Hooked!

I can crochet!!!  I love it!!!  What else can I say?

Probably nothing very earth shattering or inspiring, but i am very capable of wittering on for a few paragraphs, especially since the genuine interest initially shown by John and James seems to have lost it's spontaneity.
"That's reeaalllyy gooood, Mummy"  seems to have a slightly patronising edge - hmmm. True, I have been accosting anyone in my path, waving a few remnants of yarn in their face screeching things like - "Look! decreased trebles!"
Anyway, I thought I would share my new found skills with you here, as I know there are some who might appreciate my excitment.

I am "corrie fisted", born into the age when society was just getting over the idea that there was something wrong with being left handed. My father, also born a leftie, was forced to use his right hand at school by some rather draconian teaching methods.  It seemed a big deal to everyone  - parents, grandparents, teachers etc, so as a child I was aware of this 'handicap' and probably hid behind it to an extent. " I can't knit/crochet/peel potatoes because I am left handed".  It all sounds so unbelievably barbaric now, but it is true.  Eventually, though, I learned to knit and peel potatoes and write very neatly, and had a very happy childhood.  But I could never crochet. Many lovely people tried to show me, left handed and right handed ways.  There was just some block there - I couldn't pull the wool though - got totally tangled up and was unable to see what I was supposed to be doing.  I just couldn't find the key to that wonderful room marked crochet.
So, I just picked up the knitting pins and cast on.  I like knitting, but I am very s-l-o-w, and I get bored quickly with my current project - always drooling on Ravelry and in yarn shops for the next thing.
In fact it was in our wonderful new yarn shop the other day - Thursday, it was, when I found out they were taking names for various workshops - crochet being one.   I duly signed up for it (and the quilting, and the finishing for knitters :0 ), but then, I was hit by an irresistable urge to crochet RIGHT NOW!

Sorry - I suddenly saw a few folks nodding off at the back there, so felt I needed some pictorial stimulus!

Anyway, I found a wonderful little booklet - Crochet unravelled - for beginners of all ages - umm - that'll be me then; bought a 4mm hook and headed home to my stash basket.  It is a really good book - very concise, as the cover says, and I learned really basic but crucial things like how to hold the hook and yarn -duh - it makes such a difference!
So there I was on Friday, chaining away for all I was worth. One of the great things about crochet is that it is sooo portable - no more sharp pointy needles sticking out of the bag, or stitches unravelling.  I can just stuff the wool and hook into my pocket, camera round my neck and off we jolly well go!
By Sunday, with some extra help from the very obliging Donna, Mikey and others on Youtube, I was half trebling with the best of them - and the great thing is, I now kind of understand what is happening.  I can see how the stitches work and how they are constructed.

It isn't perfect by any means - the petals on my Daisy face cloth (Debbie Bliss eco cotton)  are a bit wonky, but I love love love the whole hooky thing.  I started this late last night, and I am almost done!
Of course there is soooo much crochet goodness out there to inspire - here, here and oh - here.  I feel as if I have stepped into a whole new world of colour.

I feel that I could almost be ready to Ripple!   What do you think?

Oh - and since this is Wednesday, and this is a bit of a yarn, I thought I would join in agin with Ginny's yarn along -quite exciting to have to add CROCHET to my linky thing.
Aside from the aforementioned Crochet Unravelled, I am  reading Amanda and Steve Soule's Rythm of the Seasons.  I will be doing a book review for The Mother magazine on this - but just lets say it will probably be favourable :)
I am also re-reading my other favourite magazines, as I feel very homey now that Autumn is beginning.  The new issues will be out in the next few days, but I am in need of a cosy country homes fix just now, so the pile of back copies are being raided.
James is completely fascinated by ships at the moment. We have quite a few books on boats and shipping, but he found this one about Hebridean shipping at the library yesterday.  it is quite nice - lots of lovely old black and white pictures and not too many dull facts and figures - quite useful for the bedtime story reader.
Well, that is me at the moment - if you stayed to the end - thank you for letting me babble on about my latest crafty fad.  I think the hook is now my best friend - I have just created a "crochet" tag on the blog, so I am sure you will see it feature over the coming months.
xxxx