Sharing is Empowerment, Part Two

When I wrote my blog entry entitled Sharing is Empowerment little did I know it would be mere hours before one of my readers would contact me and tell me there was a Chester crochet hook available for purchase as a "buy it now" ebay auction.   With this reader's blessing (I wanted to ensure she wasn't interested in bidding on the auction herself), I purchased the hook immediately.  {{THANK YOU, SANDY!!!!}}

Today it arrived safe and sound! 

Upon ripping open the package and examining the hook, I wasn't quite sure if it's the real McCoy.  I tried looking it up on the CGOA's Hook Collector's page, but the page has not been restored yet.  Using the "Way Back Machine" I searched old archived pages but found no information on this hook available.  I'm not sure what I was expecting -- bone perhaps?  It's not. This hook feels and looks like plastic AND feels "new," as in recently manufactured.  Was this hook just well stored for all these years?  Was plastic being used in the early part of the 1900s? 

I'm not sure of it's age, but yes, apparently plastic was being produced, and has been since the mid-1850s.  According to this website, an American inventor, John Wesley Hyatt, had acquired the patent to Parkesine, a hard but flexible transparent material which is part of the cellulose family.  John modified the formula to come up with an artificialivory for billiard balls.  Is it possible that the same chemical compound was used by the then Susan Bates company, while located in Chester, Connecticut, to create this hook?  I'm not sure, but I do have an inquiry out to the ever knowledgeable Nancy Nehring who heads up the Hook Collector's Group.  Hopefully she'll know more about it.

And, speaking of the Way Back Machine and crochet hooks, I was able to dig this image up from Brenda Beckman's former website ... it was a table she had found one day while at a yard sale (for those that live in the north east, we would call it a tag sale), for $35.  It measured 4 feet by 4 feet and had interchangeable drawers allowing her to change the crochet hooks she had on display.  I don't recall the specifics, but do believe she has sold off her hooks and the table.  I did not get permission to use her photograph as I do not have contact information for her.  I am posting it here in hopes that she won't mind because the image of that table is, in of itself, empowering.  It's a testament to her love of crochet, and what we all, for those with severe Hook Acquisition Syndrome, can aspire to.  :)

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Lights Out!

Last night we participated in "Earth Hour," turning off lights and unplugging appliances.  Afterwards, I resumed my crocheting, working on various projects for the upcoming Conference.  As I crocheted along, I focused my thoughts on the upcoming Crochet Exchange.  What could I make?  I started thinking about using an antique pattern with a modern fiber.   Of course I haven't figured out which pattern & fiber yet, but it did remind me that Sheila had asked a few days back if my "new" 1916 crochet/tatting booklet has any "major differences in patterns back then from how they are today, other than style?" 

In flipping through the book and reading some of the patterns, I would say no.  The abbreviations are pretty much the same that we use today.  However, I did find one stitch that I thought would be new to me: The Hailstone Stitch, the abbreviation being H S st.  There are no pictures of it in the booklet so the crocheter had to go entirely by the written directions. 

So, because there was no picture to show me what the Hailstone Stitch looked like, I decided to work up a small sample, and upon following the instructions, it occurred to me ... a real illumination moment!  ... that I do indeed know this stitch!  This is the same stitch we know as The Love(er's) Knot, and Solomon's Knot.  So, no, the stitch was not new to me ... just the name was. 

If you'd like to learn how to create this stitch, Sandy over at Crochet.About.com has a great tutorial "how to."  If you are more of a visual learner, then you'll want to hop on over to NexStitch were they offer a free video clip you can watch right on your PC.  One thing for certain is that, with this stitch, I was inspired with a possible pattern idea for the Gift Exchange!  :) 

Excitement is in the Air!

I've been at my children's school all day, playing librarian.  It was a lot of fun promoting "National Craft Month" to them, requesting them to bring in items next week to help decorate our little library.  I wonder if any attempt to surprise me by crocheting something ... ?

Now we're on our way to our local library for the first "Crochet Clique" my Mini~Dee and I will be heading up.  The library reports that there are 11 parent/child teams awaiting to learn how to crochet, so it should be fun.  :)

Speaking of kids learning how to crochet -- this is the first year that the CGOA is offering a "KIDS ONLY" crochet class at the National Conference!  And yes, Mini~Dee is already signed up for it!  You can check out the details here:  www.KnitandCrochetShow.com

Sharing is Empowerment

It is amazing the amount of information one can learn from a single online group such as CrochetPartners (it's a group hosted by Yahoo).  It could be a simple tip, or a posting about a new fiber or pattern one has fallen in love with, a technique that has inspired, and even historical information.

