NIC March Meeting, 2009 photos.

We had a fashion show from the Double Stitch Twins at the March, 2009 meeting of the Northern IL Chapter of the crochet guild of america. Their crocheted shawls are versatile and imaginative in their use. It was fun and delightful to see their overwhelming enthusiasm for the art of crochet translated into their kind of fashion items.

Crocheting When I didn't know how

I crocheted this rug for my dog, Blackie, a black Cocker Spaniel who came into my family around 1954. For some reason my Mom saved it. I couldn't read a pattern, didn't know the names of any stitches, I just knew what my Mom taught me about using a hook and yarn. This is heavy rug yarn. I remember trying to figure out how to make the checkered pattern I wanted. In the close up you can see that I carried the different color yarn across, which gave the rug extra thickness. Blackie loved it. This is the only crocheted item I have from my childhood. I treasure it, even with its now frayed edges, stretched out surface and a holes here and there. In 1957 I put down my hook and didn't pick it up again until about 1997. But, as I tell my students, my fingers remembered what to do even tho I didn't. It's called muscle memory. I can always tell when a new student who hasn't crocheted since childhood comes to me to learn -- their fingers automatically know their way around a hook and yarn.

Women's Art Exhibit at Northern IL University

My crocheted sculpture WATER, Florina's crocheted scarves, Penny's crocheted huge granny square, and Diane's sewn apron are included in this wonderful exhibit in the Ronald Williams Library at NEIU in Chicago. The exhibit includes all sorts of wondrous art work - a breathtaking quilt, some scultures, photos, paintings, and more are on display.

Florina, Penny and Diane are/were part of a crochet group which meets at noon in the cafeteria at NEIU to crochet. Florina and Penny don't attend any more, but they are quite obviously still crocheting. Donna, Mary, Diane, Cindy are part of the group. I expect Martii to join us this coming week if her schedule permits. Donna crocheted a cup of coffee which was shown on the TV show, Knit and Crochet today. She downloaded (or is it uploaded -- or maybe side loaded..who knows) the pattern from their website. I am impressed that she undertook this and completed it by following the pattern -- i.e. without her teacher's help. She's on her way now. I wish she had displayed the cup in the woman's art exhibit, too. It is display worthy. I am so proud of her accomplishing this.

Northern IL Chapter of CGOA

Welcome to the World of Wiki's. NIC voted today at our meeting to create a WIKI on which we can share our mutual interests and post pictures related to crocheting. Pam will set it up in a couple of weeks, and invite all Chapter Members to actively participate, and the whole world to view it.

There were a lot of people at today's meeting, and a lot of business took place. Instead of our regular April meeting we are going to Northbrook Court on April 11th to join in the Knit Crochet demonstrations.

Also, in my meandering on the net I came across a new, or newly created word, which I like a lot -- CROCHET-A-HOLICS. Fits perfectly for most of us.

At the meeting today, I shared how I used google reader to get crochet news from all over on a daily basis if I want it on a daily basis. I passed around some of the images and information I printed from Google Reader.

Am still plugging along with my pretty blue sweater - I have so many UFO's, I don't want this to become another one of them. Addie drove me to the meeting today, because I haven't been feeling well. Was in the hospital about two weeks ago, and still recovering. It was fun being with Addie in the car again. We exchanged birthday presents, too.

Crochet-a-holics UNITE. Wonder if there's a Crochet Anonymous group out there.......

The Art of Crocheting -- a Book Review

Thursday, March 5, 2009

The Art of Crocheting A Book Review
The Art of Crocheting, published by The Butterick Publishing Co., Vol.1, No. 1, September, 1895, Metropolitan Art Series. I just acquired a reproduction of this fascinating pattern book, Copyright 2009 by Iva Rose Vintage Reproductions. The wording is very .... well ... wordy, making it fun to read and try to figure out the essential message among all the flowery descriptions.

