2013 Fear Avoidance List Accomplishment 2: Filet Crochet

I did it. I completed another project on my fear avoidance list for 2013. This time in the form of a Filet Crochet project although I didn't choose white or off white for this particular project as I went with what I had on hand. 

Filet Crochet didn't have the fear associated with it like the Granny Squares did. It was more of a lack of confidence that comes from being told your too dumb and clumsy to be able to do something so fine and delicate. I knew lots of people who did this type of crochet. I had a Great Aunt who made table runners and alter cloths for churches in this style and another Great Aunt who was well known for her delicate curtains, table cloths, bed spreads and wall hangings. Then there were the adopted grandmother type women in my life also did this delicate dainty bits of work and sold their pieces for good money a couple of different examples were christening gowns and wedding and birth samplers.. They put hours and hours into their pieces and liked to talk about these projects with lots of pride when custom orders were made especially if it involved a church or confirmation, baptism, and wedding type event.  Their speed and reputation intimidated me. I felt a pressure that if I got into this type of crocheting that I'd have to be just as good if not better than they were. Something that my mother and step-father weren't shy about implying and talking about. My mother didn't even attempt it because of the pressure she felt from her husband. That didn't exactly make me feel like it was possible for me to do it at the time.

Those that I knew who made such lovely pieces are all gone now. The opportunity for me to learn from them especially after I gained experience and confidence in crocheting was lost. Some of the pieces I have that were made for me or given to me are starting to show their age and disintegrate and/or need a bit of repair. I haven't been able to find anyone who knows how to do this type of crochet and would be willing to recreate these pieces or attempt to repair them.

Because of my success with the Granny square I thought I would try my hand at Filet Crochet. I chose this praying hands piece to do because it was the pattern I recall hearing my mentors say was the easiest to create. It also is something that I saw them do both for income and for self satisfaction. I'm glad that I did it. While the actual crochet part of this piece is done, it's not totally finished. Besides running in my tail, I have to block this piece and starch it.

It feels amazing to have completed this piece also. I actually found this type of crocheting to be rather enjoyable and I hope to be able to do another piece soon. I do find myself wishing that I hadn't waited so long to attempt it because I have a few questions about tension and blocking that I wish I could ask my Great Aunts about instead of learning it through trial and error. I have peace with the timing though and amazed at how quickly I was  able to get it done and well how good it looks even in the rough fresh off the hook. Maybe Grandma Ethel was right and its in my blood after all.

2013 Tackling Fears or Avoidance Issues Update 1

I've not made as much progress as I would like but I have managed to make a bit.

The Granny Square:
I have a pattern that looks like I can follow it. I have a nice solid color yarn to work the pattern in. In fact it's in the color that I was given a long time ago to at my first attempt to learn how to make one. I just love the sense of humor on that one.

The Filet Crochet:
I have found many patterns for it. I just have to narrow it down. Do I do a dragon or do I do a sign or what exactly to choose animal, plant, dragonfly... lots of possibilities have presented themselves. I do know what I will not be doing. I will not be doing any of the patterns that I remember my Great Aunt S working on. Nothing against the patterns or my Great Aunt S. It's just that those are big projects and above my skill level at this time. Doing table cloths for a seating of 12 or bedspreads or alter cloths are just bit out of my comfort level at this time. And that's helped to narrow down my options for what to do.

"The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien
I have a copy waiting for me to pick up. Today I plan to go and fetch the copy home so I can start reading it.

Art
I've been working on doodling. It's been very helpful for keeping me both focused and tolerant when I have been placed on hold. It's that time of year of making lots of phone calls and being on hold for awhile goes hand in hand with. The doodling exercise has been a good use of that time. I should have something to show as soon as I get my camera back. I am already thinking about the 2nd part of the course as I've looked ahead. I have ideas swirling around in my brain but not sure how to put them down on the paper yet.

Like I said not mad much progress but have made a bit. If your just seeing this and wondering what I'm doing then please check here. Until next time.

2013 Tackling Fears or Avoidance Issues

2013 will be a year of working on my fear/avoidance list. I put in a request for a sign as to what I should do in the year 2013. Since making my request, I have received a variety of signs in the form of emails, topics on discussion in my numerous groups and gathering places, seen ads and offers for, overheard random phrases while out shopping, riding the bus, waiting in various waiting rooms, etc. a few things on my fear/avoidance list. Because a few of the same things kept coming up repeatedly I took it as a big flashing neon sign from the universe to get my attention that this is what I am to work on in 2013. I don't know if I will tackle the whole list or not this year. As I have a pretty big list that's been accumulated over 40 years to work through.

What items will I be focusing on for the month of January? I've chosen Granny Squares, Filet Crochet, "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien, and art. I figured I'd start small and go with the hottest topics that coincided with my list. I'm not sure in what order I will do them in as some of it will depend on if I can get the required items together to do it.

Granny Squares

My plan is to find a pattern for something that involves Granny Square. I plan to first learn how to create one and then make something from it. Just thinking of doing this project is making my skin crawl and the dreaded sound track tapes of my mother and step-father start playing. If I can do this... maybe I can get their sound track erased.

Filet Crochet

I'm pretty much going to do with this what I plan to do with the Granny Squares. Find a pattern and create something.

"The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien

My plan here is to get a copy of the book and read it cover to cover. I'm not sure which form I will find it in. Thanks to the movie coming out in December 2012 all available copies are checked out. I've put a request for a hold on it at our local library. I may take a look and see if I can get a kindle version or I may just break down and buy a copy at the book store. I know I have a copy of it or I should still have a copy of it somewhere. I think it's in storage with the rest of the stuff from my adopted grandmother. I may have to go check out the shed and see if its still there or not.

Art

My plan here is to take some workshops online. Maybe even with my children. I've looked into several different ones and they all seem to be good and very interesting. It's making it hard to choose where to begin. I signed up for a three week ecourse by Jani Franck titled "UnEarth your Creative Nature". I chose it because it's “suitable for aspiring or lapsed... and anyone who wants to bring more creativity into their daily life.”

Now that I have shared this, I must do it. I hope to have an update soon on at least one of these that I have accomplished for the month of January.