From Tomatoes to Tunisian

From Tomatoes to Tunisian

Susan discovered the wonderful world of crochet as a way to pass the time and was hooked!

I taught myself at the age of 22 (no one had ever crocheted in my family that I was aware of). My college friend and I were “ashing” tomatoes – burning away all but the ash – in an “ash oven” for our final food science project in college. We were both studying to be dietitians. The ashing process took sooooo long that we were bored, bored, bored, so we went next door to the TG&Y where we happened upon some yarn and crochet hooks. Neither of us knew a thing about it, so we purchased these items as well as a crochet poncho pattern and headed back to the lab. We figured that was a great way to make time fly – and make something new!! And we were right. By the time we had completed our paper, we had also completed our ponchos – all the rage in the early 70’s, and not to be too punny, we were “hooked”!

That was 45 years ago. My friend and I went out into the world in different directions, so I lost touch with her. However, I moved from California to Texas soon after graduating to attend a dietetic internship, and crocheting saved my sanity in the otherwise busy and daunting 1-year experience. Interns often have no “excess” money during that super busy year, so I made my Christmas presents for family members, including sumptuous Barbie Doll outfits for my very young sisters using Annie’s patterns. Little did I know then that I would end of living only 20 miles from where Annie started her business in Big Sandy, Texas. After those lacy, frilly doll dresses using crochet thread, I started crocheting doilies – one of a kind for special gifts to family and friends. After I married and then became pregnant, I crocheted a baby blanket for my precious daughter-to-be and then loads of cute clothes and accessories for her. And BTW, I taught her how to crochet when she was 8 years old even though her vision is quite limited due to prematurity. She has far surpassed me and even “made up” some patterns and has added knitting to her repertoire.

My favorite cowl design; made in 2016.

When I was very little, I really enjoyed coloring “in the lines”. My picture had to be perfect for me to be satisfied. As I’ve matured, I still “color in the lines” through crocheting by using patterns designed by someone else. I want my finished product to look as beautiful as theirs and often exactly like theirs. Fortunately, now that I’m retired from a lifetime of fulfilling work, I am letting myself color out of the lines a bit, and I am enjoying creating new and different kinds of crochet by paying attention to what attracts me in nature, what I can make through crochet. I’ve used my love of crochet to make many gifts for special people including my 92-year old mom, special friends and especially for raising money through festivals and auctions where my project are sold to raise money for good causes. Though there is a group of knitters at my church, there is no crochet group, I started meeting with them monthly and doing my thing (crochet) while they do their thing. It is a 2-hr time when we are all doing something we love while gently talking and laughing together. Crochet is my delight, my chance to design items and decorate my home, my way to relax and dream and think of new projects while finishing “old” ones. I love to browse the internet to let crochet creations of others wow me and inspire. I think people who crochet are some of the most delightful people I’ve met on my journey. For my next project, I’m going to learn Tunisian crochet – something new to keep my brain cells working!

~Susan