The patterns it contains are luscious, to say the least. Many of them, especially the edgings I recognize and realize they have been passed down thru the generations.I also saw some stitches I had never seen before, such as the Upward-Chain Picot Stitche (page 7), and the Downward-chain picot stitch. There is also a new vocabulary for me -- tidies, fascinators. I think Tidies might be handkerchiefs. Fascinators are head scarf turbans. The Tunisian stitch is called the Tricot Stitich. On page 11, there is the Double Gobelin Stitch which looks like a variation of the Tunisian stitch, but the name is intriguing. There is also a Scollop Edging which resembles of bunch of bananas in the middle of lacey wheels.The following blurb is taken from page teaching the Chain Stitch The methods of beginning a chain are numerous, and varied according to the manner of holding the thread or the proficiency of the work; and generally, if the method is awkward, it is the outcome either of incorrect instruction or none at all. This is the tone of the whole book

.The patterns for dresses, coats and all sorts of aparel reveal the elaborate fashions of the day. There is a pattern for a child's petticoat which looks like a party dress to me. In Sherlock Holmes films there are women wearing these ruffled capes tied at the neck with a bow. There are a few patterns of these which probably could be adapted for use today, and certainly would be a show-off, one-of-a-kind, conversation piece. Some of the hats for children are not of this day, especially the Tam O'Santer Cap. There is a cute child's toboggan Cap and a striped scotch cap.I guess the most unusual pattern is the one for crocheted horse's reins trimmed with small jingle bells. Maybe I could make these for Chicago's police horses!!! Seriously, tho, a Russian Apron pattern draws me to it. Tho the illustrations are all in black and white, it is obvious by the differing designs in the apron that this could result in a bright, colorful apron. There are also patterns for "Four-In-Hand Neck-Ties", an umbrella case, a silk watch fob, foot warmer (not slippers) and beatiful crocheted bags. There is also bead crochet used on a miser bag and a crocheted garter (ouch). On page 83 there is a crocheted shawl with Princess' Feather" border. This border is breathtaking with its circles and swirls - it looks like a piece of art even in black and white.There is a little bit of all kinds of crochet work here...the stitches are the same -- there is a saying that nothing stays the same -- but the stitches are the same. The love of crocheting is the same, the fashions and yarns are different. Judging from this delightful 1895 book, crochet is here to stay, and the single crochet st whatever its name might be, will be here as long human kind. And I am CrochetKookie.

Focus

I started crocheting a sweater where I have to count the stitches. The sweater in the pattern is quite pretty. Counting the stitches improves my concentration - and drives me nuts -- its count 2 front, 2 back, etc. and then at the end and beg under both loops. I thought after the first few rows I would do this automatically but when I tried that I didn't end up the row at the right spot so I went frogging. I also had to adjust the pattern to fit my volumptious size, so I hope it fits.

quilted bras

You have to see this to believe it. Go to www.quiltersofsc.org/artfullbras/artfullbras.htm This is so creative, cool and totally hilarious.....

Crocheter's Birthday

My Mom taught me to crochet -- I come from a family of crocheters. I still have a rug I crocheted from bulky rug yarn for my little Cocker Spaniel, Blackie. It is pink and blue squares. I was using a special technique to create the squares. I had never seen a crochet pattern at that time. The rug must be about 50+ years. I will take a foto of it and post it on this blog. The foto is of my Mom in Burlington, Iowa.

Today, Feb. 22, is Mom's birthday. She was named Martha after Martha Washington the wife of George whose birthday is Feb. 22. My swedish grandmother and her many sisters and relatives crocheted and knitted. My aunt Elsie, my Dad's sister, crocheted all the fine altar linens for St. Mary's church. I didn't pick up a crochet hook for about 35 years, but when I did my hands remembered the moves. I found someone to teach me how to read and a pattern and helped me advance beyond the single crochet I did as a child. After 4 lessons, my teacher said I didn't really need her anymore - I could read a pattern, and she told me that I just needed the confidence in crocheting which she gave me. I took off like a rocket after that, and haven't stopped.

