The hook of love

Our granny blanket features in so many of my childhood memories.   In the true spirit of granny blankets, it was made from a riot of leftover yarns in all textures and hues, finished off with a 1980s-bright red border.  It was also made by a real-life granny who used to live next door to us.  The memories mainly involve poking my fingers through the holes while watching TV, but also keeping warm when I was poorly, making a tent over the sofa, and hiding curled up underneath waiting to jump out on my little sister.

Like many things, it was used with casual disregard for the love that had gone into its making.  But now as an adult, I look back with such fondness at this constant feature of my childhood.  I want my children to also enjoy such simple pleasures.  So I started to learn crochet when I was expecting my first child.  I had little patience for counting all the stitches.  The result was a rather triangular blanket that I would stretch over us after bath time for his last feed before going to bed. 

During the day, I would spend long hours sitting on the sofa holding him as he slept.  Having been used to the pressure of the office or travelling around the world for meetings, it took me time to enjoy the peacefulness by making pom pom hats.  Compared to knitting, crochet is far quieter and less arm flapping is required.  It also gives you the freedom to make things up as you go along.  I even made a pineapple tea cosy complete with leaves that I put over the teapot to serve custard.

When pregnant with my second son, I started a more ambitious project actually using a pattern, learning lots of clever stitches using YouTube and also learning how to make giant tassels.  The blanket is much bigger than intended but it works well, not only as our family blanket for the sofa, but also as the cover for the cave in our sitting room where the turtle and the crocodile hang out. 

As part of my #12makes12months this year, I have experimented with giant hooks and new materials.  T-shirt yarn gives really quick results and a pop of colour.  Extra chunky wool is also quick to work up and feels wonderfully luxurious.

There’s something very clever about just using some yarn and a stick to make a whole load of knots into something beautiful, functional and addictively tactile.  I also feel connected to all the women in history that have used the same age-old techniques to create for the people they love.  Also, once you’ve learnt some basic techniques and terminology, you’re free to conquer the wide wide world of crochet.  Some things that are on-trend right now are:

• T-shirt crochet baskets and hanging planters
• Granny blankets and granny bunting
• Chunky scarves and cowls
• Amigurumi animals

Maiden Aunt is hosting crafter parties to make recycled t-shirt yarn baskets in July and an extra chunky cowl in November.  See obby for more details and to book.