My mother has been knitting/crocheting/sewing for over 50 years and is an expert at all things to do with fabric and wool. She doesn't, however, possess a great deal of patience. I remember her trying to show me how to knit when I was little and because I'm left handed and she's not, coupled with the fact that she was going too fast, we both got frustrated and that was the end of that!
I don't think the way my brain works helps either. I tend to look at instructions as a whole, instead of breaking them down into manageable chunks, get freaked out by how complicated things can seem, and don't bother going any further! That and the fact I have a limited attention span has always been a big handicap. I also tend to think I can't do something if I fail at the first hurdle, 'practice makes perfect' never seemed to make sense to me. I could either do something first time round or I'd never be able to master it, or that's how my brain always used to work.
This time though I was determined!
I bought a mgazine earlier last year 'The Art of Crochet' which was on offer for 99p. I practiced with the sample of wool and hook that came with the magazine, found it tricky and put it in the cupboard where it stayed for a few months. then I discovered a friend of mine, who had also bought the mag at the same time, had actually perservered and managed to create some lovely items! That was it, I HAD to try again. Not only am I impatient BUT I am also competetive to some extent and yes, maybe I was a bit envious of her new found skill and annoyed with myself for yet another tried and failed project.
Anyway, to cut a long story slightly less long, I practiced, failed, unravelled, stomped my feet, tried again and gradually began to 'get it', allelujah!!! An epiphany, practice DOES make perfect, well maybe not perfect but a damned sight better then when I started!
I have just finished making myself a scarf with some crocheted flowers at each end. I am very proud of myself for not only creating something that looks quite pretty but also for finishing what I start for a change!
So, next time this turtle sticks her neck out, she has a nice scarf to keep it warm! :0)
Well done, Justine. That looks lovely. I remember trying to learn to crochet, and ending up with about 80 stitches on the hook, all falling off one end as fast as I jammed them onto the other! But once you get the hang of it, it's fun, like knitting, and quite relaxing. I can't knit now, even if I had the time or inclination, because TOH can't stand the sound of the needles clicking. :)
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