Many years ago, well, more than I would truly like to recall, I spent a summer in my grandmother's house. I loved that white frame house nestled among the oaks and surrounded by wonderful, fragrant gardens! This particular summer my grandmother, Mammy, was caring for not only me but her mother and mother-in-law too. My great-grandmothers couldn't have been more different and their needs were sometimes extreme. I realize now that Mammy was a saint! Although Scooty (Mammy's mom) and Granny (Pappy's mom) were different as night and day in temperment they shared a love for hand sewing and crocheting. Those ladies could turn out the crocheted doilies, shawls, and afghans. As an 8 year old I was fascinated with the speed of their hands as they worked their hooks. Crocheting was probably one of the few things they agreed on AND they agreed to teach me to crochet. I look back on the experience with tenderness because they really gave me a special gift,...a legacy of hand-work. That summer was a trying time for Mammy but for me it opened a wonderful opportunity to bond with my great grandmothers. I didn't realize there was conflict. After all I had two plenty giving me their undivided attention and I soaked up all they could teach me.
As I reached my teens I put aside my crochet hooks for other pursuits and the basket lay idle for years. Oh, I would dabble here and there but sewing, embroidery, and knitting were pursued with greater passion. However I recently purchased a pattern, the Anne Scarf, from MK Carroll. I had seen it on Ravelry and was in love. It reminded me of all that beautiful lace that had been crocheted by my great-grandmothers. Late Saturday evening I decided to begin the Anne Scarf. Once I trusted the pattern rather than anticipating how I thought it should go the motifs just appeared. When I finish the scarf above, which is made with Caron's Simply Soft, I am going to track down some beautiful alpaca and crochet another one.
So if you need a change of pace from your knitting or other hand-work I highly recommend trying the Anne Scarf. I just sense that Scooty and Granny are looking down from heaven waving their crochet hooks and cheering me on!
