I first picked up a crochet hook when I was 8 years old. My mother was crocheting a blanket in our Windsor Terrace home on a quiet Sunday, her only day off. Rather than being tired and irritable, which I’m sure she was to a certain extent, she somehow found the patience to teach me how to maneuver my very impatient fingers to make a single chain stitch. Mom went back to her granny square blanket, and I proceeded to try my hand at a series of chain stitches. Some were too tight, others overwhelmingly loose, but I persevered.
Each weekend and some weeknights, my mom continued work on her blanket and I was soon making chain stitches with ease. For many weeks, we sat side-by-side, Mom and her stunning blanket and me and my never-ending chain stitch. One time, she said, “Hey, I bet I can make a beautiful dress for your Barbie,” and in just a few minutes, she did. It was a shoulderless hot pink ball gown that was fitted at the waist and then bloomed into a gorgeous gown with subtle curled circles at the bottom. It was not that like anything that could be found in a store. Many years later, as a first-time nanny, my mom made gorgeous blankets for my nephew and daughter.
I dabbled here and there over the years, learning how to make blankets, scarves, and hats. My own daughters learned how to crochet, too. Just a few months ago, my oldest said it had been a while since we crocheted and suggested we get some yarn and make something. So we did. It became my nightly ritual. After a long day, instead of watching television, I crocheted.
We bought new yarns that I had never had before, like chunky wool-ease, sateen, ultra pima imported Peruvian yarn, and my new favorite, alpaca. We experimented with new creations, and were soon making infinity scarves, chunky cowls with buttons, slouchy hats, braided ear warmers, and our new favorite, dog scarves! They were all contemporary and fashionable accessories, and I grew to love my long lost hobby all over again. Then I started to notice something: I was calmer than I had been in months. I also realized that when I had a stressful day, I couldn’t wait to get home and crochet that night.
We sold quite a few of our items at a local vendor day and that gave us the push to move forward. We recently opened an Etsy shop and named it “BKLYN Handmade” because we are truly a Brooklyn business; after all, it all began right here. We say there is Brooklyn spirit in every stitch, and there truly is.
Crocheting is such a cathartic form of expression. Our personal style is where elegance and style meet comfort and warmth … because you should have the best of both worlds. If you are looking for a soothing hobby, you can pick up an inexpensive needle and yarn at your local dollar store just to get a sense of crocheting. Then go to YouTube and look for beginner projects — there are many! And if you get “hooked” like we did, shoot me an e-mail, or better yet, send me a picture of your finished project!
Danielle Sullivan, a mom of three, has worked as a writer and editor in the parenting world for more than 10 years. Sullivan also writes about pets and parenting for Disney’s Babbl