In February, CP member Lori posted about this website: http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/grhc/history_culture/textile/index.html.  I took immediate interest because:
A. I love anything that has to do with crochet history, and
B. because part of my family roots are tied to Germany. 

Intrigued, I asked my local library if they could obtain the books the website referenced.  (Now I have a big question: do librarians enjoy receiving hugs of thanks from their patrons??) I had thought that when one requests to borrow books from another library that they could only come from another library within that state.  Apparently that's not the case because these materials came from North Dakota!  And they're all mine for the next three weeks!  :)   Yeehaw!

I also learned from the ever wonderful Jean Leinhauser, who happens to own the CP group, a little bit of history about Connecticut.  Back in January.  Jean offered this golden nugget of information: There was once located in Chester, Connecticut, a factory which produced crochet hooks.  On these hooks, dated around 1914, one will find the name Chester stamped upon them.  The name of that company? C. J. Bates.  They changed the name stamped on the crochet hooks to Susan Bates in the mid-1930s.  Because of Jean, I now have an inquiry with the Chester Historical Society to see if they have any artifacts from that time period on display.  I eagerly await their response!

What else could one gain from being a member of an online community?  I leave finding out the answer to you!  There are many, many groups available, waiting for you to join in the fun of learning, sharing, and experiencing new friendships!  :)

Oh Poo!

It's amazing what you don't do -- or do do -- when you're not quite feeling yourself.  I'm not quite sure if this is a good thing, or a bad, but it seems to me that there has been enough potty talk and that I should stop the bull straight away and get to my point:

I'm starting to feel a little better.  Not egg-ceptionally better yet, but at least a little.  And thats a start.

It also that means I've been crocheting -- just a wee bit.

With toilet paper.

Egads!  Right?!  LOL

Thankfully, when researching if anyone else has gone totally off their rocker, possibly in a moment of weakness just like mine, I found that Hannah had done so too ... in fact, that's her Egg Holder you see to the right.  You can read about it here.    The good news is that at least I'm playing with my TP for a reason -- I will use my work as a sample to prove a point in an upcoming class I will be teaching.   Nothing fancy like Hannah's, but still it's something to ponder.

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still not quite myself

As you can see, I'm still not quite myself (thanks for the pic, Haley!).  I feel like my head weighs as much as a city bus due to congestion.  This means that I have not been able to be on the computer much to reply to emails, join in all the reindeer fun, or do some actual crocheting. 

Fortunately I have managed to write my piece for the "Crochet Connections" column (if you are a CGOA member with Internet access, this column is part of the eNews you receive), and I have been doodling various concept ideas for the Helping Hands Auction that will take place at the Conference this summer -- pretty much stuff I can do laying down.

I've also been entertaining myself by enjoying a new Crocheting & Tatting booklet  published in 1916 by Coats & Clark I had won from an ebay auction (yes, I know it's not NEW, but it is NEW to me, and it totally rocks!), as well as reading various crochet books dating back to the late 1970s that I had borrowed from my local library last week.  And sleeping.  Yes, lots of sleep!  This should teach me not to gloat!  :\

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Fate Doesn't Like to be Tempted

It seems as if fate has caught up to me.  I was so proud of escaping the germs my family had tried to share with me, such as the flu in December, the stomach virus in January, the head cold in February -- I was on a roll!!  So proud, so proud and healthy indeed!  It was to have been the first winter in a long, long time that I would be totally germ free!  ... and I was shamefully boasting about this!  In retrospect, I should have waited on the boasting.

With Spring just days away, Old Man Winter said it wasn't to be; I would not have a total germ-free winter.  So it's official.  I've been "germified big time!" to quote my children.  I'll be back when I'm feeling better.

Question From Reader: Teaching Adults Crochet

Sheila asks: When you're trying to teach an adult who has no prior knowledge of crocheting, is there much difference between teaching that person vs. a child?

Great question, Sheila!!

I think the answer here is a straight yes/no.  I know, that's an answer as clear as mud, and this is because as adults we're more complex than we were as children.

In various medical reports, it is stated that when we're born we use only 25% of our brain.  These are the functions that keep us breathing, keep the heart beating, and tells us when we're hungry or uncomfortable and thus cry.  As the days, weeks, and months pass, we learn that if we cry a certain way a different reaction takes play; we're fed, we're changed, we're held.  By the time we're three, we are using nearly 90% of our brain.