Technology

The explosion of technology, computerized communication, has reached me, but alas, does not seem to have reached the crochet community which is a definite deficit. Pam from the NIC of CGOA is working to change that by suggesting a crochet chapter blog. Unfortunately I missed the Feb. meeting where she suggested it, but someone brought up using a WIKI instead. Either would be great, and would be a step towards joining the tech society to promote crochet.

One example of using tech crochet is what happened when I subscribed to Google Reader. I told the Reader to search for the word CROCHET -- I was blown away at the results -- tons and tons of blogs, published articles, website, news items appeared. I chose several to subscribe to so I receive news from these whenever I pull up my Google Reader. It is a gold mind find. There was a crocheted, life-size gas station, complete with the pumps. In another article, the government is after someone who is crocheting covers for trees, light posts, stop signs, posts, etc. They want him/her to stop decorating their town with crochet. Imagine having the law after you for crocheting! Fun.It's titled Anonymous Crocheter hits Parkersburg. Really great stuff. Someone is promoting crocheted Dahlias. They are about 5 feet talk, basically round but resembling a candy corn shaped human being. He's wants all crocheters to join in and populate the world with these Dahlias. There is a crocheted car - yes I said CAR on the Web. I think the CAR should visit the gas station don't you? Somewhere there is a giant water tower covered with a giant crocheted cover on it. Crochet is comforting - I guess even for a lonely water tower! Maybe we could put together a crocheted town - the gas station, near the water tower and the car parked at the gas station!!! My imagine is getting the best of me. There is an article about Crocheting Combined with Dance, reported in The Weekly Volcano out of Tacoma.The Crochet World has Exploded. In order to promote it we need to know about it - and hi tech is the way to go.

I have a WIKI created for a group of 7 of us who went Mallinckrodt in Wilmette together, way back when. Using the WIKI is so easy This WIKI is not open to the public, but by invitation only. It's just for us girls to share memories, fun, photos and keep updated on each other's lifestyles. I may open it up to the public eventually because I am looking for the rest of us in our group, and perhaps they might find us on the web, but right now it is a nice little cliche or soon will be- I just started the WIKI and am still designing it, so I haven't invited the rest of the group yet. It is called SEVEN S'ters.

There is even a sorta contest for the ten best Crochet Sites, and the ten most subscribed to sites. NIC could be one of those. To learn more about using the worldwideweb read a book called BLOGS, WIKIS, PODCASTS by Will Richardson. OHHH speaking of podcasts, there are some of those on the net, too. I haven't found a lot of them, but boy oh boy what a great way to showcase crochet. We could video one of the NIC meetings or teaching part and make a podcasts out of it. Podcasts are mostly just audio, but I like the VIDEO ones better. I'm doing my part to promote crochet on the net. It's the way to go. Crochet is alive and well.

Sweater

In the April, 2009 issue of Crochet World on page 24 there is a pattern for a top labeled Forsythia by Bendy Carter. It is beautifully simple. I am going to crochet it for myself. I seldom make clothes for myself, mainly because I need the super-size, and crochet patterns don't come in super-size. This one at least goes up to a 46. I will figure out the dimensions to fit me, and then write out a super-size pattern for me.

DD not DUI

My crocheted Pinky No Drinky has taken on an additional form - that of a pin-on button. The person wearing the Pinky button will NOT drink or be served alcholic beverages because he or she is the Designated Driver of the crew. The only Pink Elephant the Driver will see is on the button. Wearing PINKY is a pledge to safely drive everyone home. Designated Driver eliminates Driving Under the Influence and saves lives. DD not DUI.
Pinky No Drinky is the creation of me - Dorothy P. Schmidt - in memory of my brother, Frank J. Schmidt who died from alcoholism.
These buttons are for sale.

Crocheted Christmas Stockings

Granny (almost) square Christmas stockings waiting for St. Nick to fill them.

