Crochet....

 I have grown up watching my mother stitch. Crochet, knitting, embroidery......you name it and it seemed that she could do all these different types of stitching...this was my understanding when I was in the 8th standard or so...

I still remember going to another aunty to learn crochet though my mother stitched quite a lot of crochet. You see, I didn't want to learn from my mother...All my friends were going to another person to learn and I too wanted to learn. So determined I was to go, that I actually did. We didn't learn just crochet but we learnt other things too.. Unfortunately I don't remember what it is that I was to have learnt during the session. But what I do remember is that when I was done with the course I still couldn't stitch.

With my nose high up in the air, I declared to my mom that I wasn't going to 'waste' my time stitching the doilies that she kept stitching. I decided to stick to the Anchor stitch kits and cross stitch patterns.  Embroidery too wasn't my forte so I decided not to risk doing too much of that.

But in course of time, as I saw the beautiful things that my mom made, I changed my mind and decided to learn crochet. My first project was a 'carrot bookmark' which was as long as the palm of my hand. It definitely did not look like a carrot. I wish I had a picture to show that utter disaster. It was such a flop that I was scared to try again. And as I said earlier I was determined not to 'waste' my time on doilies and make only useful things as bookmarks and bags and the such.

I began by making scrunchies. That was definitely a crazy phase where I think I influenced my mom too, to abandon her projects for a while to make a few scrunchies. These small projects taught me my basics in crochet and I ended up having a dozen or two scrunchies in all the colors imaginable. My only frustration at these moments were when I couldn't stitch as fast as my mom. You see , I had started ,learning but I wanted to be as fast, as neat and as accomplished as her. No small feat, huh?

I haven't yet reached that stage, but I am still learning and have a long way to go as she is far ahead, doing new exciting and beautiful things. Some so complicated that I still haven't got the courage to start them.

Well...Let me now get back to where I was...

Yeah once I had done with the scrunchies, I didn't do anything much for some time. I was in Amrita and I couldn't spend much time stitching. But once in a while I did escape home and towards the end of my graduation in Amrita and the year after that I had four major projects completed. I had made two bags and two doilies.

                                                            My first doily

                     My second bag - I had to finish this to take to college and show off

"Doilies?",the question may pop into your mind. Yes, 'Doilies', I changed my mind they are after all pretty things and do have their decorative uses. :)

I don't remember the other small things that I have made over the past 2-3 years. There have been small projects like pencil boxes, cell phone pouches and book marks. Some of these I still have and some have been given to friends.

Pretty long post...Don't you think? And I still haven't got to where I wanted to go. I still haven't penned down what I really wanted to. So here goes...hoping that I am not boring the people out there...

I had gone to Bangalore for my summer project and although I never carried any thread and needle, I decided to raid the stash that mom had taken to Bangalore for my own purpose. I thought to myself that I would make something nice and do something useful during those two months.

I don't think I did much stitching,other than a few small things - doilies, cell phone cover and a book mark. But my time in Bangalore ended up with Santhy, a good friend of mine, wanting to learn crochet. And I was more than happy to teach her the little I knew.

                                           Santhy's First Project for her niece

                                                     Her second project

And I never imagined that any body else would be interested to learn. But when I got back to Rajagiri I found out that Santhy's sister had learnt from Santhy and has started crocheting. She also made a cap as her first project.

So do you think it ended there? By now am sure that you would have guessed how the story would carry on from here. So if you are exasperated with my really long post then you can close this and go, else please do go on...:)

Well after I returned to college (Rajagiri), I had so many projects in my mind. Things that I wanted to do that I brought threads, needles and patterns to the hostel. Seeing my projects and seeing Santhy's project, more people wanted to learn and make things.

Uma first jumped in as she was able to obtain the thread and needle. She started making a lace edging for a kerchief

She still has two more rows to go...But just look at that, isn't it amazing? And now she has also started on a cap...

The cap

                                                Uma working hard on her cap


Just a few days and she is all set. Uma, if you are reading this, 'Don't blush, you are doing an amazing job...'

And then Rimjim, Gincy joined the bandwagon. They had been pestering me for a really long time to teach them but we got the wool and the needles only recently.

          Gincy being thrilled with the stitches she is learning and the amount stitched

  Rimjhim and Santhy on Rimjhim's stitching - She is working at perfecting her stitches

Both Gincy and Rimjhim are now in the process of making a doily. And quite successfully too, if I may add. They are both on the 3rd row and it is not a very simple one (my bad choice) but they are working wonders. I don't have photos to show of their progress but they sure are making progress.

So why am I saying all this. I set out to write about all this because teaching my friends the very little I know, had been a really wonderful experience for me. To see the thrill on their faces when they learn a new stitch, complete a row...The feeling is just amazing...

So this is just a note (and a really long one at that) to tell my friends that these days when they have been stitching have been really wonderful for me. Wonderful to see them create, wonderful to see their joy and also a morale booster for me.

And to end it all....No matter how the world changes, there will be people who are fascinated by crochet and who want to learn and create stuff.....And so the legacy continues....