The rest of the time, well into adulthood, we're fine tuning.  We learn to associate certain actions with reactions, and it is in our youth that our egos are most fragile.  We seek approval, and when we don't get it we learn to associate a negative feeling with the said action.  When we receive positive reactions, we repeat the deed, wanting to learn more, in order to experience the endorphins that come with the approval.

With each experience, new connections within the brain are made.  As children, those connections are made rapidly.  When we reach the emotional state of adolescence some of those connections are purged; as an adult we either use it or lose it.  So, keeping in mind that neural connections are made, strengthened or weakened based upon our experiences, and our age, then the answer to is teaching crochet to adults the same as teaching children, the answer is no.

But, if we're addressing the need for positive endorphins, thus positive approval for our actions, then it's yes!  Who doesn't love being told they're doing a great job, right?  :)

As adults, when we're learning a new skill, such as crochet, we still seek out that positive affirmation that we're on the right track.  But, we are also aware of right and wrong, and thus want to know, without ego bashing, that we're on the right path.  We can take critique.  Once we learn how to do something right, those endorphins fly.  Many are content to enjoy this state.  Others, who have learned positive affirmation from taking risks, will then want to try things on their own -- thus breaking the rules to see what develops.  And this is ok too.  (Really, I think this is why some of us need a pattern to follow exactly; why some of us love to take patterns "off roading;" and why some of us can crochet items without ever needing to consult a pattern.)

As I stated the other day, with a child, we need to keep it simple, keep it fun & inviting, all while needing to keep attention span issues in mind.  (When this happens, finding a child crocheting under the covers late at night by flashlight, or trying to crochet while practicing the Trumpet, as my Mini~Dee has done, may result!)

With an adult, we still need to keep the experience fun & inviting, but since an adult has learned the skill of patience and perseverance, the lessons can be more complex.  We know that as an adult, along with positive critique, and repeating lessons, those positive endorphins will eventually flow once our brains make the connections.  Sometimes we'll pick up on it quickly, other times it will take several attempts.  As long as the experience is positive, we will learn, even from our mistakes.

On the other hand, it is also important for the teacher to recognize the adult student's learning style and needs that have been reinforced childhood.  Some of those students will require more of the teacher's time, some will require more affirmation.  When the teacher helps the adult student make those neural connections with positive feedback, much as it does for a child, it makes the learning task easier -- no matter what the age.  The positive endorphins will urge the student to want to continue no matter what their learning style is.

Note: I am not a medical professional. The comments here are my own based upon the reports I have read, and my own experiences of teaching crochet to both children and adults.

Question from Reader: Teaching Crochet to Children

Denise from Cincinnati writes: That is soo cool! My dd (7yo) wants to learn, but I have a hard time teaching her how to get the basic chain started. what age is best for learning crochet? Are there good books to use for kids?

Great questions Denise!

My Mini~Dee first picked up the crochet hook at the age of five.  I did not push it onto her, but rather left supplies out from time to time in case the day came where she'd ask me to teach her.  And happily it did.

She did not want to hold the yarn in order to get the right tension, or the ability to keep creating loops in a fluid motion.  I did not intervene.  She was comfortable with picking the loops off with her fingers; delighted to make chains of various lengths for various purposes.  I even had her take some of her chains and weave them through one of my open (crocheted) meshes (known as the Crochet'n'WeaveTM technique), making little purses; she really enjoyed seeing our work come together!

When her attention started to taper off I introduced her to crocheting with pony beads.  She made many beaded necklaces, bracelets, and bookmarks for many, many people; I still wear the pieces she made for me from time to time. 

As we sat together to do our crochet I would say to her, "You know, you're getting quite fast at making your crochet!  Let me know if you want to learn how to go even faster!"  Never did I push -- I always invited.

When she was seven, she was ready.  She learned how to properly feed the yarn through her fingers, controling her tension, and with smiles upon her face, quick she was!  Still, I did not push any crochet stitches until she let me know she was ready!

Today she can do a number of stitches, and often times makes garments for her dolls.  Her attention, as of this week, is figuring out how to crochet circles (in the picture to the right she is working on a circle while awaiting for her brother at his Cub Scout Den meeting last night.)