Crocheted Mouse

Addie crocheted this cuddly cute mouse for her daughter's cat. The colors of the cat and mouse are so similiar that you almost can't find the cat. Look for the shiny eyes and build the cat around them. I don't know the cat's name, but Addie certainly did a fantastic job of this bit of crochet sculpture. First time I saw a cat in a mouse - usually its the other way around.....

Positional Crocheting

Do you know that you can crochet while flat on your back? My ole back problem started up again and one of the rare ways I can get pain relief is by lying flat on my back with a couple of pillows under my knees. Boring!!! So I tried crocheting in this position. Yes, it's possible. Arms get tired quickly tho. I made a flyer advertising my Pinky No Drinky dolls for sale at $20.00 a pop, which is cheap considering they take about 5 hours each to crochet. But the cause is good. I am looking for a cheaper way to promote my Designated Driver cause tho. I would like to give Pinky away, but they just take too long to make. If anyone reading this, wants to crochet a Pinky to help the cause please do so. If you don't know to whom to give it, I will give it to some university students before Spring break.

SAVE LIVES WITH

PINKY NO DRINKY

Pinky No Drinky Pattern designed by Dorothy P. Schmidt

Pinky No Drinky

Pinky No Drinky is the only pink elephant the designated driver will see when driving the crew home after partying. Whomever has Pinky isn't served alcohol.

MATERIALS: 3 ozs pink sport weight yarn. Size E crochet hook. 1 pair 9mm doll's eyes, small amount of fiberfill stuffing or scraps of yarn. 1 stitch marker. Small amount of red embroidery thread. 1 yarn needle. (Warning: This is NOT a TOY and should not be given to small children who put things in their mouths).

GAUGE: Not important. For a larger Pinky use worsted wt yarn. Use one size hk smaller than normally used for type of yarn. This is to create a tightly woven fabric which keeps the stuffing inside the doll.

DIRECTIONS: Join each rnd with a sl st. Mark end of rnd with st marker. Use pencil eraser to push stuffing into fabric. Twist eraser as you stuff and push.

HEAD & BODY: Start with the head. Leave an 18 inch tail. Ch2.

Rnd 1: 6sc in 2nd ch from hk. Place marker in sl st. Move marker at end of each rnd.

Rnd 2: 2sc in each sc around. (12 sc).

Rnd 3: (sc in each of next 3sc, 2sc in sc) around. (15sc)

Rnds 4 - 6: sc even (15sc). Insert eyes in fabric on rnd 4. Make sure tail is on outside of head.

Rnd 7: (sc in next 3 sc, dec 1) around. (12sc)

Rnd 8: (sc in next 2sc, dec1) around (9sc). DO NOT FASTEN OFF. Stuff head.

Rnd 9: sc even (9sc).

Rnd 10: inc around (18sc).

Rnds 11 & 12: sc even. Mark rnd 11 with small piece of scrap yarn.

Rnd 13: (sc in each of next 2sc, 2sc in next sc) around. (24 sc).

Rnds 14 & 15: sc even (24sc).

Rnd 16: sc in next sc, dec 1) around. (16sc). Mark rnd with scrap yarn.

Rnd 17: sc even. Stuff body.

Rnd 18: dec 1sc around (8sc)

Rnd 19: rep rnd 18 (4sc).

Leave a 10-inch tail. Fasten off. Add more stuffing if needed. With yarn needle weave tail through sc of rnd 19. Pull closed. Secure with 2 bk sts. Cut yarn.

ARMS: Make 2.

Rnd 1: ch2, 5sc in 2nd ch from hook (5sc).

Rnd 2: 2sc in each of next 5sc. (10sc).

Rnds3-5: sc even. Stuff.

Rnd 6: dec 1 sc around. (5sc). Leave a 12 inch tail for sewing arm to body. Fasten off. Add more stuffing if needed. With yarn needle weave tail thru rnd 6. Secure with 2 bk sts. Don't cut yarn. Use tail to sew arm to rnd 11,

LEGS: Make 2.

