Let me start by saying Welcome back! So glad you joined me, either for the first time or you are a returning visitor! Here is my second blog post, which will encompass one of my favorite humans and someone who means the world to me.
First I want to share that I absolutely love learning about people's journeys. It gives me so much joy to hear about the process people went through to get where they are, the obstacles they persevered through and the people they met along the way. I will often ask people how they met their significant other, because I love hearing the stories and seeing how much happiness it brings people to share these stories too. So if I ever ask you these things, I am truly not being noisy, it just brings me complete happiness; especially the long versions.
On that note, here is my crochet journey! Strap in, this blog post is the long version.
It all started in high school, in 2009, when I decided that I was going to start taking my breaks to visit my Great Grandmother, also known as Granny Helen, who lived in Greer, South Carolina. This part of the journey is a bit fuzzy for me, so I am going to share what I remember. It was my senior year of high school and I decided that I wanted to bring my then boyfriend [and now husband] to meet my family in South Carolina. Naturally, while we were there, I was inquiring about my Granny's crocheting. She also LOVED to show off all her creations and her current works in progress, so as you may imagine we dove deep into this exploration. So much so, she decided to teach me some of her ways! I was in no way a quick learner, but my Granny had the patience of a saint and she persevered and kept teaching me. As any new crocheter knows, I did not complete this project by the end of my visit, so she sent me home with a blue size H hook and the yarn to finish. When I returned home I eventually completed the project and gifted it to my mom; it was an incredibly crooked, but soft, infinity scarf. After that project I didn't pick up a needle again. I was going off to college, and was really embarrassed about crocheting, as I perceived it to be an "old lady" hobby.
During college I continued to visit my Granny and that's when I would pick up my needle again, to learn a new stitch or two. But in between our visits I would barely touch my yarn and hooks.
It wasn't until 2013, when I really dove into my first big crochet project. I was still living at my moms house and I decided to make a blanket! I was working part time and doing my student teaching, so I found it to be a great way to wind down afterwards. After a long stretch of working on this project, I felt incredibly accomplished at the end. The blanket turned out beautiful and I even posted it on social media *Gasp*!
In between 2013 and 2015 I continued to crochet small things here and there.
I was a nanny for a family in town, and I attempted to teach the boy and girl how to crochet with what I had learned from my Granny.
I crocheted an American Flag blanket for my veteran dad.
I made a few items for my first nephew!
I crocheted a lot of scarves.
I figured out how to make hats.
I made my first piece of clothing, and gifted it to my [future] sister in law.
I learned that I hate making gloves, because after you make an awesome first glove. You then have to attempt to make a second equally awesome one.
Then in the Fall of 2015 I crocheted my first ever stuffed animal! It was for my sister in law, who was expecting her first baby that December. I was so proud of myself. I had found a free pattern online and figured that was the best way to try it out. This was also the turning point of my crochet biz! I posted my completed project on social media and a few acquaintances started asking if I can make an animal for them, as a gift for their loved one.
From there I dabbled more in stuffed animals and found complete joy in creating the various animals. I also started building up an inventory and tried different craft fairs, just like my Granny did. Through my growing process, I always referred to my Granny as my crochet CEO. Our phone conversations were always about our latest Work in Progress (WIP) and she would coach me on what to make, how much to charge and every conversation she would tell me I am not charging enough. Our visits with each other were as often as we could, and I always brought my bag of needles, my current projects and we spent most of our time crocheting together. She would teach me new stitches, she would share her patterns, and we would just enjoy each other's company. It was absolutely heavenly. It also became a little joke with our family that she would always stuff any opening in my suitcase with yarn from her stash. She would also tell me, before I left to visit her, to bring an empty suitcase to fill with yarn.
My last visit with Granny was in December 2016. Before my trip Granny was in the hospital, and we were not sure what this hospital visit would entail, but it was absolutely devastating to know I may not see Granny again. Thankfully, if you know Granny, she is a fighter and she did what she wanted. She fought through and was sent home, just in time for Christmas and our visit together.
This visit with Granny was different. At the time, I knew it was different, it felt different, she acted different, but I truly didn't understand why in that moment. Another well known fact amongst our family was Granny's comfortability with talking about death or her time, a conversation I was not comfortable with, as well as some of my other family members. One of our previous visits together I went with Granny and my Grandma to finish Granny's funeral arrangements. The whole thing made sense, she wanted to plan it the way she wanted it, but at the time it was incredibly uncomfortable to think about going back to that funeral home, for my Granny's funeral.
Going back to our visit together, Granny had a lot of trouble seeing at this point, so she did some crocheting, but it was hard for her. Instead she had me go through all her patterns, and take ones I wanted. She also had me sift through her yarn stash and kept insisting that I take yarn, and more yarn! I kept telling her I'd take more during our next visit together, but Granny was always very persistent and my suitcase was certainly busting at the seams with yarn by the end. Another thing we did, which was unusual for our visits but truly special, she went through old pictures and news clippings, sharing our family history with me. I do not remember all the little details, but I do remember how proud she was, sharing our family history. Family was always so important to Granny and she truly was the anchor to our family. There were other really special moments during that visit that I remember vividly; like when we visited my cousin Kathy, she was playing music and Granny heard a Johnny Cash song. Granny started dancing in a way I will never forget, she had us all laughing and smiling ear to ear. She told me that was how she was going to dance at my sister Liz's wedding, that was coming up that fall. Then there were moments that I don't remember as vividly about the trip, but I knew then and even now, that this trip was uniquely special in so many ways. In my heart I also know that Granny knew that was going to be our last visit together.
That was my last trip to visit Granny. Days later she was admitted to the hospital, and her health quickly declined. She had so many visitors from our family go down to visit her; they celebrated her birthday early and enjoyed the last days with her. I would get frequent calls and updates from my dad about her condition, it was never a reassuring call, but I knew she was surrounded by our family and that would bring me comfort.
Then one morning. January 26th, I saw my phone light up with my dad's name across it. I knew right then what that call was about, a call I was never prepared for, although I knew it was coming. My world shattered. My Granny had passed away. I know that I am beyond lucky to not only have my grandparents still with me, but my great grandmother for so many years. I am beyond blessed and thankful for the relationship we had and the connection we created. I am grateful she insisted on teaching me how to crochet and introduced me to my love for yarn and crochet. I continue to live my life thinking of her, remembering her and hopefully one day crocheting like her. She was an absolutely amazing women.
To this day, I still truly believe she is with me. A red cardinal will visit me often, during hard times, trying times, and during my big moments in life. I know that it's Granny making a visit and reassuring me that everything will be okay. She was there days before my wedding, before I finished graduate school, within the days leading up to my son's birth, and when I need her most. She is truly my guardian angel.
In loving memory of my amazing Granny Helen; January 26th, 2017.
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