The key, Denise, is to have patience.  Make a regular time to invite your daughter to sit with you -- not necessarily to crochet, perhaps she can read to you, or tell you about her day.  This will become a shared moment for the two of you to connect.  Ask questions from time to time, while you're sitting together, about what she thinks about the project you're working on -- does she like the color? does she like the stitches? does she like the way it looks?  if she were working on the project, what would she change? ... get her to THINK about crochet.   If you own a pet (cat/dog) and the phone rings, ask her gently to baby-sit your project while you're away.  If you come back and find her imitating what you've been doing, take that as a sign she's ready!  Invite her to try it with you.

As for a book to recommend, really, there are so many terrific books out there!  I do suggest visiting your local library and looking at the books they have available for loan -- do it together and take mental notes on what projects interest her.  Then go from there.

I do know, based upon first hand experience of teaching children how to crochet with their parents in the room, if that parent makes one comment that makes the child feel as though they are not "smart enough" to crochet, then they will give up!  Such a shame!  Accept that your child will figure things out on his/her own, or in their own time -- mine did!  Mini~Dee and I -- our crochet techniques are NOT the same although I'm the one who taught her!  Grant your child the freedom to experiment to see what happens.  There's plenty of time to teach the "rules" later on.  :)

I hope this helps; have fun!
~Dee

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Guest Blogger: Mini~Dee

Yesterday we held our first after-school crochet club meeting.  There were eight girls ranging from third to sixth grade.  Some knew how to crochet already so they practiced a little. 

One girl was really good at making single crochets so my mom taught her a pretty stitch pattern using just the single crochet stitch.  Mom calls it the Leaf Stitch:

The Leaf Stitch:
With an even number of stitches, skip the first, create 2 single crochet stitches in the next, and then repeat the skipping and making 2 in one all the way across.  When you get to the end make your turning chain and repeat.  It's really pretty.

The girls just learning were taught how to make the chain.  Their homework is to practice for a week and then they'll learn how to make the single crochet.

My mom and I made notebooks for everyone which also included printouts from the EachOneTeachTwo website, a page for notes, and a page with our meeting dates.  Mom said we can add to the notebook as time goes on, like perhaps patterns we might create, or one of hers that she'll give everyone.  Mom surprised us by bringing her sticker collection and letting us decorate the notebooks while we decided what to call ourselves and what we'd like to make as a group for charity.  (that's one of the notebooks in the background of the picture on the left)

The official name of our group is called "Hooks and Needles."  We decided we'll all be making squares soon and will combine them make an afghan, most likely for a baby or small kid, and then we'll donate it.  We even had a teacher stop by and promise us yarn from HER stash! 

It was a great meeting!

You would think that this is where I'd end off, but not really.  Today at band practice some of the girls in our Hooks and Needles group brought their crochet with them.  Mom taught me and my friend how to crochet circles while she inspected beginner chains of others.  I love crocheting with my friends.

Someone Has Been Listening!

This afternoon, while at my daughter's first crochet meeting at her school, I made a great discovery!  Someone has been listening to us!  And by someone I mean someone within the world of yarn manufacture!

In the past, many a time we'd shop for yarn and all we'd see is a recommended knitting needle size.  We crocheters would then have to convert that information over to figure out the proper sized crochet hook that would be needed for that particular yarn.  For a beginner, this could be a daunting task if there is no one around to ask.

Today many yarn manufacturers have gotten on board for recommending crochet hooks too.  Only they have been recommending crochet hooks based upon the recommendations they've been giving to knitters.  This means the information has incorrect, causing many crocheters to wonder why their work is so much stiffer than that of knit.  Those crocheters with many swatches under their belt know why that is!

They know crochet is not the same as knit because each crochet stitch has an extra "leg" in the back.  This is why (most) crochet fabri is not truly flat; it's what makes it dimentional!  And to make crochet with beautiful drape, this must be accounted for when creating crocheted fabric!  Using a hook too small for a given fiber makes for a stiff fabric, and who, other than those creating crochet sculptures, wants that?  Not me!

Yarn manufacturers should be recommending a hook that is at least a half or one whole millimeter size larger so that we get that softer drape we want!  And the good news is, we've been heard!  I noticed today that Lion Brand is on board (at least with their "wool ease" line; I haven't checked any others):

On the left is a label from Caron's "Simply Soft."  On the right is a label from Lion Brand's "Wool Ease."  Do you see what's different?

With this being National Crochet Month, I give LION BRAND a Crochet Hook Salute for a job well done! Readers, lets see if we can find other yarn labels giving out the proper information! If you spot one, please let me know! :)

Naturally I want to add that the recommendations are just that -- recommendations.  It's not a hard set rule, and does not take the place of proper swatching and gauge measuring.  But by the yarn manufacturer paying attention to the needs of the crocheter, it's a step in the right direction!

