Why Crochet is Easy and . . .

Girlfriend found an old harmonica and is wandering around the house blowing into it. I took it from her just a moment ago and played something akin to "Home on the Range," which she didn't recognize, but I was surprised that I could do it. But after a second or two and with a mid-line snarky look, she grabbed it back out of my mouth and wandered off gumming a tune closer to that of the lead singer and wild harmonica player extraordinaire, John Popper, from The Blues Travelers.

Thing is, I knew, back in the day, like in the late 70's, if dad pulled out his harmonica (I think he had a few diatonics) that the night would be good good good. Dad has always been like that, true to his heart and although the heart can get in the way sometimes, a harmonica player like him can always fill the din with something other than a dog barking, a child crying or a giant fat frog croaking under your window. What I mean to say is, it's good to have someone around who turns off the news, has a beer, and plays harmonica to some Waylon Jennings or Willie Nelson like all good people should if they could. Come to think of it if you are interested, "Shot Gun Willy Sits Around in his Underwear" is a good starter song for a harmonica-along if you are looking for something to play your new harmonica along with.

Harmonica playing is easy like crochet is easy. At least, I always thought it was easy, and I know some of you may disagree, but I think crochet is honestly easier than knitting. I choose to knit most of the time because it provides a drape according to what you might see in stores and such, but crochet is kitschy in a good way. Can you make a granny square with two needles? Can you reclaim all the past that you thought was lost without a crochet hook? Can you make a nice tight rug without a hook? One that you can step on without ballet toes? (I think not.)

Really and truly, crochet is the bomb. But you just have to know what to do with it. So, I present this Spring Spiral Hat in the latest Interweave Crochet. It is totally cute but my LYS doesn't carry Collinette yarns and I thought I could substitute. (Hah! Sucker!)

So the Crochet Goddess whispers: Think again, knitter, I mean, crocheter! You are stupid! You shall not substitute without taking into account the gauge. (But I don't know how to make a gauge in crochet even though crochet by itself is so easy, Ms. Crochet Goddess.) Adjust your needle size to obtain gauge! (What? Needle size? I thought the needle I used provided a nice stitch tension so I ran with it! Please don't put me in the crochet clink [I bet they don't have one although I will say the knitters do.]) Take note of the fiber contents of your yarn if you sub! (Yadda yadda yadda!)

Good news is, crochet is soooo easy to rip. That's why it is so genius. (Crocheters, please do not take offense as I love crochet, but you gotta love the fact that it is so easy to rip.)

Speaking of offense. Don't take any from the following. I just had a funny conversation and had to share it with you:

YESTERDAY, BY THE NEW PARK, STANDING NEXT TO A NEIGHBOR'S NEW WHITE MINI-VAN, WHO WAS READING A LOCAL SCHOOL PAMPHLET WHILE HER CHILD PLAYS:

Her (as I was walking by with Chuck and Rocko): I didn't see you over there or I would have said hello!

Me: Me either. Hello! So, it looks like you're looking through your daughter's agenda. How's it going over there at her school?

Her: What? Girlfriend doesn't go to kindergarten there? It's a good school!

Me: No. She doesn't. This past year or so has been crazy, so we opted for private school. She'll probably move into public school after a couple years.

Her: But the public school is so good around here! I did so well in public school! I turned out alright!

Then, when Girlfriend walked up:

Her: Oh hi there! Your cap is so cute! It says 'Lucy!" I have one just like it!

Me: It says, 'Lucky."

Her: Oh yeah. Okay. Huh. Right. Lucky!

Anyway; I'll be re-crocheting this sucker. It's out of Gedifra California. It's cotton and acrylic and was on sale for cheap, like 40% off (which means this potential loser might only cost me $8.95 for my pleasure. Just remind me to read the pattern thoroughly, next time. I plan on removing a few stitches here and there, as if I'll need a hat in April, May or June. But, then again, it would be good to hide the roots.) 

Comments

[emily]

I'm a knitter who learned to crochet a few weeks ago, and I'm with you- it's so much easier than The Knit even though it doesn't drape at all. I'm still crocheting away though. And I still stop every few rows to exclaim how easy it is.

[Sandra]

HAHAHA...!! That story with the "Lucy" park lady just made my day, honey. That's so classic!

[Debi]

Crochet IS much easier and way faster!

You gauge swatch in crochet just as you do for knitting...crochet X number of stitches over X number of inches.

I love that "Lucy" lady got her comeuppance. :)

[Erica]

Snork! Our fabulous CA public schools at work, lol.

I agree - crochet is easier and faster. It's what got me back into fibery stuff, but now it makes my fingers numb, so I avoid it. Plus, knitting just "does it" for me more, if you know what I mean.

[Ilze]

Crochet can be quite drapy. Just use a larger hook than you think would be appropriate. This will add more space between chains and make your crochet piece drapy.

[gay]

i know only very basic crochet but would love to crochet some of the lovely things on stitch diva or knit pixie so i may have to learn. for now i have crocheted an edge on a cropped cardi and since i hade to do it three times i found out just how easy is is to rip!

