Stitchin Saturday: Remembering Crochet

Three years ago I had an accident. I was in a coma for 34 days. When I woke up, I couldn’t move my arms or legs.

With a lot of therapy, I regained movement in my arms, hands, and fingers. I was ready to crochet! 

The nurse got my partially finished scarf, my hook, and scissors out and I was excited, for about two minutes. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t remember how to make a stitch.

I started crying. I don’t mean little boo hoo tears, I mean can’t breathe, messy crying. And I couldn’t stop.

The nurse called in a psychiatrist , a psychiatrist who crochets. We talked ( between my hiccup crying) about how important crochet is to me. Then she did a crazy thing; she told me to close my eyes. Keeping my eyes closed, she told me to crochet.

And I did!! My brain had forgotten , but my hands remembered!!!

Since then, I have regained normal movement. I am still amazed at how the body remembers and repairs.

Stitchin Saturday Part Two : How I Became a Knitter

This is part two of Saturday’s feature.

I was a die hard crocheter from an early age (see part one). The kind that had no desire to knit. It looked hard and slow so why do it? (Stick with me knitting friends. I had a lot to learn)

Then I had a work place accident which tore my muscles and ligaments in my right shoulder. The doctor said absolutely no crocheting. I was crushed.

After hearing me whine about missing my yarn and hooks, my friend suggested knitting. Had she been listening. Busted shoulder. And I don’t knit.

She convinced me to give it a try. She said I could knit left handed. I had never knit before so it wouldn’t feel weird, and I could tuck the right needle in between my arm and side.

She sent me books and YouTube videos. After a few false starts, I got the casting on down. After that, I was hooked (bad crochet pun).

The shoulder is healed and I continue to knit. Knitting is my go to when I need to concentrate on something to get my mind off something else.

Crochet is what I do to relax.

Btw: I still knit left handed.

Stitchin Saturday : How I Came to Crochet

This is part one of a two part blog. How I Came to Knitting will be ready by Monday.

When I was a child (let’s guess around ten), there was this old lady who lived in our town. She lived alone with the obligatory visits from the grandchildren at holidays. She was not political, not very social, and definitely not rich.

So when she died and every available police officer and rescue personnel showed up to her funeral, there was some surprise. The local newspaper interviewed one of the officers .

The officer told them something no one else knew. For a decade, this lady crocheted blankets to keep in police cars and rescue units. They were to be given to domestic violence victims that were removed or forced to leave their homes.

The officer said the lady always kept them stocked and he  explained how much it meant to people forced to leave with nothing. She never wanted recognition so not many knew how selfless she was.
When this came out, my Mom and three of her friends set out to fill this need. My Mom learned to crochet granny squares and taught me. I have been addicted ever since. When I crochet, I feel the connection to my Mom and in some ways, a connection to this lady I never met.

Tango Talk Tuesday: Scout’s Big Week

Scout here. We have had lots of excitement this week.

First of all, I am really enjoying floor time. There is so much to get into. Mommy has a craft corner that NO ONE is allowed to touch . But it has so many great gadgets. I can’t help but explore. I am also suppose to stay in the living room. Daddy keeps putting up these great barriers. They are so fun to climb over and squeeze through!

One bad thing that happened this week. I got something stuck in my eye. I whined and Mommy came running. I was real still and she got it out fast. Since I was so good, I got a whole strawberry. I LOVE strawberries!

This week Mommy and I have conflicting agendas. Mommy is working on cuddle time. I am working on anti-cuddle time. I will keep you updated.

Mommy says it is past bedtime, so I have to figure out ways to keep her up.

Scout

Stichin’ Saturday : Christmas Charity

Disclaimer: Before anyone falsely accuses me of being a nice person, there is something you should know. I have seasonal depression. Making gifts for charities helps me get through it.

It is that time of year for casual knitters and crocheters to start thinking of Christmas projects. I have some definates and some maybes.

Every year, I make scarves for our local Salvation Army bell ringers. I got to know several when I worked for Wal-Mart. They often had heart warming stories .

Our church is doing a ministry of putting homemade blankets in police cars. This way the officer will have one to give to domestic violence survivors or victims of fire. Count me in!