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Checking In

On Friday we received a total of seven sign-ups for Mini~Dee's after-school crochet club.  She's quite excited; every one of them is interested in working on a group charity project, so tomorrow at their first meeting they'll create an official name for their group, as well as figure out exactly what it is that they want to make together, and where to donate it.  I'll have her pack up some extra supplies just in case some of the kids don't come prepared tomorrow.

Yesterday, as she sold Girl Scout Cookies with her Troop at our local Dunkin' Donuts, I took advantage of some quite time doing what most crocheters cringe at ... weaving in all those tails!  I managed to weave in tails for six hats and one scarf, and then began crocheting another chemo cap.  The girls sold lots of cookies, and Mini~Dee bought some to bring to her first crochet club meeting tomorrow.  I love how she's getting involved with not just kids her own age, but also with her local community!  :)

Today I will be missing my local Chapter's monthly meeting as we'll be having a going away party for my BIL (brother-in-law) who will be serving a year in Kuwait.  He's in the Navy and so I've found my thoughts to wondering what the service men and women there are in need of.  I'll have to do some research.

A History Lesson:  "Long before recorded history, Pima Indian women in America did the first crocheting we know."
~ Rose Wilder Lane

The Pima, a pieceful people, yet courageous, hold the honor that one of their marines raised the flag on Iwo Jima in WWII. 

Tomorrow will be a busy day too.  Along with Mini~Dee's first crochet club meeting, I'll be hooking up with the Chain Gang of Stamford for their monthly meeting.  A very busy time for me indeed! 

Summer Knit & Crochet Classes

It's official!

I received this little banner in an email today letting me know that they'll start taking registrations for the CGOA's National Conference on Monday, March 24th. 

In looking at the banner though, it seems to read that the conference is only three days (July 25-27) ... but that is not the case.

This banner is more of an advertisement for the Vendor's Market.  The Vendor's Market officially opens to the public on July 25th.  For those ATTENDING the conference, the Vendor's Market is usually opened the night before as a special "pre-view" (usually a special ticket is required to get into the Market that evening).  Keep this in mind when registering for classes!

So really, classes will take place from July 24th through the 27th -- unless you also attend Professional's Day (which is highly recommended!) -- so if you attended Professional's Day too then the Conference would take place from July 23rd through the 27th, bumping it up to five blissful fiber-filled days!   Keep this in mind when you go over to check out the classes ... It's just the Vendor's Market that is only open for three days.  Okay?

OK!   Now that we have that out of the way, go on and check out the classes you want to take!  And don't forget to make your hotel reservations early!!!   :)

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Interesting, How Very Interesting!

When I first met Avis at the Tatting Workshop in Bethel this past weekend, she said something very interesting to me. "Dee," she said, "don't you find it interesting that you need the Internet to find your neighbor?"

She went on to explain that she had been searching and searching for local crocheters in her area for quite some time with no apparent luck. Then she joined our ConnecticutCrochet yahoo group and instantly found one less than a mile from her home! Now they're considering driving up to Danbury to attend their first Happily Hooked on Crocheting Club meeting this weekend!

Of course, she is so right! There are many times the Internet has played a key roll in my meeting up other crocheters too! {VBG}

I wanted to create a poll to see how many of us have found our "neighbors" this way -- via the Internet but that option is currently not available.  If you found a local crocheting buddy via the Internet, please share your story.  If you haven't yet found one, but could choose someone, anyone in the world, to be your crocheting buddy, who would that person be?  (It can be someone from the past, present, or future.)

Question from Reader: Book Recommendation?

Dear Dee,
I'm with Sandie, I wish I lived closer to you!  I enjoy reading your blog, and really enjoyed reading your latest entry about the tatting.  Can you recommend a good book to get me started?

Thanks so much, Betty B.

Hi Betty,
Oh, if only the world were smaller!! There are many times I too wish I lived elsewhere so I could meet other crochet/fiber lovers!  There are so many wonderful fiber related events going on and it's just impossible, due to time, money, and sheer distance for me to zip around the world to attend them all.  Maybe one day modern technology will catch up to science fiction by creating transporters (as seen in the Star Trek TV series) working -- then we'll be able to go where ever, whenever! {VBG}

Personally, no, I don't have a book I can recommend on shuttle tatting -- yet!  However, our instructor on Sunday strongly recommended the book pictured here on the right.    I have it on my current wish list of books to acquire, but at an OOP (out of print) price tag starting at $103, I'm willing to wait.  (The picture on the left is another one of the instructors pieces she had on display.) 