[Miz Booshay]

Classic Knit and Tonic.

Loved it.

Have you seen the striped bedspread that Posey Gets Cozy crocheted? I love it so much, I think you would like it too...it is very kitchey and very crochet!

And about that "school" conversation....

welcome to my world.

[hook & needle]

I read your blog all the time!
I learned to knit before I learned to crochet, and yes, I do think crocheting is a LOT easier to rip. If I rip a knit piece, I'm starting over, frogging the whole thing.
Crochet is GREAT for baby blankets. Comes together pretty quickly... it's that whole granny square dealio you mentioned.
Anyway, great blog. :)

[Badger]

I just had to unlurk to say I love your blog and this post! I started out with crochet years ago and am only just learning how to knit (at the ripe old age of 41). I do find crochet much more intuitive, and SO much easier to fix mistakes, but I am inordinately pleased with myself for being able to knit with the cool kids now.

Oh, and I learned to play harmonica alongside my dad while listening to "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again". It's a good beginner harmonica song -- the same riff over and over.

And I, too, have a habit of saying inappropriate things to my chiropractor. So I love that you do that.

Okay, back to lurking!

[beth]

cute story, you're so good at telling funny stories

[Susan]

I agree that crochet is easy, and it's FAR less frustrating than knitting, with small children in the house. If someone decides to play with my knitting needles when I am out of the room, I lose at least a row of stitches, and have to pick them all up again, and my kids learn lots of bad words.

If my crochet hook gets removed by someone who thinks the cat would like to play with it, I may lose a few stitches, but I only have to pick up ONE.

[Annika]

What the heck? Why do people insist on taking our parenting choices as condemnations of theirs? For heaven's sake.

[Gaile]

I learned to crochet before knitting, and agree that drape is the thing - you can crochet a wall divider that'll stand up without any additional support if you use a good hardy acrylic! ;-P

I don't judge the knitters or the crocheters for their choices. Same as choices for your children. We put our youngest in French Immersion and were constantly being asked "what's wrong with learning English first?" (huh? she already spoke English!)

Parenting, especially in the younger years, always felt a little like high school to me. Moms and Dads all jockeying for some imaginary position at the front of the line, when it really should just be about the kids.

I like the colours you chose for that hat - very pretty and Spring-like!

[Laura]

That Willie song is one good remedy for this news junkie. I don't think I could ever learn to accompany with harmonica though. Shoot, that sounds so cool.

[Cynthia]

I have been thinking about checking out the IK Crochet and now I must...that hat is sweet. (I just learned how to crochet recently, and I finished a crocheted guinea pig for Easter (don't ask) and it was a blast- crocheting seems so liberating and easy to shape. As an aside, I have a very mild-mannered 9 year old pug. There is only 1 thing that will positively, 100% of the time, make him bite you: if you play the harmonica! I found out by accident- it was hilarious!

[donna lee]

I crocheted long before I decided to knit. They both have their strong points. (I've seen patterns for crocheted socks and I am not in favor of them!) but crochet can be so quick and it is truly easier than knitting, Only one needle and no stitches to drop

[Wendy]

yeah, crocheted socks would be awful.

[Xia]

Crochet rules! It is easier than knitting and ripping it is less tasking than in knitting. Love the hat!

[CraftyGryphon]

Heh. My grandmother crocheted; she taught my mother to knit first, because knitting was "so hard". So, my mom's a knitter first, and a crocheter second. So she taught me crochet first, because it was "so hard"... you get the idea. Thankfully, I wound up getting help from two generations, so I can do both. (And I can crochet a poncho just as fast as I can knit one - the trick is REALLY big needles, right?)

[darlene]

on the fun side of the ripping gauge, crochet is right up there....right next to ripping up pics of your ex, but not as fun as ripping open wrapped gifts. ripping out knitted stitches makes my heart bleed.

[summersandco]

I laughed out loud when I read this entry!!! I learned to crochet when I was about 6 years old, and I "taught" myself how to knit when I was about 25. I still think crocheting is easier, mostly because of the ripping out thing!!! I am still an over tense knitter...I am terrified of having to rip out and having to find my stitches again! I love your blog! It's good to laugh every now and then!!!

[dris]

Amagurumi -- on Amazon... mmm...

[Marie]

I love the comment about parenting being like high school-so true!! Sometimes I think its worse than middle school when I think that my (middle school) kids are more mature than some of these parents (especially moms, sadly) with their insecurities they're trying to work out through their kids for a whole lifetime of it!!! I didn't deal with that "competition" in my early youth, and I am certainly won't deal with it as a mother. You shouldn't have to excuse yourself that your child goes to whatever school you thought was the best choice for your daughter and your family. I've even heard parents talk about what college their kids get into with that same competitive streak...it never ends! Then it'll be "well, my grandchild is soooo smart, blah, blah, blah".....let.it.go. (I try to live by that) BTW--love your blog--I check in periodically for the amusing lift and you never disappoint.