheting. I made headbands, a purse, a seal, a bunny, a sweater, and on and on and on. Because I was crocheting so much, my skills improved a great deal. Patterns became easier for me to read, my stitches were not a mess, and I was even able to create a few original designs.

Examples: