I Made a Hat
I took the weekend off of writing.
Last Thursday, I posted about the anguish of editing and how I’d reached a good stopping place on my current WIP. I woke up on Friday feeling like I had a hangover. Now, even though I talk about drinking and I tell y’all that my love of margaritas, whiskey, and wine has no bounds, the truth is that I’ve only been drunk or had a hangover a few times in my life. Like, I could count them on one hand and have a couple of fingers left over. But that’s what I felt like on Friday–like I’d had way too much to drink, or I was getting over the flu, or I’d just come back from Alpha Centauri, or something. So Friday, I did absolutely nothing. Well, I played a lot of Angry Birds. And I did one load of laundry.
On Saturday, I started thinking about my resolution to find more happy things and be a more balanced person. I dug through my closet and found a couple of crochet hooks and some yarn, and I googled “free crochet beret pattern.” I found this lovely pattern and set to work. I finished my hat today:
My kicky new beret
See that pin? I got that when we went to Scotland in 1998. It’s the Rose Clan crest, a harp with the motto “Constant and True.” I don’t know if the Roses I came from are from Scotland, but I claim the clan until it’s proven I come from somewhere else. I love the motto. The Man’s take on it is that it means “constantly annoying and truly crazy.” I love him so, so much.
I’m no fashionista. Jewelry alone is a stretch for me. But I know berets are in right now, and with my long hair, I thought this would be pretty cute. And you know, I wore it out tonight, and I loved it. I don’t know if I just looked like a big dork or moderately trendy, but I loved it. And if anyone laughed, it was behind my back. (I have to remember–this is Oregon, and more specifically, this is the Portland Metro area. We have unicycling bagpipers in kilts around these parts. There’s very little that shocks folks around here.)
So why am I blogging about my silly hat?
Because it was absolutely fantastic to give myself a quick success. It wasn’t some months-long project that I had to keep making room for. I had a couple days where I could justify the downtime. I had a free pattern and tons of old yarn sitting around. And, I know how to crochet fairly well. I knew what the heck I was doing, y’all, and it turned out beautifully. No angsting, no worry, no drama. Just follow the pattern, and voila! A hat!
Do you know how rare that is in my life right now? My gosh, between writing fiction and parenting tweens and budding teens, there’s very little I think I’m doing right half the time. Okay, three quarters of the time. Okay, 90% of the time. Anyway.
The point is–I found a little of my balance. I gave myself a quick win.
And it felt really freaking amazing.
That’s just awesome Amy! What you say about finishing something quickly and well is really true. Hmmmm. I should go dig around for some crochet needles (would have to buy) and some baby wool to do that baby blanket I was thinking of doing. Perhaps in a month’s time or so. I too know how to crochet – not so much how to knit (ok, I know the how, but I get the tension all wrong) – and hardly ever do it.
But it’s just great that you got this little project done and done well. Fantastic!
Thanks, Laurel! I’m a better crocheter than knitter. I like the look of knitting for some things, but it always seems like those projects take so long… This one was great because it was easy, I had the stuff on hand, and it was a quick win. I’m looking around for another pattern now so I can make a hat for the Princess…
Congratulations, not just on your hat, but on finding some balance. That just ain’t happening for me these days. I think I want to run off into the woods to live in a cave and sing Kumbaya for a few weeks. Mainly because there isn’t any internet there.
Lisa – that’s how I felt about a week ago – abandoning the internet! Weird how it chases us away, and yet draws us close at the same time. There are times I hate it, but there are reasons I use it.
Lisa, that’s how I was feeling several weeks ago. I have nothing against hard work, and I know it’s necessary, but I was losing it. Just doing this one silly thing made a huge difference in how I felt. I also threw my Peanut a birthday party today, which I haven’t done in a couple of years, at least. Yeah, we held it somewhere else and paid for it, but I managed to get a party done. That felt pretty good, too. The little victories mean a lot.
Congratulations. You did something rational and sane and it turned out great. To say nothing of how relaxing it is to knit or crochet. two years ago while writing my novel I escaped by knitting 17 earflap hats (the Peruvian kind) for my grandkids and a few of their significant others.