Rnd 1: ch2. 6sc in 2nd ch from hk. (6sc).

Rnd 2: 2sc in each of next 6sc. (12sc).

Rnds 3-7: sc in each sc around. (12sc). Stuff

Rnd 8: dec 1 sc around. (6sc). Leave a 12 in tail. Fasten off. With yarn needle weave tail thru rnd 8. Pull closed. Secure with 2 bk sts. Use tail to sew legs in place, starting with rnd 16 of body.

TAIL: Ch6 and attach ch to lower part of body at the back. Fasten off.

NOSE: Start from narrow end of nose.

Rnd 1: ch2. 5sc in center of circle formed by joining ch2.

Rnds 2-6: sc in each sc around. Note: if you have problem finding sts, push a pipe cleaner thru center of circle.

Rnd 7: sc, 2sc, sc, 2sc, sc.

Rnd 8: sc in each sc around. Leave a 12 in tail. Fasten off. Sew to face just below and between eyes.

EARS: Make 2.

Row 1: ch9, sc in 2nd ch from hk and in next 7 chs, ch1, turn (8sc).

Row 2: sc2tog, sc in each sc across to last 2sc, sc2tog, ch1, turn (6sc).

Row 3: sc in each sc across, ch1 turn.

Rows 4 & 5: rep rows 2 & 3, at end of row 5, do not turn.

Row 6: sc around edges in row ends, and in row 5, join with sl st in 1st st of row 1. Leave a 12 in tail. Fasten off. (18sc). Sew to side of head.

HANGER: Use beg tail on top of head. Sew free end of tail to top of head to form a lp for hanging.

FINISHING TOUCHES: For mouth use red thread and bk st a mouth under nose. Optional accessories: a string of beads around the neck, a pair of doll glasses on nose, a jump ring or earrings in ears, a ribbon around neck or on end of tail.. http://www.crochetkookie.blogspot.com/

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/"> This pattern is copyrighted under the Creative Commons License. Please link to this url to see how and that you may copy and use it.

Media Technology

I am taking a course at NEIU called Media Technology. It is for teachers. I am not currently teaching, so I have been applying the information to other areas. One area, of course, is crocheting. In this course I create music using the MAC, garage band, I tunes, create slide shows, a video, and learn a lot. One assignment is to create a flyer. I created a flyer about Pinky No Drinky, the little pink elephant I designed and crocheted. I never got it off the ground as a project even tho I still think it is a worth while project. The person in the group who holds Pinky is the obvious designated driver - and Pinky No Drinky is the only pink elephant that person will see.

I will write out the pattern later.

Christmas Presents

Michael's is selling GLOW IN THE DARK yarn. Of course, I had to have it. It is expensive but I bought it with a 20% discount coupon. I am starting to crochet Christmas Presents. I finished a scarf which I crocheted with HOMESPUN, and another with Caron's Simply Soft. Both show evidence of my different emotions. One evening I was really angry, I couldn't sleep. I crocheted and crocheted and crocheted fiercely. I look at the scarf now and I can see the stitches from that night! Great outlet and a lot easier than scrubbing floors. I wouldn't get an A on gauge.

I am taking a course called MEDIA TECHNOLOGY, and am reading the Non-Designer's Design book by Robin Williams for the course. It is good and I have already applied some of the knowledge to both my crocheting and my work. However, Robin, the author, really has a couple of things wrong, and I am sorry she is talking as if she is the expert in the field because if she were she would know better. She inisists that only one space be placed after the period of a sentence instead of the two we use now. She says this applys to typing on a PC. How wrong she is!! A PC is a lot easier to use, but the end result is a printed page for both ways. And two spaces is more pleasing to the eye and more organized to the eye. She also has a couple of flyers which she considers better than some others, but I sure don't. Anyway, I found out that I am actually using colors in appropriate combinations. She should stick to colors and design not punctuation rules for text.

Yarn, darn I need more yarn

Yarn, yarn everywhere, but darn oh darn

I need some more!

