First, there was crochet…

With my constant nattering on about shibori experiments, you might not know I have other crafty interests. Oh, but I do. Before tie-dye, before sewing, before knitting even…first came crochet. My first diy love. It’s easy, it’s quick, it’s ….mostly it’s easy.

So every now and again, I have to put down the tie-dye and satisfy the crochet craving.

Recently, I finished one of those back-burner projects – something I had been meaning to try for years but just never put at the top of the list.

I tore into an old bedsheet to see if I could crochet up a bath mat or something cute. Oh…and I dyed it a little. Because I can’t help myself.

I tried following a couple of different tutorials that promised I could cut the sheet in such a fancy way as to make one long continuous strip, but that was a terrible lie. After much wailing and gnashing of teeth and cursing of gods, I ended up just cutting through the chaos. I was left with some long strips and some shorter strips and I had to tuck and weave ends into the project.

I did not have enough patience to crochet and tuck and weave my way to a bath mat. I gave up at about trivet size.

There are some projects that really satisfy that craft itch – even when they come with challenges and/or unexpected results. This was not one of those projects.

If I could figure out how to cut a sheet into one long strip, I would probably make some more trivets and bath mats and such. But as it stands, I don’t really want to put myself through it again any time soon.

The next time I jones for some crochet goodness, I’ll just do it the old fashioned way. With yarn.

Until next project…

stay crafty, my friends.

#Pussyhat Parade!

I attended the beautiful Women’s March in Los Angeles on Saturday, one of the highest attended sister marches supporting the Women’s March on Washington. The city center of Los Angeles was overwhelmed with peaceful marchers – organizers had expected about 80,000 attendees but 750,000 of us showed up! So many of us spent hours in packed subway cars to get to downtown, by the time I arrived there were too many people for a formal march! We just spilled out and circled the blocks around the government buildings for a few hours.

Pussyhats and the Women’s March Los Angeles, Jan 21 2017

As a first time marcher, I was thunderstruck by the creativity displayed in the sign art. I didn’t know that was such a thing!  Some were outright gorgeous, some were hilarious, others thought-provoking but all were inspiring. And it sure was heart-warming to see directly how other folks were feeling as I was. In a very real and direct way, I wanted to be involved with my fellow citizens and actively participate in community-building again. (It’s been a few months since I felt plugged in.)

And those Pussyhats!

Pussyhats at the Women’s March Los Angeles, Jan 21 2017

You are probably at least somewhat aware of the #pussyhatproject by now. But if you aren’t sure of the meaning behind it, simply put: it is a visual way to show support for women’s rights. It was originally conceived in part for supporters of the Women’s March on Washington who could not make it to DC for the march but still wanted to participate in the process. Do check out their website for more info on how to support future events with crafting and/or for patterns if you haven’t yet made your own #pussyhat.

#pussyhatproject
Pussyhat at the Women’s March Los Angeles, Jan 21 2017

My crafting obsession began with crochet – for years I was a hat crocheting fiend. Ask my family, they received hand-crocheted gifts for every holiday and birthday for a few years. While I have expanded my crafty repertoire to knitting and sewing and fiber dying & stamping, crochet (and hats!) will always be my first love. So you have to know that I was beyond delighted with all the pussyhats on display on that historic day. Here, all of my interests have collided: crafting, photography, and supporting women’s rights. Please enjoy the #pussyhats of Los Angeles!

#pussyhat
Pussyhat style at the Women’s March Los Angeles; Jan 21 2017
#pussyhatproject
Pussyhats at the Women’s March Los Angeles, Jan 21 2017

 

#pussyhatproject
Pussyhats at the Women’s March Los Angeles, Jan 21 2017
Pussyhats at the Women’s March Los Angeles, Jan 21 2017
#pussyhatproject
Pussyhats at the Women’s March Los Angeles, Jan 21 2017
#pussyhat
Pussyhats at the Women’s March Los Angeles, Jan 21 2017
#pussyhat
Pussyhats at the Women’s March Los Angeles, Jan 21 2017
Pussyhat at the Women’s March Los Angeles; Jan 21, 2017
#pussyhat
Black Pussyhats at the Women’s March Los Angeles; Jan 21, 2017
Pussyhat at the Women’s March Los Angeles; Jan 21, 2017
Pussyhats at the Women’s March Los Angeles; Jan 21, 2017
Pussyhats at the Women’s March – Los Angeles, Jan 21 2017

Do you have a handmade pussyhat?

I’d love to see it!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Pussyhat at the Women’s March Los Angeles; Jan 21, 2017

 

 

 

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