Several months ago I decided to start doing more crafty things and I opted to learn how to crochet. I selected crocheting over knitting mainly because that’s what my Mom and Grandmothers do (or at least did many years ago, I’m not sure if they still crochet or not). The problem I discovered is that I don’t feel like I’m doing something productive just sitting there crocheting when I have so many other things that need to get done. This obviously isn’t a problem with crocheting per se, but with my inability to sit still.
After a few starts and stops I found a block of time while Benjamin was watching several episodes of Sex in the City. In that time I crocheted the following:
Here’s a close-up of the stitching:
It isn’t anything actually useful, just a test swatch as I try to become more comfortable with the single stitch and making my work consistent. As you can tell the ends flair as those stitches were too loose compared to the others. The swatch is roughly 10″ x 3″ and took me 5 Sex in the City episodes to finish (how do you like that new time metric?). Obviously I have a ways to go both in consistency and speed but it’s a start!
I’m undecided if crocheting gets me gay points or old lady points. I’m thinking it’s probably more of the latter given that several of my gay friends have been making fun of my new crafty hobby.
Digital Ramblings 
I’m undecided if crocheting gets me gay points or old lady points.
None of the old gay ladies I know crochet or knit, but a couple of the young straight ones do. When we finally make it out to Denver you and Jen can go on a yarn shop crawl. :)
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Nice. I’m sure this will lend itself to you and Jonobie comparing output and giving each other ideas assuming you continue. I like the metric. Just be careful, as this could easily change from 5 episodes to 5 exposures of Samantha’s fill-in-the-blank, and that’s just scary.
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A pair of slippers please!
I’d like to place an order for a pair of Granny’s slippers. My previous pair were pink and white. I’m ok with a single color if it’s easier and faster! Oh, and can you please try to make each foot the same size; my previous pair weren’t.
My b-day is in 7 months so that should be plenty of time for construction and shipping. Love ya!
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YAY!
Welcome to the fiber arts, my friend!
I’m very impressed. I’ve tried on multiple occasions to try to get started with crocheting and it just doesn’t click for me. I can just make one very long and lumpy chain. :P
The idea that there is a strong generational tradition is part of what attracted me to knitting. No one in my family close to me knits, but my grandmother did crochet. People have knit (and crochet, and spun, and woven…) for generations all over the world. I also just found out that my great aunt knit and when she moved into a smaller place a few months ago, I got some really wild vintage yarn!
I highly recommend joining ravelry.com. It’s a wonderful online community for knitters, crocheters, spinners, and the like. There are discussion boards for every imaginable topic (some only distantly related to knit/crochet) but more importantly, there is an ENORMOUS database of patterns (many are *free*), plus photos of members’ projects that will keep you inspired. And it’s a very friendly place where you can get help when you’re stuck or you can rant when you get sick of the old lady comments. :)
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old ladies?
granted, this is from knitting calendar (which is now sadly sold out) and not a crocheting one, but i think it still makes the point.
show this your gay friends who are calling you an old lady and quiet them down. :P
http://the-panopticon.blogspot.com/2008/09/sneak-peek.html
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I used to cross-stitch, myself. Though the comma helps, that would probably be better written as: “Myself, I used to cross-stitch.”
We are alike in so many (scary) ways. I, too, would be thinking about all of the other things I could be doing instead of cross-stitching. :-)
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multi-taskable
for both of you uber-productive types, you might look into audio books.
it’s something i’ve been meaning to try while knitting for a while.
i’ve read on Ravelry that many people have great success with this, esp if they are not working on a particularly intricate project.
so far, i’ve just been settling for watching tv or movies that are dialogue-driven and/or comfortably familiar so I only need to look up every several stitches or so.
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Re: multi-taskable
Good idea, and someone recently either sent me or Tweeted this link: Free Audio Books: Download Get Books for Free.
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