Beth, you totally get it! I know exactly what you mean. Crochet is very relaxing for me. I used to do a lot of thread crochet, but I didn’t want to worry about making something pretty and dainty. Hats are fabulous because they’re quick, useful, and fun.
That is so important and a lesson I need to remember right now. I’m so out of balance I don’t even know what to do with myself.
I love the beret by the way. Can I hire you to make me one?
I tried learning to knit a few times and it hasn’t stuck yet. Maybe one day. In the meantime, there’s this velvet poster thing that Santa brought our whole family to work on together– he even included markers. Maybe it’s time to do some coloring with the kids and play some board games.
Yes, go color and play board games! Or something…
A FB friend saw my posts about this hat and said she’d buy one from me. Funny thing is, earlier in the day, I said to The Man, “screw writing. I’ll crochet stuff for a living.”
I don’t think I meant it, though.
And yeah, crochet is one hook, knitting is two needles. With crochet, you basically have one active stitch at a time, but with knitting, you can have hundreds on your needles. The disaster potential in knitting is very high compared to crochet. Things don’t tend to accidentally unravel with crochet.
Errr I guess crocheting and knitting are different? See, this is how much I know! Lol
Love the hat!!! Wish I could crochet or knit! Hell, I’d settle for being able to cross-stitch
Shay, cross-stitch is easy. It’s just a bunch of Xes. If you’re a writer, you know how to make Xes. Those are the things you slash across your manuscript when you’re editing.
Congrats! I can’t crochet, and my knitting skills only stretch to a scarf. But I can sew, and your post has reminded me I have a black velvet dress coat that’s still waiting to be finished. Now where did I put those dress-making scissors…
Ooh, Pip, that sounds lovely. I can sew, but not well, and only with a pattern. I’ve never made a coat. I’d like to see that when you’re done!
Thanks, I’ll post pics, whenever I finally get it done.
Cool! Look forward to seeing it, Pip!
Hooray! I’m super excited to have a writer friend who’s getting into crochet; I’ve been doing yarncrafts for as long as I can remember, and it’s so rewarding to make awesome things for yourself! I’m a sucker for blankets, so I’m chipping away at much, much larger projects at the moment, but that’s also good in a way. I can read and just crochet without looking, because crocheting squares doesn’t require counting beyond the first few stitches (in my case). Of course, every so often I’ll have someone make a request for some kind of outrageously cute baby beanie or other, and get to spend a day creating it!
~Ashlee
http://ashleesch.com
http://theDragonsHoard.bigcartel.com
Ashlee, I’ve known how to crochet and knit forever, as long as I can remember. I love blankets and such, too. The only trouble is, if I start big projects, I’m not very likely to finish them, and then I just end up feeling like a failure again. I should just have a little collection of patterns that I can knock out in a day or two for when I get the itch to make something. I may have to go to the craft store today…
For some super cute tiny projects, you should look into Amigurumi! There are so many free patterns online, and you get an adorable crochet toy/decoration at the end of it.
~Ashlee
http://ashleesch.com
http://theDragonsHoard.bigcartel.com
Awesome, Ashlee–thanks! I will!
Looks great, Amy! And yay for quick successes – we all need those. Now if only there was a pattern for writing that made everything a ‘win’
I keep getting the urges to be crafty, but when it comes down to it, I just can’t even fathom doing anything fiddly with the small kids around!!! I figure once they are older,and like, all at school, then I can pick that kind of thing back up again.
I know, right, Cassie? I want that writing formula.
I totally get what you mean about doing crafty things with little ones around. I was the same way for a long time, and I think that’s one reason I got out of the habit. You’ll definitely have a little more time when they’re in school. 
Ah the joy of a quick crochet hat! I’m sure you look stunning in it. Hats make such remarkable sense in Portland, and when you look around, you see lots of hats being worn. Remember to do this more often. It’s good for you. It’s like circuit training for your brain. When you’ve been doing lots of heavy lifting, it’s time to stop and play pingpong for a while.
Roxie, I adore your metaphors! That’s so completely true. Crochet is pingpong for my brain. I’m totally going to remember that. Thank you for that wisdom!