Last weekend I joined 7 women in a cosy cabin to be taught by Lucy Chaplin how to be hookers! Now I know some of you will be jumping to conclusions, but let’s just take a reality check here. I don’t think in my advanced years there would be any income to be made from selling my favours! Of course you may already be aware that once you can master the basics of crochet, you can proudly call yourself a hooker. The cosy cabin is home to the Loop De Loop Studio, known as the Den of Yarniquity, and is based at the award winning Yarn Etc wool shop on Knaresborough Road, Harrogate.
We were all crochet virgins, but with the benefit of Lucy’s patience and guidance, we spent 3 hours mastering crochet stitches – mainly chains and trebles. By the end of the session we had all completed a kind of sampler.
When I got home I couldn’t wait to practise my newfound skill. But what to make? Well, I thought, as a keen gardener, flowers should come into it. I consulted an amazing website recommended by Lucy – Attic 24 – owned by another Lucy, and another Yorkshire based business. I homed in on a pattern for a hellebore flower – seasonal I thought. I nearly gave up on the first petal – there were a few more stitches involved than I had in my repertoire – double crochet, double crochet decrease and half treble. However there were clear instructions and photos, so eventually after quite a bit of unravelling and swearing, my first petal materialised. There was no stopping me – another 4 and some woolly stamens later and I had something sort of resembling a Christmas Rose.
It came to mind while I was hooking that there will be many bouquets of flowers in circulation this week. Regular followers may recall that GR and I met on Valentine’s Day, many moons ago. We’ll not be celebrating together this year (again) because yes, you guessed it, he’s away skiing the Matterhorn and other such freezing cold places. I will be babysitting the newest love of my life, Little Bud, while Rosie and Daisy go out for a meal.
Thoughts of Valentine’s Day made me think I should add a heart to my flower – so I tackled another Attic 24 pattern. Yes, I know it’s a bit lopsided, but I’m pretty proud of it nonetheless.
Rambling Rose 