YIP.7.30 – hooked!, originally uploaded by earthchick.

I have been wanting to crochet for a long time. But apparently, I just never wanted it badly enough to stay focused and finish something. A couple of years ago I bought The Happy Hooker and dabbled around a bit, but it never “took.”

When I was 8 years old, my Aunt Bonnie tried to teach me how to crochet once while she was visiting. She brought me a hook and some orange acrylic yarn and showed me how to make a foundation chain. I really enjoyed it, but then her visit was over, and she lived far away, and I had no one else to show me what to do next. I kept that orange chain in my desk for years and always wondered how you could make something like an afghan starting with a small chain like that (my grandmother cranked out ripple afghans for the whole family on a regular basis – in fact, it was really the only thing I knew about crochet, was that you did it to make afghans).

When I was on vacation, my Aunt Bonnie died suddenly and unexpectedly. When packing for my vacation, I had packed one crochet book, on a whim. After my aunt died, I found myself compelled to start crocheting. For days on my vacation, that is the only craft I did. It helped me feel close to her. And also – it is completely addictive.

I had some yummy colors to work with, left over from a knitting project I had just finished (soon to be shown). I finally made the one thing I’ve always wanted to crochet – granny squares. I love it that there is orange in each of them, a little nod to that orange yarn Aunt Bonnie tried to teach me with 30 years ago.

(This and the square at the top are both Block #117 – Granny in the Middle – from 200 Crochet Blocks)

(also Granny in the Middle)

(Block #18 – Traditional Granny)

These make me ridiculously happy. The colors are sooo juicy, and I can hardly believe I’m finally crocheting after all these years. I just want to make more squares. And more!

I have no idea what I’m going to do with them.