I recently said to a friend (and I think it was Elyssa) that I was teaching my daughter how to crochet. She said, I didn't know you could crochet! I guess I probably hadn't ever said anything because I haven't crocheted for a number of years now (it's a time suck and I used to do it simply to kill the time when my kids were babies and sleeping in their bouncy chairs--bouncy with the aid of my foot)<--now you see why I had a lot of time to kill.
I recently picked it up again because my daughter has shown an interest, and because crocheted items make GREAT xmas presents. I'm making a total of five scarves plus one for my daughter (already made).
I can't knit at all, but I can crochet quite well. I think my love came from my great grandmother. I remember when I was growing up how she would make all her kids and grandchildren --there are like 50 of them (my mum, aunts and uncles, great aunts and uncles)--a lace doily every Christmas. Without fail. And when I was old enough she would make me one at Christmas, too! When she passed away a few years ago I asked the relatives if they had any doilies I could have, and they did not disappoint! So now I have a collection of the most beautiful lace doilies (stored right now) and a passion for crochet. I wonder if I would have ever learned how to crochet if I hadn't grown up with my great grandmother's beautiful doilies all around ours and our relatives houses!
Do you have any hidden talents? Do you make your Christmas/Holiday presents? If not, what would you like to learn how to make/create?
14 comments:
Funny enough, I can knit but I can't crochet, lolol. And actually I can only knit one thing--misshapen scarves that take me forever and a day to do.
The scarf looks so pretty! I don't think I ever told you but I hate having things (necklackes, etc) around my neck. I'm weird, I know. :)
As for hidden talents . . . well, I am very good at coming up with titles and series names. Can I rest my laurels on that? ;)
I crochet too. Likewise I don't do it as much as I used to but I still find myself very much in demand for christening shawls or baby layettes.
I don't make my Christmas presents but it is a handy/popular skill for those new arrivals.
Ely! Sure, rest your laurels there... And I hate turtlenecks.. feel like I'm being strangled when I wear them!
Beebs, I haven't had a new baby in the family for a while, but I do make some beautiful baby blankets! And it is a handy skill.
I used to draw, paint and embroider but the carpal tunnel makes it really tough to do anything with my hands.I use that as an excuse to get out of cooking too, LOL. (How can I type? Hmm...)
My hidden talent is not so hidden--I love to decorate and arrange stuff in my house. I do flower arrangements and even took a couple of classes, not that I could be a pro.
I’ve always wanted to try something like knitting or crocheting but I never have anyone who can show me how! I do like stained glass, though. I’ll often get a bunch of glass together and make a window catcher or maybe a glass ornament for the Christmas tree.
I actually taught myself to knit when I was in Junior High. I was the youngest in my family and at the time I was too young to get a "real job" so except for an occasional babysitting job I had to be creative with what little I had.
One day the local Woolworth's store had a sale on yarn and needles that I spent my savings on and then went to the local library and found a book on knitting. That Christmas everyone in the family got either mittens, a hat or a scarf for the holidays! Since then I made many a Xmas gift for children and grandhcildren to keep them warm.
One talent I didn't know I had was making quilts - until my younger son requested one when his wife was expecting their first child. Believe me - learning to knit is much eaiser and faster! Fortunately the quilt was done before the birth of my first grandson! (The granddaughter and grandson born since got to "share" the same quilt!).
Maggie, I love flowers, hate bugs. LOL
JK, that is so cool! You'll have to take a picture of one and show us! And I taught myself how to crochet!
Jeanne, I LOVE quilts. I really suck at sewing and have in fact broken a number a number of needles in my sewing machine because I'm obviously doing something wrong!
Tiffany -
You wouldn't believe how many needles I went thru making that quilt! I kept going back to the store I bought the supplies with questions and they asked how many other quilts I had made before!
When I told them it was my first they just looked at me and looked appalled! Somehow the "pattern" I picked was for an expert - obviously not moi!
Fortunately the grandchildren haven't figure out it wasn't perfect (that's one reason grandchildren are so much easier than children - they love Gramma and PaPa unconditionally!).
Jeanne,
LOL! That's brilliant! I bought my sewing machine like 6 or 7 years ago with one intention: to learn how to sew.... yeah, that didn't pan out too well. LOL
I don't have hidden talents - I have forgotten talents. I used to play viola, but I forgot how. I used to speak Italian, but I forgot how...and so on. I wish I could uncover a hidden talent though.
This post was fun and sweet. Loved it!
Thanks, Carey! Used to speak Italian? Huh! I guess the don't use it you lose it is totally true! I wish I could speak another language. I took French (remedial) for years and years but it just didn't stick. My daughter, however is in immersion at school and is fluent in French.
My daughter crochets too! I love the things she makes. While I learned to both knit and crochet when I was young, it was her Great-Grandmother on her father's side that taught her to crochet. She always seems to have a list of upcoming projects for friends and family, and usually travels with her "knitting bag".
My hidden talent is organization. I can set up filing systems, organize closets, cabinets, garages and sheds, plan parties and events. I can be pretty helpful at times, but my talents don't really leave folks with a tangible "gift". Maybe that's a good thing though...
I am a mad - I mean avid - knitter! I make a lot of things to give for gifts. I absolutely love knitting!
Sue, I have a friend like that. If you want to declutter your house and reorganize, you call her in! But you have to be ready to purge! LOL
Margay, Mad, eh? I would like to learn to knit, but I can never seem to get the yarn to stay on the needles.
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