Mother’s Day in the UK is Sunday

· by · in Crochet Stories. ·

All of my friends in the UK will be celebrating Mother’s Day on March 26 and I’m sure the crochet hooks are stitching like the wind to finish up last minute gifts. Don’t worry if you don’t have time to weave in all of the ends – I guarantee you she will love and cherish it anyways. She has seen you with all of your ends not woven in neatly – trust me. 

Here in the U.S. we have until May 14th to craft up something for Mom. I can’t wait to see what everyone makes. Especially all of my creative friends that have taken greeting card making to an Art Gallery level!!

The first post I ever wrote was last September. It actually was the only post I wrote until this past January when I really committed to creating and nurturing Tanglewood Knots.

It was a post that I had written in my head over a year ago. Hmmm now that I think about it, I started writing that post almost 40 years.

Mom

Mom

My mom passed away in 2010. She was a firecracker! She was not quite 5 feet tall and her favorite saying was – “dynamite comes in small packages too!”. I miss her.

Getting back to Mother’s Day UK edition – My mom taught me how to crochet. But I have no memories of learning how to crochet. I guess that’s a good thing since I know a lot of people get frustrated when they first start until the ‘lightbulb’ goes off and they get that “Oh I get it” moment.

I crochet weird. I don’t hold my working yarn or the project I’m working on in the ‘standard’ position that is assumed to be the way to crochet. Add being left handed on top of that and I guess I just crochet weird. I don’t hold my working yarn over my pointer finger, I sort of catch it between my palm and pinky in my right hand. My tension is good – I can make a gauge tension swatch that I would submit proudly to the all mighty Crochet Judges (to be honest – I never make gauge swatches – I probably should but I don’t and my work comes out fine). Okay only if you don’t count my bizarre patterned attempts at argyle color pooling – I’ll give the Crochet Judges that one.

 

Mom and Dad

Dad and Mom

My technical crochet mechanics may be non-traditional but my stitches are beautiful. I never even knew that I was doing it weird until I discovered YouTube. I don’t remember actually being taught to crochet but I know the reason my technique is not text book is because of the way I was taught.

My mom was hit by a car when she was 6 years old and lost total use of her right arm for the rest of her life. So, when she taught me how to crochet it was with being left handed and her only being able to teach me using one hand. I am always amazed at how she was able to crochet with only one hand. I can’t do it – I’ve tried. I’m amazed that she was able to raise 4 children all 2 years apart with only one arm. I’m just amazed by my sassy, dynamite Mom.

Here is my very first post – It isn’t very pretty, or witty, but it is my favorite.

 

Old Blanket

The Old Blanket on Mom’s Couch

 

How I Learned to Crochet – the image of the blue blanket in the picture was my attempt to
recreate a blanket that sat on the back of my mother’s couch for many, many years. I crocheted the featured image for that post about 10 years ago. My dogs have it now and it’s still in but good shape just a little bit smelly!

Thanks for reading! Hug your mom!!

~ Tami

22 responses to “Mother’s Day in the UK is Sunday”

  6. Your mum looks very ‘Simpatica’ ( an impossible to translate Italian word for ‘nice, friendly, pleasant, cheerful and generally nice to be around’) and I agree with her about dynamite coming in small packages: I think I’m even shorter than her! Three cheers to her for bringing up 4 kids literally ‘single-handedly’! Happy Mother’s day to all Mums! (By the way, mother’s day in Italy is in May too, so I’m expecting presents again…)

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you Mama. She did have her moments. She had a colorful Polish temper that she wasn’t afraid to show us when necessary. She was also one of the most stubborn persons I have ever met. But she was also one of the most generous. When you would visit her home you would always leave with a full belly and a full bag of stuff that she thought you might need. She also taught me how to cook and most importantly the value of caring for your family and the people you love. I’m so glad I found your blog. You seem very Simpatica as well! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  7. I just had to go back and read the original post, with tears running down my face. I learned from my mom as well. Well kind of, we were on a business trip to OESD embroidery and had decided to drive with two others. She sat in back with me and taught me how to edge socks with pony beads for my daughter. A picot was my very first stitch lol. I didn’t learn to chain until two years ago! I’ve always done things backwards!

    Liked by 1 person

    • LOL I never did a picot stitch until about a year ago! My daughters aren’t interested in learning how to crochet right now. They are however interested in what I can make for them. I’m hoping at some point they’ll ask me to teach them. If not then I’ll have to teach my future grandchildren! 🙂

      Like

  9. Pingback: Hairpin Lace Crochet | Tanglewood Knots·

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