I need 3 skeins of delf Homespun to finish the extra long scarf I am making to give to my giant-sized nephew. Lordy, I grabbed 3 skeins from my stash in the basement--when I got upstairs into the light - one was WATERFALL and two were delf.

Please Lord, let Michael's still have at least one skein of DELF (what a stupid name for a pretty blue).

Thanks Lord, they did. Of course, I brought home the needed skein, plus several other skeins of different colors because you just never know I want to make more scarves like this -- Of course, again, I have a whole big-ful of Homespun yarn and since I don't really like crocheting with it, just like the end product - it will (not) get used us quickly.

Entries from Crochet Challenge, Aug 2008

Which one of the following crocheted entries motivates you to conserve water?

Crochet Contest August 2008

The NIC Crochet Challenge for this year resulted in my entry which is pictured here to the right comeing in second place for the most creative use of the theme.

My entry consists of three bathtubs, a crocheting mermaid, a starfish, and a sign on a vine covered post. All this laid out on a checked rug similar to tile found in a bathroom. It was a tremendous challenge for me. The nylon granny scquares for the

rug were difficult because they were small, crocheted with smaller size Omega nylon cord, and had to be put together in certain directions. Trying to find some material to crochet so that it looked like water was really fun - I tried different materials

and finally decided on fishing line - and it was perfect. It is clear like water, and when crocheted it kept curling up so that it looked like suds, and wavy water. It was a bugger to crochet and

I learned to follow the lead of the material since it was so stubborn and would follow my lead -- sometimes you just gotta go with the flow, and let the material talk to you. I listened and went with the bent of the fishing line and it is just perfect.

I was terribly disappointed to come in second when I saw the entry that came in first. It was gorgeous, creative and beautifully done, but how does it illustrate the need for water more than mine with the littlest duck asking WHERE'S MY WATER? and looking at his empty bathtub.

After talking to a few people and showing them the photos, I came to the conclusion that voters probably have a bias toward clothing, and against non-functional art work. Mermaid is truly a work of art, a crocheted sculpture, and without a doubt showing the need to take care of our water supply. I think a lot of people missed the boat - and saw what they would like to wear and to crochet, rather than the meaning of the theme. Most of the people voting corchet clothing and accessories, only a few crochet art work and sculpture. But then maybe I am biased here.....

I will attach some more of the entries here because they are all unique, and I wish the whole world to see them. Also, I would like to donate my crocheted Sculpture to an organization that will use it to promote water conservation. If anyone knows of such an organization who might use this and treasure it, please let me know.

And please conserve water. here in Chiago, on the shores of Lake Michigan, we have an abundant supply, but even here in the USA there are towns rationing it, and penalizing people who go over their alotted quota. In the global community, 50% of the patients in the world's hospitals are there because of contaminated water or the lack of any water. To survive we humans need 1) air to breathe(survive about 5 mintues without it) 2) water to drink(survive maybe 3 days without it 3) food to eat (survive maybe a month without it).

Water

Water, water, everywhere and not a drop to drink. I am doing my part to not make that come true. The Chapter Challenge is only a couple of weeks away. I am ready with my entry.

I needed a belt to hold up my shorts, so I crocheted one using omega nylon because it doesn't stretch like yarn -- well guess what -- it stretches and my shorts were sagging and dragging, and woulda fell off if I didn't have hips like battle ships.

Socks

The problem with crocheting socks is that I have to make them both the same size, or at least, almost the same size. I am crocheting a pair of bright yellow socks for myself. I had to put them aside for a bit, and then when I came back to them, I forgot the exact stitch pattern I had been using, so I guessed. However, I was guessing in a movie theatre before the show (Nim's Island) began and the theatre got really dark. I was using a lighted crochet hook, but that didn't lite up my brain any. Sooo, now I see that I crocheted the first several rows using the double crochet front post stitch, and the last few rows using a single crochet front post stitch. Now I'm on the second sock at about that point -- should I try to make my mistake again, or correct it. neither sock is finished. When I got to the point of wanting to try on the mistaken sock, I was eating my lunch at work -- and the prospect of taking off my shoes and socks, and eating my lunch, and trying on a half sock, well--I didn't. I think I won't make the mistake in the second sock. If anyone notices I'll just point out that I don't like perfectly matched pairs of socks.

