You may be asking yourself what fear has to do with crocheting. So much more than you can ever imagine! Fear keeps us in a rut: using the same yarns, shopping the same paths, befriending the same kinds of people. Refusing to change our perspectives and viewpoints is much like using the same colors of yarn with the same stitch. Quite frankly, it is boring, wrong, and keeps us trapped. As artists, we know that variety, changing things up, having a new viewpoint, and trying a new medium can all totally change the end result, enriching our work and propelling us forward into new ideas.
For the past month, I have been crocheting in monotone colors, first blue and now white. I am so incredibly bored. Even though, texturally, the stitches are interesting, monotone crochet is not my cup of tea. Put all of the textured squares together, and it is quite exciting. But right now, in the middle of this afghan, it is mind-numbing and plain hard work. I know, I know, you never hear me say that about yarn, crochet or afghans.
Fear and Crocheting
The fear of changing my mind has kept me here in this monochrome rut, but I am close to the end of this crochet blanket.
(Actually, it is the overabundance of white and blue yarn in Yarntopia that is keeping me on track — and the fear of having to buy more yarn. I just hope I can finish both of these afghans without needing to buy any more yarn!)
Stepping Out of My Box
Your fear may be different. It may be fear of color, fear of new stitches, fear of commitment to crocheting an afghan, fear of trying something new, or fear of being seen as different. Kick that fear out of your life and move on! Just start step-by-step, and you will soon overcome it.
I am a person that likes the same things, same foods, and same restaurants. I know this is because I have some food issues that result in migraines. Fear of migraines has kept me from trying new foods and new restaurants. But, I have been making myself try new places and order new food. I will say that some of the food I’ve tried is not my thing or too incredibly spicy-hot. But, some has been wonderful. So, my thought is this: be prepared for a little disappointment when you try something new — it might not work out for the best the first time around.
A Different Kind of Creating
I have also been painting some wood planks we have for wall decorations. The first three turned out great, number four was good, and number five… well, take a look and see what you think.
Here are planks 4 and 5.
Yes, I passed grade school, and I do know how to spell ‘Merry.’ The next one is going to be ‘Christmas.’ I guess I was tired, so I quit while I was ahead. I will take another shot at it this next weekend.
So the thought I leave you with is to try something new; don’t be afraid, keep trying, and don’t give up!
Creating Washcloth Patterns
I have been on a binge creating new square patterns for washcloths or an afghan or two, and it has been disappointing. It is just plain hard work to jump the tracks and create a different rhythm in my crochet. I have frogged more than crocheted lately, but the two crochet patterns below are easy and small enough to frog without feeling like a failure.
What I am excited about is the washcloth patterns that I just released.
The first is this Ridged Stripe. It uses front post crochet so you can get used to the stitch, along with half double crochet.
Here is the Textured Stripes washcloth pattern.
Both are free downloads in the blog shop. Whip one up, place in a gift basket, add some beautiful spa products, and you have a lovely gift! There will be a total of four washcloth patterns for you to add to the basket. The two patterns mentioned above are free in the shop today and every day. Just download them and start crocheting!
Age-old Wisdom
I will say that crocheting with the full spectrum of color is far more exciting and enriching than staying with monochrome. But, as my Gran would say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” and “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”
Talk to you later,
Karen
P.S.
There will be another set of washcloth patterns coming in the next couple of weeks so keep coming back — and yes, they aren’t blue!