I accidentally hijacked a thread applauding Hobby Lobby. I really really enjoy going there. To the point that my internal financial adviser often forgoes going to that store to avoid temptation. The reason I hijacked it is because I was really happy with the deals at Smiley's Yarn. Pat mentioned that she has nice yarn stash. It got me wondering who else here enjoys knitting and crocheting. What sorts of benefits does it bring you?

My grandmother crocheted. She made afghans, scarves, even skirts and purses. She tried to teach me several times as a child, but I never quite understood. For my last birthday I got myself a how to crochet set to try out my grandmothers beloved craft. I never set the time aside to actually enjoy the gift to myself. Recently I made a concious effort to have hobbies. I was finding myself stressed and always thinking about work/housework/finances. So far I have only made a couple of scarves and a pouch. I really enjoy it! I take the bus to work everyday, which gives me about 2 hours a day in commute. It relaxes me and by the time I get home I am calm and happy. So I took the plunge and decided to stock up on some yarn. I am planning on making scarves and and an afghan as Christmas presents this year. I figure this would be a dual purpose hobby. Toasty family in winter and a happier me! 

Jasmin,

    I like to knit more than crochet, although I crochet faster. LOL Figures. Anyway, I have made many a scarf, a felted purse, a top for my DD, some dish clotths and not much else yet. I would like to get started on a sweater for myself for the winter, but it's hard to get into the mood when it's 90+ degrees outside. I am hoping to get back to it soon though. I do find it relaxing to knit, but I also like to play video games, so some of my time is spent there too. Ok, one other reason I haven't been knitting much is that I (hate to admit this) hate getting gage. Pretty sad, huh? I like projects where I don't have to worry about gage. Yes, I am a lazy knitter. Like I said, sad.

Kathy

 I love to crochet and have a huge stash of yarn. I already bookmarked your site for further cruising pleasure.  : )  I am left handed so I had to teach myself, I have no interest in knitting at this point.  I am burned out on afghans, but love to crochet clothing, baby items, home decor and especially the fine filet work.  I also have a stash of crochet books that date way back in time.  I am now crocheting wash cloth, hot pad and matching apron sets out of crochet cotton thread.

 I am left handed too! I always thought that was why I didn't get it when Grandma tried to teach me. To complicate it she only spoke Spanish. I can speak Spanish also but I have discovered that it is conversational Spanish not technical how to vocabulary. On one of my trips to Hobby Lobby, I picked up some Sugar n' Cream cotton to make washcloths with. I found their patterns confusing and put it aside for now. I know it's just a matter of finding a pattern I understand. I will eventually teach myself to knit, but not until I feel that I have a strong working understanding of crochet.

 Hi Kathy! Gage is challenging. I usually try to figure to gage and pattern at home on Sunday night. That way the next morning I am content working on my project. It's an hour to work and an hour back, so it keeps me from dreading the Monday office craze.

I crochet.......took me a while to get even stitches.  I like to make afgans and baby blankets.  I think afgans thrown over the couch looks nice for winter.

I've even taugh a few people and they have made some nice things. 

I don't do as much now that I have the computer.  

 Jasminzbox ~ I am crocheting my projects with the fine crochet cotton, I find the Sugar 'n Cream to be too bulky for me.  I was very confused when I first started also so I backed off all pattern books and made alot of granny square items.  : )  In fact my one sister asked that I not give her girls anymore "square" sweaters!  lol  My next crochet project will be throw rugs or porch rugs.  I have quite a few patterns and enough yarn to make some very pretty ones to toss here and there throughout the house.

 I am teaching my husband to crochet and he is teaching me patience!  ; )  He is doing very well and wants to make a granny square afghan.  I think it helps him relieve stress and he does look forward to working on it, especially if I keep changing the color of the yarns.

I am left handed too! Very left handed! except for sports which I do right handed (throw ball etc) everything is left handed for me. I have been crocheting for years, started with doilies and filet crochet. Those were easy to follow the patterns for me. I have made scarfs, afghans etc but there is a limited use here for those items because it doens't get cold enough. I don't have patience for a regular size afghan but have made lots of baby afghans. I use the bernat cotton yarn for those because I like the feel better. I just learned to knit (right handed) and bought the kniffy knitters round loom set. I think I am going to make scarfs for gifts for my daughters friends for xmas. I am lucky because my mom can knit, embroider, crochet etc both left and right handed so she can show me how to do stuff.   I have a ebay store that I sell vintage quilt, crochet etc booklets. and I see lots of great older patterns for home decor, afghans etc that are inspiring me to do more.  There is a seniors rec centre close by that has thift sales twice a year so I buy filet crochet curtains etc for $1 there.   There are so many new crochet books out at the moment that I see at the craft book club I joined. There is a book where the woman took her grandma's doily's patterns and made jackets, shawls etc out of them.  The cover one looks like a doily pattern done on a large hook in a fuzzy yarn so I think I am going to dig out a old doily pattern and try it.  My love at the moment is crocheting with wire and beads. I have spent lots on books and materials lol but haven't had much time to do anything! just a couple of necklaces etc. There is a beautiful book on ebay but it only is available in japanese so I copied the pictures

 ~Brianscheif (sp?) I see! Maybe I will try that again with a different yarn...gotta figure out what to do with this stuff though.

~My family's  It doesn't get cold here often, but when it does everyone around here loves to embrace cold weather clothes since we rarely get to wear them. Last winter it got very cold and we even had some ice storms (again rare). The reason I figured it was a good idea is because to get a nice scarf at Target or Burlington it was $20 easy and there weren't many available. The scarves that were cheaper were just cut up fleece throws with a fringe cut into the ends (Dollar General, Wal Mart, Big Lots). This way with Smiley's, I can make them for less than $5 in everyone's favorite colors.