This is the story of an old-er lady who is learning to follow needlework patterns and to crochet (or knit) in curves.
Here’s me (Dor) 16 years old, acting in the role of a grandma. It was a play we did in high school called On Borrowed Time. They had to put chalk in my hair and painted in forehead lines to achieve a grandmotherly look (no need for all that now of course and I really am “on borrowed time!”). But as you can see, I was trying to knit even then!
An Old Girl’s Stitching Saga
It is much later but I can finally wield a crochet hook with professional verve. The problem is I only stitch in a straight line. That means a whole lot of scarves. Everybody I know has received a Handmade-by-Dor SCARF (or 2 or 3)! The Oooohs and Ahhhhs are dwindling.
Hoping to finally conquer this Handiwork Handicap, I recently took a Crochet Class at The Stitchin’ Post – in Lexington, Virginia. It was a grandly happy experience!
My new group of young, crafty (no pun intended) knitting friends cheered for my progress on a market bag, and claimed, “You are intermediate material.” As you can imagine, I was feeling pretty smug.
You can do anything now Dor.
You are an “Intermediate.”
You could even make a shawl!
And the experts at The Stitchin’ Post found a pretty shawl pattern for me to try next.
But, even after
- discussion,
- re-instruction,
- ripping,
- reworking,
- ripping,
- reworking,
- and finally ripping, I never got past Row #4.
- Translation: The pattern said “intermediate” but was really “advanced” – right?
HMMMMM.
MAYBE A DIFFERENT PATTERN WOULD HELP.
The ever helpful stitching gurus found a new pattern, this time for beginning intermediates.
And I went home again, still smugly thinking, “What a cinch this is gonna be! They are in for such a surprise!”
The second shawl did grow.
It grew bigger -and bigger- into the upside down shape of a Superman CAPE! Obviously there were some weird mistakes made somewhere.
The rather unfashionable cape was good for Halloween and a lot of laughs from the girls, but o.k.,
I’m all for joy.
So my helpful friend, Dymph, ripped it all out, which left me guess where? With two big balls of yarn.
The dedicated knitting gurus would not give up either, and insisted there would be a finished shawl “no matter what.”
TRIAL NUMBER THREE
This time we added a pointed bottom to the second pattern. Ellie crocheted the first five rows to get it started, and off I went again, thankful for the patience of lovely people, and with only slightly lower personal expectations.
The new piece grew exponentially (I have been looking for a place to use that word), and admittedly, it almost looked like a shawl. Well, almost.
And the Almost-Shawl could only be described as “grossly misshapen.”
Thankfully, my friends at the Stitchin’ Post have never seen this one. (I’m rather sorry I saw it too.)
SELF ANALYSIS AND MUTTERING:
“Maybe it will look better with blocking if I knew how to block.”
“No, it’s too long in back and too short in front.”
“Take a picture of this third attempted shawl for your blog.”
“No, it’s too embarrassing.”
So I ripped it all out and was down once again to the original two balls of yarn (now looking a bit on the tattered side).
UNDAUNTED
TRIAL NUMBER FOUR
Yes, I am still grimly determined to crochet a shawl and now on Row #5 of a new pattern. That is called “one-row-progress”
The goal now is to use up all that stretched, frayed, ripped out yarn. Forget preserving the Intermediate Status.
Happily, the new pattern is for a straight and narrow scarf,
but I will just keep stitching until it looks like a shawl.
I am ashamed, forlorn, and embarrassed, but I will return to the Stitchin’ crowd later to show them the final frayed creation. For now though, I am sticking to the straight and narrow.
Dorothy, Dorothy, Dorothy:
You are not going to stick to the straight and narrow my dear. I can “picture” a beautiful shawl made by you in the very near future!!!
Amen.
