Crochet: an inadvertent bucket list check

I’ve been keeping a secret from you for a while now. It wasn’t intentional or malicious, I just haven’t mentioned it. Or if I have, I haven’t been my usual obnoxious self about it.

By that I mean that I haven’t been incessantly posting photos and shouting at you in all capital letters about CHECK OUT ALL THIS COOL STUFF I MADE.

Because that right there is my secret. I’ve been making things. Crocheting things, to be more precise.

Fun secret, eh? (That pictures represents the look on every one of your faces right now. I know it.)

Way back last May, I wrote a bucket list.

Then I promptly forgot about it. It wasn’t until just 30 seconds ago, in fact, that I remembered it. And only then because I used the search bar to find old posts about crocheting in my own blog and it popped up.

You know how you know you write too much random crap? Read that last paragraph again. Yeah, that’s how.

Anyway, #3 on my list was “learn to crochet”. Well, BIG FAT CHECK MARK THERE because? DONE and DONE.

I’ve mentioned it in passing on several posts (I’d link to them here, but I’m lazy you know), but I did actually learn how to crochet. I taught myself, in fact, using a great book – Happy Hooker (yes that was an awkward interaction when I asked the librarian if they had it) – and the wonderful world of youtube.

In truth, I really learned how to crochet back when I was about 12 years old from my Grandma, but I haven’t done it since I was….oh, 12 1/2 years old. (Short lived hobbies are my specialty.) Which means I’d long since forgotten how.

It’s kind of like riding a bike, as it turns out.

In the past few months, I’ve made many things. Most of them you’ll have to take my word for, because I didn’t take pictures of all of them. Trust me though. I crochet like a mad woman. You might say I’m a crochet ninja.

Some things I made without photographic evidence include a scarf for my brother in law, a scarf for my mom, a new pair of wrist warmers for myself at work.

Butto satisfy those of you who are doubting my mad ninja crocheting skills, I have some pictorial proof.

I have also made two infinity scarves for myself. One (above) with a fancy stich called “puff stitch” and one with just your basic stitches, but made with the coolest, softest yarn that I just love.

Seriously guys, every time I wear this scarf (which is probably far too oftenI just want to curl up into a big ball and cuddle with myself.

Also what’s up with the crazy eyes here, Katie?

And then, over Christmas, I made this great hooded scarf. I mean, come ON. I would wear a hoodie every day if I could. I would wear a scarf every day…wait, no I pretty much do. I am always cold.

A hooded scarf?!?! That’s so….Katie.

The only problem is that I didn’t make it for myself. I made it for a friend. For Christmas.

Right so I haven’t actually given then scarf to said friend yet and sure it is sitting on my kitchen table staring up at me practically begging me to wear it every day, but thus far I have resisted its calls.

I’m not sure how much longer I will be able to say to it though. I’ve only got so much willpower, you know.

The best part about crocheting, that makes it cooler than knitting (other than just the fact that it is a new and shiny hobby and I’m drawn to new and shiny things) is that it is so much faster than knitting. The stitches are bigger so things just happen faster.

Plus you can make cute little things with crochet stitches that you can’t with knitting.

Things like tiny little hearts.

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I whipped out three of these yesterday, completing another day of my “2013: Today I made” challenge. See my progress here.

I also have been hard at work on what is shaping up to be a super cool blanket. I’d show you progress pictures, but again, I play the lazy card; a card that is in heavy rotation around here.

Speaking of lazy….time to….ahhhh….get off the couch. Dang.

What is your favorite hobby? Doesn’t have to be crafty, but if you had an extra hour, what would you do with it? That’s probably your favorite hobby, right there.