A Crochet Spot reader recently asked me how often I wore my crocheted creations. At first I thought it was a weird question to ask, but after thinking about it I realized that I probably don’t wear my crocheted items as much as I think I should. Being a crochet addict and pattern designer I have to admit I have a ton of crocheted items. So many items that I’ve filled an entire closet. You’d think I’d wear something crocheted everyday!
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A Guest Post by Maria L.

As a mother of four, I’ve dealt with plenty of Halloween costumes over the years. Buying new ones each year for each kid can add up and be a bit pricey. And wearing the same costume, as long as it fits, doesn’t go over so well with the kids. So I started making my children’s costumes a few years ago. Now, I have to admit I’m not a great sewer, and therefore, can not sew those really elaborate costumes that some moms can. But I have learned a neat trick that want to share with all of you!
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All crocheting took a back seat this last fortnight. I had to sew, constantly. My youngest daughter needed a new kilt as she has grown out of her old one and being that she is now adult size I had to get a new one made. Don’t start highland dancing unless you want to mortgage the house. Adults do not seem to sell their kilts (not the imitations sold in clothing stores – proper dance / band kilts). The kilt and fabric for the Aboyen skirt and Plaid, and a pair of socks set me back just over $1000AU. The socks and kilt were specially made and took 11 weeks. I just got the fabric for the Aboyen because it is a simple skirt to make and the plaid is square! Lots of yarn I could get for that. I also needed 2 different blouses, 2 different vests and a petticoat, all regulation. Well at $220 per jacket, $60 each for the blouses, and don’t even ask about the petticoat, it became horribly obvious I had to make them. I can, I am a professional sewer but that has taken a back seat – well almost non existent – in the last 10 years, except for dancing costumes.
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A Guest Post by Lolo.

I went to the pet store to buy some food for my cat Mickey. Like always, I go over to the cat adoption area to say “hello” to the cats. I was so surprised to see that the cats had crocheted blankets in their cages. Well, now that I think of it, I don’t think I should have been surprised to see the crocheted blankets. I know that people often crochet blankets and items for animals, especially for those in shelters and non-profit rescue organizations, which is where the pet store got their cats from.
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I like second hand stores. I am not sure what they are referred to around the world, however here they are refer to as second hand stores or op shops (opportunity shops). They are stores that people donate items to charity and then the organization sells them through a retail outlet.

Anyhow, I like them.

Sometimes I score yarns and other crafty items. However, sometimes there is something there and I think it quite sad. What is that? Well it’s handmade items. Some items you can see have been well loved and then donated. Fair enough, not all of us wear or use things to death, however I have found not only well worn crochet or knitted clothing but NEW items as well. I have purchased and worn to it’s final days several articles of hand crochet and knitted clothing and some items I’ve purchased there have never been worn.
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I saw a T-Shirt on a random stranger that said “Life is what happens to you while you are making other plans”. It’s true isn’t it?

I just think things would go a lot more smoothly in my life if there was less of the annoying stuff like cleaning, and more of the stuff that involved yarns and threads – just my opinion. I have such grand plans for my crocheting, I would eventually like to start my own online store selling ‘one-off’ hand crafted items. I thought I’d start with an Etsy or Ebay store first and build my empire from there.
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I am so very proud of myself. I am going to make a toy Lion for my nephew’s upcoming 2nd birthday and I am using yarn I already have! Sounds logical doesn’t it? I have so much yarn, however nothing that quite qualified for a lion. I then realized that he is going to be 2 years old and really won’t know if the color is a bit off. So, out of the stash it comes. I do love buying yarn though and I am wondering how much the joy of purchasing some more yarn was overshadowing my logic on color choices.
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Men and any craft actually, pose a bit of a problem and I truly hate that. Firstly, there is the difficulty in finding suitable patterns for men. Then there are the ‘are they too girly’ patterns. Will he wear a crochet item? Does he feel isolated if he does crochet?

Let’s address these problems. Obviously this is only my point of view and people are more than welcome to disagree with me.
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Having read all your responses to my Frightened of My Craft Room post, I have had yet another change in the way I do things here.

First of all – what is the 15 minute thing? That is cleaning anything for 15 minutes, it’s that simple! I randomly go to an area of my house that needs cleaning (that’s everywhere so not hard to find somewhere) and then armed with my trusty kitchen timer I start my cleaning. I set it for 15 minutes and just do whatever I can in that 15 minute time span. If it is not finished then it’s ‘who cares’ and then go to another area or do another 15 in that spot. It is funny as it has turned into almost a game trying to see how much I get done in that time span. Things are picking up here. I must confess that my poor craft room is still suffering from a) not enough 15 minute blocks mostly because I am still daunted by it and b) the fact that I am not sure if there is enough 15 minute blocks to ever get it done.

What’s this got to do with crocheting? Well. I have a lot of unfinished crochet things, they range from afghans to scarfs, toys and towels. When I sit down to do a certain crochet item that I actually WANT to do I first pick up one I don’t want to do and work on it for 15 minutes before I am allowed to do the ‘fun’ one. This has proved to be most successful. Firstly my unfinished stuff is being slowly worked on but secondly, once I pick it up I usually do more than the 15 minutes.

Who new that 15 minutes and a $2 kitchen timer could make such a difference to my house, crocheting and attitude.

Thanks to all of you who suggested it.

A Guest Post by Sarah.

I’m obsessed with crocheting slippers. At the moment. Before that it was scarves, and then shirts, and then cozies. And I never seem to finish them all. I think a new type of crocheter has been discovered: The phase crocheter.

All it takes is for me to look at one type of crocheted item, and I’m ALL over them. Not too long ago, I looked at a pair of crocheted slippers, and now I have a million ideas in my head of slippers that I want to make. Right now, I could probably make 10 pairs of slippers in a week, even though I know only one or two would be worn. As you can tell, I’m stuck in a slipper phase.
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