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Aren’t you cute, Dor? My mother had these same drapes in our living room! Circa 1950’s!!!!
https://grieflessons.wordpress.com/2015/05/26/meeting-an-old-friend/
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Great photos😍
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I can’t believe you recognize the drapes! And here I thought I was being mysterious about my real age. 🙂
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Near future? How near? You have a great imagination Dymph. You are one of my top-o-the-line Stitchin Guru Mentors. Thank you for your continued (and probably misplaced) hope and confidence though. ~Dorothy 🙂
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Well, with you drawing lines on your forehead, it makes it difficult for us to see how young you really are. Of course those drapes are retro for you!!!! I’m the one revealing my age!!!!
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Yes, the lines were there to confuse the reader and the drapes were from an older period before I was born. Ahem. You cannot be too old Judy because your life is a grand adventure reserved for the young.
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Too bad I’m not in your class, you would look like a super star next to me. I have faith that there will be a shaw in your future. Maybe it can sway “mission accomplished” on the back…lol.
LOVE the photo of 16yo Dor …such a beauty!
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Keep it up, Dor! You can do it. I love these photos!
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What would I ever do without your blog? It brings a smile to my face every day :). And the photos were a wonderful addition to this story – you are just as aDORable now as you were then.
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You just spread around so much happiness! 🙂
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And so where are your Mystery Photos? And where are all those fantastic photos you do anyway?
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Thanks for the encouragement Jill! I am loving the stitching challenge.
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It may be true that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” but my tombstone might read, “She tried and tried again.” 🙂
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I know, I know. I’ve been slacking with my blog :(. We just had a huge yard sale, and we were really busy preparing for that, and I’ve also been busy with Daniel doing all his applications for university. Everything is done now, so I hope to get back to blogging very soon. I don’t think I’m going to do the mystery photo anymore though. I just want to get back to my trip photos :).
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I love your pictures and your humor. It is always such a pleasure to read your posts! 🙂
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Think of it as a lot of exercise. My Mom was great at all that including tatting. I could do it but it never was as straight and consistent. Good luck with your next attempt.
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Oh, Dor, you are such a stitch! (sorry, couldn’t resist the pun!) I couldn’t do this either, but at least you don’t give up like I would. Absolutely LOVE seeing the young version of your still lovely self!
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What are the odds you would have photos of yourself as a hot young thing holding knitting needles? That is just the best! I can totally see you in those photos, Dor, and figure it’s only a matter of time before you’re whipping out those shawls lickety-split.
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Oh, I am looking forward to your return and those trip photos were always fantastic! Hurry! 🙂 P.S. Hope the yard sale was successful and Daniel got into the school he wants. 🙂
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Thank you Sunshine! You make my day too. 🙂
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That’s it Kate – I’m going to think of all this needlework as “exercise.” Believe it or not, my arm and fingers are sore anyway from clenching the crochet hook. Clenching teeth too so there may be dental bills. 🙂
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Did Barbara tell you she belongs to a group called The KnitWits? Glad you like the young version pics… I’m wondering where that girl disappeared to. 🙂
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Your confidence is inspiring Barbara, especially in the face of my recent ripping repeats. 🙂 And glad you enjoyed the photos of this “hot young thing.” Ha! 🙂
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Yes, the yard sale was very successful and Daniel did get into the school he wanted :). Then it was all the other applications like residence, entrance bursary, and financial stuff. He will hopefully be in an apartment style residence with his own room but a common kitchen and living room, so I have also been out shopping for bedding, towels, dishes, etc. Now we wait for confirmation of everything.
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Hi Dor: Loved the photos! I think I still have a lamp like that in my home. Can’t wait to join you and the stichin gals. I, too, can crochet but not knit. I’d be a good companion for you, i.e. same level! Tried knitting many moons ago with our old friend MB but had to give it up mid-stream, too stressful for me, (two needles are worse than 1). May be in your area the end of July, hope you are there as well.
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Hey Laura! So good to hear from you and to know you are at my crochet level. I will be here in July – all the graduations will be over! Looking forward to seeing you. 🙂
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I remember all that but had conveniently blocked it all out. It’s such a huge transition for a young person and maybe a bigger transition for Mom and Dad. 🙂
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So true!
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You can do it! Those lovely photos of a “little bit” younger you were foretelling. 😉
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I will keep on trying, but am way past the foretold age of success. 🙂
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