Runny Nose Scarf

A friend of mine, Addie, broke her wrist. A year or two ago I gave Addie one of my Runny Nose Scarves. It is a crocheted scarf with a pocket at one end. I designed it for myself because when I go out in the cold my nose starts running and I have to run after a tissue to catch my nose! Usually the tissue is buried in my purse - and its just too cold to take off my mitten and do a search and rescue in my overloaded purse. What's the saying? Pracitcality is the mother of invention??? Anyway, I designed a scarf with a pocket at one end. I made the pocket a contrasting color so I didn't have to figure out which end of scarf had the pocket. In the pocket I put a few tissues, ready to grap when I had to catch my runny nose. It turned out to be the perfect solution. Quick and easy tissue. No more hunting, and no more (when no one was looking) wiping my nose on my sleeve. Yuk! But what's a lady to do...
Anyway, after Addie broke her wrist, she couldn't fit a glove very that hand -- but having an inventive, creative crocheter's mind -- she used the pocket to keep her ungloved hand warm!!!

Women's History Month Art Exhibit

Northeastern IL University has an exhibit of art submitted by female students and employees. The top picture shows my Cardiologists Dream crocheted wall-hanging -- the one with the hearts, as well as the long narrow painting done by my office=mate, Diane. The second foto shows one wall of the exhibit. It is in the Ronald Williams Library at NEIU, and is just for the month of October. In addition to the above, one of my most enthusiastic determined students, Florina, has exhibited three of the first items she crocheted while working with me. The cutest is a pair of mittens crocheted for her daughter. Unfortunately they are in a glass case just below a bright florescent light, and simply did not photograph well because of the light. So I guess you'll just have to come to the library to see them. NEIU is located near Foster and Kimball in Chicago, with the Library right in the middle of the complex. If you do come, stop and say hello to me in the Classroom building, third floor. A better foto of the wall hanging is in a previous date in this blog. As Always I am your Crochet Connection!

Art Exhibit

Northeastern IL University is celebrating Women's History month with an exhibit of art work done by women students and employees of NEIU. Exhibit starts tomorrow. I've entered my crocheted wall hanging CARDIOLOGISTS DREAM. Come and see the exhibit. NEIU is located on Chicago's northside near the intersectons of Bryn Mawr and Kimball. The exhibit is in the Ronald Williams Library.

Mind Crochet

Today, at Cardiac-Rehab, when I arrived the nurse, Judy, wouldn't let me start exercising because my blood pressure was so high. She told me to just sit and wait for it to go down. I hate doing that. I am eager to exercise. Telling me to RELAX just doesn't work. I sat, decided to use my mind to lower my Blood Pressure. Took a couple of deep breaths, said my two relaxing words with the breathing, told my body to lower my b/p, and then tried to go to my calming imaginary place but that wasn't holding my mind, so I did what??? You guessed it -- started designing a crochet pattern in my head. My eyes were closed, and within a few minutes I heard Judy say "I want to take your B/P now." I opened my eyes, and there she was with the cuff. I told her "I was meditating." She said "I could tell. It worked. Your heart beat went down 32 beats." Then she took my B/P again and said it went down, too, and I could start exercing now! Wow! The wonders of the mind -- and the wonders of Mind Crochet! I can't tell you what I designing because I might use it for the NIC Chapter Challenge, WATER.

M I N D C R O C H E T lowers Blood Pressure and Heart Rate!

