Joan
I’m a crafty sort of gal. Not in the sneaky sense like the GR. Nope, I mean in the sense that I can do a lot of handcrafts: crochet, cross-stitch, embroidery, knitting. I was taught by my Mom who excelled in even more textile arenas including quilting, needlepoint on plastic canvas and, in homage to our golden one, chicken scratch embroidery. Mom entered her items in the State Fair and won as many ribbons for that as I have for cakes.
No doubt in my mind that given enough golden yarn, she could crochet our chook!
And then it occurred to me that with all the modern conveniences, specialty items (esp. for babies) that handcrafted gifts are rare "nowadays". The generation behind me…for the most part….do not know how to do these things. Let’s face it, many of their mothers were working, balancing raising children, keeping house, and bringing home the bacon. They did not have time to spend with silk threads and yarn. Time is of the essence in today’s world and no matter how sincere the wish, we just don’t have time for crafting.
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I’m a crafty sort of gal. Not in the sneaky sense like the GR. Nope, I mean in the sense that I can do a lot of handcrafts: crochet, cross-stitch, embroidery, knitting. I was taught by my Mom who excelled in even more textile arenas including quilting, needlepoint on plastic canvas and, in homage to our golden one, chicken scratch embroidery. Mom entered her items in the State Fair and won as many ribbons for that as I have for cakes.
No doubt in my mind that given enough golden yarn, she could crochet our chook!The first piece I ever did was an embroidered sampler about the Girl Scouts. Samplers for the uninitiated are pieces that reflect some aspect of life. A saying such as “The flowers of tomorrow are the seeds of today”. The alphabet is often included along with flowers and elaborate borders. This first effort had the Girl Scout oath. I used satin stitch, chain stitch, outline stitch and the ubiquitous French knots. Laborious for a 10 year old but boy was I proud of that!
Then I learned how to crochet. Could not even tell you the moment I started single stitching and double stitching…probably just watched my Mom. She had a vast array of different crochet hooks...like an armory for yarn. My first 
granny square afghan had brilliant central colors of pink, blue, green and yellow surrounded with black. Stayed on my bed through my high school years. It kept me warm in more ways than one. I also learned how to crochet with string. You know, of doily fame? Mom had a pattern for the sweetest baby bib and I still have her early (1940's era) pattern books for doilies, tablecloths etc. with a pineapple motif.
Next, I discovered counted cross-stitch. In a bizzaro switch I taught my Mom to do that! And we were off. Spent over 10 years creating masterpieces with hundreds of shades of floss. Hues every bit as wonderful as tubes of paint. My brush was a needle, my canvas Aida cloth. The stitches strokes very like painting. My mother especially became enamored with challenging pieces like this picture of the little girl gathering shells on the beach. It hangs in my living room, a constant reminder of my Mom's love.
Knitting? Well, I learned that working night shift at the hospital. Oh, now come on...one has to do something to stay awake at 2 am. Of course, "back then" people weren't as sick as they are
nowadays. Using my newfound skills I knitted my newborn godson a sweater, cap and mittens. The gauge was off a bit and while Brian never got to wear it, his sister did…when she was 2 years old :-)
What brought all this to mind was a recent rash of expectant mothers among my staff at work. I am on my fifth knitted baby afghan and yes, my wrists hurt. (Send Motrin). But when I’ve given these modest gifts to the mothers to be their mouths drop open. They are in awe. “You MADE this?” has been the common refrain.
Well, yes I did. Making something as a gift shows the pleasure and happiness I feel for them as a part of my life. Hooray for babies and lets snuggle them in a blanket that Joan Darling made. This is what I grew up doing. I didn’t get their astonishment.
granny square afghan had brilliant central colors of pink, blue, green and yellow surrounded with black. Stayed on my bed through my high school years. It kept me warm in more ways than one. I also learned how to crochet with string. You know, of doily fame? Mom had a pattern for the sweetest baby bib and I still have her early (1940's era) pattern books for doilies, tablecloths etc. with a pineapple motif.Next, I discovered counted cross-stitch. In a bizzaro switch I taught my Mom to do that! And we were off. Spent over 10 years creating masterpieces with hundreds of shades of floss. Hues every bit as wonderful as tubes of paint. My brush was a needle, my canvas Aida cloth. The stitches strokes very like painting. My mother especially became enamored with challenging pieces like this picture of the little girl gathering shells on the beach. It hangs in my living room, a constant reminder of my Mom's love.
Knitting? Well, I learned that working night shift at the hospital. Oh, now come on...one has to do something to stay awake at 2 am. Of course, "back then" people weren't as sick as they are
nowadays. Using my newfound skills I knitted my newborn godson a sweater, cap and mittens. The gauge was off a bit and while Brian never got to wear it, his sister did…when she was 2 years old :-)What brought all this to mind was a recent rash of expectant mothers among my staff at work. I am on my fifth knitted baby afghan and yes, my wrists hurt. (Send Motrin). But when I’ve given these modest gifts to the mothers to be their mouths drop open. They are in awe. “You MADE this?” has been the common refrain.
Well, yes I did. Making something as a gift shows the pleasure and happiness I feel for them as a part of my life. Hooray for babies and lets snuggle them in a blanket that Joan Darling made. This is what I grew up doing. I didn’t get their astonishment.
And then it occurred to me that with all the modern conveniences, specialty items (esp. for babies) that handcrafted gifts are rare "nowadays". The generation behind me…for the most part….do not know how to do these things. Let’s face it, many of their mothers were working, balancing raising children, keeping house, and bringing home the bacon. They did not have time to spend with silk threads and yarn. Time is of the essence in today’s world and no matter how sincere the wish, we just don’t have time for crafting.The signs are there. At the State Fair the textile exhibit shrinks a little bit more each year. I mean for about 4 years the chicken scratch category was entered only by my Mom and some nun! I know, GR....calm down.
I don’t know. Maybe I’m wrong but when you see a young 20 something girl’s eyes round in awe at a simple knitted blanket, ya gotta wonder if these talents are a dying art. I sure hope not.
What about you? Can you do any crafts? Knit one, Purl two? Ever made Christmas ornaments out of felt and toilet paper rolls? Snowmen with styrfoam balls and crocheted snow? Have you passed it on to the next generation?
I don’t know. Maybe I’m wrong but when you see a young 20 something girl’s eyes round in awe at a simple knitted blanket, ya gotta wonder if these talents are a dying art. I sure hope not.
What about you? Can you do any crafts? Knit one, Purl two? Ever made Christmas ornaments out of felt and toilet paper rolls? Snowmen with styrfoam balls and crocheted snow? Have you passed it on to the next generation?
I hope 
so.
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