Those are my first ones.

Ones I am considering:

1. Scarves for Troops
2. Bridget’s Cradles ( special blankets for very premature babies)
3. Birthright ( special place in my heart. I donated in the name of the baby we lost)

Please let me know how you help others. Feel free to list your favorite charities.

Stitchin’ Saturday Relaxed Knitting

For years when I first started knitting, I was very uptight. I checked and double checked gauge , counts, took out rows and rows, and started over a lot.

Then I met a knitter who had knitted for many years. She ENJOYED knitting. It RELAXED her. She followed the pattern or didn’t. She didn’t obsess over every row. I needed in on her secret.

I learned a lot by just watching her. If I mentioned a stitch looked twisted, she just laughed and said ” They are all twisted. You twist them to put them on the needle, twist it through the loop, then twist it on the other needle.” If her project was a little short, she just added a border.

I made it a mission to loosen up. I enjoy knitting so much more. If I don’t like to do a certain stitch, I just change it.

Thank you, Wise One!!

Tango Talk Tuesday – Letta the Hero

Letta here. This is my first blog.

I am Letta. I am the second oldest of the trio, in which there are four of us. Humans obviously can’t count.

I am not too in to humans. I appreciate the food, but all that cuddling and petting is not for me. I really don’t get their obsession with my nails.

This week Mommy thinks I am wonderful. Friday Scooter was napping in the cage I share with Snowflake. We have a hammock chair that Mommy made us months ago. Somehow Scooter chewed a hole in the corner and got stuck. Her head was lodged and she couldn’t move. So I yelled and Mommy came running and got Scooter out. 

Mommy made a big deal over me saving Scooter. I did NOT appreciate all the attention. Did I mention it was nap time? I am still getting extra treats so that is good. Mommy keeps saying how much I love my sisters. I wouldn’t go that far.

Tango Talk Tuesday: Snowflake’s Report

Snowflake here, to talk about life.

I am the oldest piggy of the group. No one knows exactly how old I am, but I am around seven. I have been here longer than the other piggies, but not as long as Tango, the rabbit. I am blind and have some neuropathy in my back feet. 

Someone in Mommy’s group ask for advice on dealing with a blind piggy. Mommy posted that she doesn’t do much different now than she did before. She told them that she makes me little puzzles to work out for stimulation.

SHE GOT HATE MAIL!

According to the writers, she should do everything for me. I AM BLIND, NOT DEAD !

Anyways, I can do almost everything my siblings do. I still tattle on them, fight with them, and I am still the queen. I keep both my sisters in line. I could snap that little Scout in place if Mommy let me.

So I told Mommy that if anyone gets rude, just spray them. That is what I do.

Stupid Questions We Ask Our Pets

All pet owners do it. We talk to our pets and even ask questions.

1. “Who’s a good girl?”
2. ” Do you want a snack?”
3. “Which shoes should Mommy wear?” (Don’t shave your legs, and no one will notice your shoes) 
4. “Do you want a bath?” (Trust me, the answer is NO)
5. “Do you want out of the cage?” (No, I love being trapped in here)
6. “Are you going to be good if I let you out?” (Define “good”)
7. “Where is your sister?” (Not my day to watch her.)
8. ” Who made this mess?”

Italic remarks are answers my pets give.

What do you ask your pets? If I get enough comments, I will do a part 2.

Stitchin’ Saturday : The First

This is the start of a new feature that I am trying. If it gets a good start, I will blog about knitting and/or crocheting every Saturday.

I thought the best way to start would be to tell you about my two wip. I am pretty proud that I only have two ! 

This is my knitting wip. My Stepmother is one of those people who decorate for each holiday. ( I am the type who think vacuuming equals decorating) So I am working on a pair of these hanging towels for her.

This is the start of a blanket for my oldest daughter. I just learned how to make this chevron(sp?) stitch and am really enjoying it. My mind is spinning with new ways to use this pattern. Of course I may change my mind about loving it in 120 rows, lol.

Let me know what you think of this being a feature.

And thank you for sticking with me as I try to find my niche.