At the workshop we were given (legal) copies of "How to Tat; Understanding the Double Stitch" by Mark Myers.  You can purchase instructions from him at www.tat-man.net/tatting.html.

I hope this helps,
~Dee

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All Knotted Up

Yesterday I joined Avis, Marietta, Grace, and Priscilla -- all of us members of the ConnecticutCrochet Yahoo! group.  We met at the Bethel Library for the Tatting Workshop the library sponsored.  Our instructor was Joan Thomas, who has been tatting for 10 years.  The samples she had on display were amazing!  Some were even beaded!

In the world of Tatting there are three techniques:
1. Cro-Tatting
2. Needle Tatting
3. Shuttle Tatting

We were learning the third, how to Shuttle Tat.  To make learning easier we used yarn rather than thread.   Our first lesson was on how to "pop" ... to transfer the knot from one string to the other.  I did fairly well there. 

Our second lesson was making the half knots.   Again, I did fairly well. 

But combining the two lessons?  Where one makes one half knot, transfers it over, makes the other half knot and then transfer that over to complete the stitch?  LOL, I think Avis and I had more fun laughing.   

But, eventually, I did catch on to combining the two lessons to create the required two half stitches, properly transferring them to the core yarn (it takes two half stitches to create one completed tatting stitch).  All I need to do is practice more.  And that's fine with me!  :)

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Crochet Display @ Local Library

In honor of National Crochet Month my family and I spent the afternoon yesterday creating a crochet display at our local library.  Initially we were told that we would have the display case for the second half of the month, so when the library called the other day and said we could have it for the entire month I was one stoked crocheter!

The projects placed into the case include antique Irish lace and trim, and doilies.  These items reflected crochet from our past.  The projects reflecting our present included a wire & fiber beaded necklace, a fabric hotpad, a leather barrett, a felted bag, a freeform bag, a knitted Tunisian pillow, a beaded bikini top, and more!

Then a variety of crochet hooks were added: some bone, an old steel hook, a wooden one, the two Graydog hooks that appeared in the Nov/Dec issue of PieceWork, and so on.   The final touch was peppering the items with various facts about crochet.  Everyone that came over while we were working on it enjoyed looking at the pieces.  

When the case was complete it was time to donate some books, four total:  Melody MacDuffee's "Overlay Crochet," Melissa Leapman's "Cool Crochet, "Big-Hook Crochet," and most importantly, Noreen Crone-Findlay's "Creative Crocheted Dolls: 50 Whimsical Designs" -- donated in memory of Ruth Arbitelle, one of the founders of the Happily Hooked on Crocheting Club, who passed away during the Christmas season.  Ruth was a huge fan of crochet, collecting dolls, and of Noreen. 

On behalf of the Happily Hooked on Crocheting Club, Connecticut Chapter of the Crochet Guild of America, we invite you to visit the display, or contact a library in your area and do the same.  And/or donate a crochet book or two -- inspiring someone to try something new, or to pick up a crochet hook for the first time is a great way to celebrate National Crochet Month!  :)

Guest Blogger: Mini~Dee

Hi, it's Mini~Dee.  I'm blogging today so mom can get the materials ready for the library display we'll be working on later today.  The display is part of our crochet club's* celebration for National Crochet Month that starts today. Mom said the display will have antique crochet pieces and modern stuff too.  Then we'll donate some crochet books.  It will be fun helping her put the display together.

I'll be celebrating National Crochet Month too. I think my mom wrote about how together we'll be offering lessons to parents & kids at our local library for three months.  But what she didn't tell you is now there's even more to celebrate!  Yesterday my school principle asked me to consider creating an after school crochet club!   And I'm going to do it!  It will be like the "Coffee, Crochet & Chat" sessions my mom goes to every month, only this one will be for the kids in my school, and we won't be drinking coffee.  I think we'll do juice and cookies instead.  Even my brother, Dee Jr., is excited about this.  I'm going to invite the kids that know how to knit too.  My mom said that as a group we could even consider working on something for charity.  I think it will be a lot of fun and can't wait to design the flyer to hand out to my classmates. 

How are you going to celebrate National Crochet Month?

* I am the youngest member of my CGOA Chapter, The Happily Hooked on Crocheting Club.