The better title of today’s blog should be “I stand
corrected and ashamed of my past opinions” or something even more aggressive
and strong. That is what is needed to reflect my true feelings toward myself
and my past actions regarding this type of crochet.
I am
not kidding. At this time, I read at least 50 books and even more magazines on
crochet and many of those books enjoyed my undivided attention from page to
page eagerly studying every step or type of stitch described. Almost every one
of those books had at least some sort of Tunisian Crochet section. Even if it
was just one project, basic overview or complete chapter. I admit, I’ve seen these sections and I always and without fail dismissed them, sometimes even making loud disapproving noises to go with my annoyance and forceful turning of pages looking for where this ‘annoying’ section ends and quickly trying to continue with my reading of the ‘normal’ section’. It was like a clockwork and people could predict my annoyance when the Tunisian Crochet section appeared.
I cannot explain why I hated this type of crochet and I do not understand what got into me. I guess it was not exciting enough, boring and uninspiring. I could not imagine any wild application of colors and patterns using this technique that I could use to shine as I wanted to.
Well, as we say “Hanba!” (shame on me)!
How did I change my opinion and why now? You would be shocked to know that a MAN- as a male, knitting and crocheting man changed my opinion. While browsing the Internet the other day, I found a section listing Men who knit. Bunch of really cool guys who meet, show off their designs, talk about yarns and even meet at regular men’s knitting retreats. Cool bunch of people and for a second there I wished I was a man and could join them.
One of
those guys posted pictures of his finished blanket, using Poems Sock yarn, the
one that changes colors, and he used the look of Log Cabin from the quilting
patterns. He kept on producing about two inch wide stripes all around the
center block and the jewel tones of yarn kept changing as he went around and
around. I was not sure what technique he used and thought that it was knitted on
double pointed needles. As I kept looking through his blog, I finally found the
picture showing his very beginning of this project and was shocked to see a
crochet hook. The texture of the stripe did not look anything like familiar
crochet stitches to me and right then and there it hit me. He is using Tunisian
Crochet and it looks so easy.
SO, I
swallowed my pride and looked up, for the first time in my long life, what the
‘…’ is this technique and can I do it? Imagine my surprise when I found out
that there are just two simple passes involved, going from right to left, and
returning back from left to right. No counting of stitches, no special
instructions on how to turn at the end (beginning) of the rows, nothing. A man,
a child, a person who never crocheted before, an idiot can do this a do it
well; just very simple hook and pass. I tried it immediately and it was so fast
and so regular looking. No distortions, straight up!
I am so
in love with this technique now! I can tell I will be addicted to this for some
time, trying and applying quite a few stitches that all the people ‘smarter than
me’ came up with. Now I have to go back to all those books and look up just the
sections on Tunisian Crochet. I already hit the YouTube trying to learn as much
as I can.
So at
the end of today’s blog, I apologize to you, Tunisian Stitches! ; Sincerely and
whole heartedly. I was an idiot but no more. I will spread my love for you as
far as I can and tell everybody about your beauty. Next time I am here, I
better have some prove of my love and pictures to go with it.
Friends,
don’t be fools like me, get your Tunisian Crochet hooks and try it! And don’t
forget to teach me anything great you learn as I have a lot of catching up to
do.
Thank you Joe!!!
This is Joe's project that inspired me to change my 'crochet life'.
http://knitting.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=knitting&cdn=hobbies&tm=46&gps=81_10_1024_673&f=11&su=p284.13.342.ip_&tt=3&bt=1&bts=1&st=9&zu=http%3A//www.queerjoe.blogspot.com/