A Brain Crochet Design (A B C D) or I hate dentists

I don't like going to dentists or doctors or sitting in

Waiting Rooms. I especially don't like

dentists - I've fainted in dentist chairs more

than once, so great was my fear- I can

actually use the word "terror" to describe

how I used to experience dentists. That's not

the case now-I worked hard to overcome that

sense of terror - but I still don't like them.

One of the ways I use to keep myself calm and "relaxed" in the dentist chair is A B C D crochet. I design a crochet pattern in my mind! And yes, it works. I've been doing this for about four years - and have produced some unique and pretty crochet pieces. After I design them in my head- I go home and crochet them!!! This makes going to the dentist a creative tolerable, almost welcome challenge. I've tried thinking about other things at the dentist - relaxing in the sun, sitting in front of a warm fireplace, all the comfort spots I've ever experienced - but nothing absorbed my mind - until I tried Mind Crochet. I don't plan ahead for this-once I'm in the dentist chair-I go to the Design Studio in my head-I picture myself walking into Dodie's Design Studio, surrounded by colorful yarn and crochet hooks and gadgets. Then I sit down in my very comfortable (dentist chair) recliner (and even I have to admit those dentist chairs are comfortable). Then I start crocheting.

....

My first Mind crochet project was what I call a recliner wrap because I shaped it to keep me warm and comforted and protected in the dentist chair recliner. It is now covering my recliner at home! I didn't have time to finish designing it in the dentist chair, but it was enuf of a start for me to go home and sketch my Recliner Wrap in color on paper, and then crochet it in reality. Way to Go! My next Mind Crochet project was a pair of earring crocheted with dental floss. Later, I went home and crocheted several of them, and gave some to my dentist and his staff during my next dental visit. I never did tell him how I crocheted these in his office uding Mind Crochet. Another project, by this time, I've lost track of the order in which I dentist chair designed them was a stuffed animal to hold in the dentist chair. You get the idea... it's all in the mind. My next visit is in May-wonder what I will crochet in his dentist chair then.....

Crochet Poem

My co-worker, Diane Rumsfield, wrote the following poem, titled Crochet Poem. However, if I could I would change the title to CROCHET CONNECTION. Thank you, Diane.

To be a crocheter
connecting your stitches
of wool or acrylic or cotton;
To shape a creation
of your own design or
from pattern in vogue or forgotten--
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Select a hook, a weight, a hue;
and as each loop is drawn into
the next, and stitches formed from strands,
the rhythm travels from your hands
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To the place where soul and art meet,
To the tempo of your heartbeat.
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Diane explained that she changed the meter of each stanza because the rhythm of crochet stitches changes, and she wanted to illustrate that by changing the rhythm in her poem. Very creative. Diane is also a quilter, painter and does a bit of crocheting, too.
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Art of Crochet

"Crocheting has been likened to meditation in the way the repetitive movements of the crochet hook and yarn relieve stress. Another emotional benefit is the pride and pleasure you can derive from a completed crochet project that you can use of give as a gift." - Maran Illustrated Knitting and Crocheting, page 220. ISB 1-590200-862-3. I found this book in the Rolling Meadows Library. I don't usually read books that cover both Knitting and Crochet, but I grabbed this one while waiting for the Crochet Guild meeting to begin. I am impressed by the Crochet Section. This illustrations and directions for crocheting are TOP NOTCH. They would be a good teaching tool for crocheting. I think that if I buy a book about crocheting AND knitting, I am wasting my money because at least half the book is of no value to me since I don't knit, but this book's crochet illustrations might just be worth it.
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Also, DID YOU KNOW? The word crochet comes from the French word croc which means hook. This is according to a delightful book titled STORYBOOK CROCHET, page 111. If you like 3-d crochet, and crocheting dolls, this is a must-read book.

I thank Gwen for choosing WATER for the Chapter Challenge theme. Since water does not have a shape of its own, the entired will be quite diversified and, hopefully, imaginative. I real challenge to creativity. I have eagerly started on my project. I also am hoping that somehow we can garner some publicity for the CGOA with this project as well as promote the cause of conserving water.