Cat Mad Crochet

 Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

My daughter Adia was an early reader. She stayed up late at night reading the words she could from The Blue Fairy Book by the hallway light until she mastered the magical world of words. Books became her comfort items, so she always carried a large bag of them with her when we went anywhere. One book wasn’t enough because you never know what mood will strike you when you are out, so you should really be prepared. I always thought this was a weird, and heavy, little quirk (though she still does it so I don’t think it’s a phase) until my father fell ill, and I took a large bag of projects with me. I didn’t work on most of them, but knowing my woolly friends were there helped my mental state incredibly.

The world has turned itself upside down and dangerous, and I find myself feeling terrified more than safe these days. I want an accurate crystal ball or some solid assurance that things will be okay again within my lifetime. To help keep the horrors at bay, I have packed myself a bag of solace to haul around with me in the months, perhaps years, to come as we all try to get through whatever wicked this way comes. I thought I would share what I put in my bag and why. If you, too, take projects as comfort items through emotionally fraught experiences, drop a comment and let’s talk about it.

Project 1: A wrap from the UFO pile

This is a quiet project, and if you have been following my blog then you know I have been working on it, worked in soft yarn, with small bouts of counting to three. I can count to three pretty reliably even if I’m half zoned out. This makes for a good, repetitive project to keep my hands busy from doom scrolling and my mind mildly distracted from the lurking horrors. I like a project like this during stressful times as something mindless to do when I am too keyed up to sleep and too tired to think.

Project 2: 2 cowls to be 

I like to have a few new projects in a bag at times like this. A new project is a place to dive in and lose myself. Right now, these hanks of yarn can become any sort of cowl and that feels hopeful. Sometimes, creating something all new is a good way to make yourself forget the world is in turmoil.

I’m also trying to be faithful to finishing up my UFOs, and these hanks are leftover from the sweater I recently finished. I’m counting this as UFO work because I’m keeping the yarn out of the stash by using it up. The cowls can just be a side quest to the sweater project and that really was a UFO.

Project 3: A new wrap project with some birthday yarn

I just really liked this yarn. The color is beautiful and the yarn is lace weight, so that’s always going to make me happy. I love making fine, airy shawls, so this project made it into the bag simply because it will appeal to my design and color aesthetic. It is here to make me happy. I need that. 

Project 4: A motif project inspired by Bright Star

I swear Toots is in a pretty little rust red and deep orange crocheted shawlette at one point. I got myself this yarn to try to create what I think I saw. This project is also there just to make me happy. It appeals to my love of motifs and tiny things and Bright Star. I do worry about drawing some weird energy by recreating a project from a movie about tuberculosis while tuberculosis is apparently raging in Kansas, but here we are.

Project 5: Hand spun yarn love knot wrap

I love Hannah’s hand spun. It brings me an immense amount of joy to work with it. Despite that, I rarely do because I fear messing it up. I have done so in the past by starting grand projects that ended up not working out. Her yarn is one of a kind and irreplaceable. I must not mess it up. I have pulled some now because of the joy it brings me. I put a tiny hook in the bag with this yarn and I plan to make a love knot shawl with very small love knots.

Project 6: A motif project based on 9 patch quilt squares

This was in the UFO pile. Granted it was a pile of yarn, a book, and one square, but it was there. 

I’ve been thinking about and collecting yarn for this project for a while. I made off with most of the yarn left over from the Charlotte wrap and added more colors and hanks to it. I keep adding little bits and pieces, and I think I have enough for three shawls now, but making the little motifs is quick and calming and makes me feel like I am getting something done, even if it’s just using up a big pile of yarn.

This project (or projects) will be about color and shape and working many small motifs to make a big project. It will take a long time, and I hope it will be a joy because of the colors and the motifs.

While this project is about me and my taste for yarn and color, it is also a project for anyone sitting near me while I craft. When my father was in the hospital years ago, I took a pile of yarn and started a wrap. I had him pick colors and the number of rows I worked in each color. He made careful and considered choices, and it was a good distraction from being sick.

Being creative is healing physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Perhaps everyone won’t come to life’s trials with a bag of woolly distractions, yet they could still benefit from the healing power of color and craft. I’m going to have people near me as I work pick colors for the squares I’m making. This wrap (or wraps) will represent all of us coming together and making our way past this. A prayer with every motif. A wish for good health and safety with every stitch.

Sadly, I realize this is all an illusion to keep myself distracted in the midst of horror. It is a temporary safe refuge from the onslaught afforded me because of privilege. In the end, my yarn will not protect me. It will take all of us, working together, to rebuild our country with rights and safety guaranteed for everyone.

I wish you all well. Please wish us well. Hug those you love an extra time today.