Written by CraftyMomof3
I am a mom of three. One of my favorite things to do “pre-babies” was mindlessly wander around any craft or stationary supply store I could find- for hours at a time. I would buy things that I had no purpose for because they were cute!
We recently moved and I actually found a box of those things. The love of cute and shiny trinkets has apparently been passed down a generation because my nine year old ripped into the box like there was no tomorrow. Needless to say, all the items have been used during craft time with her friends.
I had my first child at 20 years old. As each baby was born I matured and so did my craft aspirations. I have been crocheting since I was nine years old. In my teen years I gave it up for a while because I couldn’t find the time or thought it was out-dated. When I was pregnant for the first time I had a lot of time on my hands- #1 because I was young and all my friends were partying! #2 My husband at the time, was working two jobs. I decided I wanted to make something that was from the heart and special for my son. I bought a book and realized that it was just like riding a bicycle! I was whipping out blankets in no time! My son still has it today and he’s 12 years old. At that time I was all about blankets and scarves. Simple and easy.
After my daughter was born (she’s the second) I discovered scrap-booking. I was immediately hooked. Any piece of paper or picture I had eventually found it’s way into my scrapbook. I formed a little scrapbook group and we had parties with great food and margaritas! Again I was in the craft stores looking for all those great scrapbook treasures. I still love to do it, but can’t seem to find the time anymore.
My third child’s birth (second daughter) brought me back to my first love, crochet. There were many complications with her birth and I was essentially bedridden for quite a few months. There is only so much TV you can watch. Since she was a preemie born in November, she needed warm things. I “re-learned” how to do a bubble stitch and made her this great hooded blanket with Lion Brand Yarn Baby Soft. Back before she was born while I was searching for scrapbook items I came upon this great yarn called Sugar & Cream. When I was bedridden I started making potholders and head scarfs for my daughter. It was also great for ponchos and purses. I honestly don’t like to use any other yarn anymore. Cotton is great. All the other brands carry cotton yarn too which is great when you’re looking for other colors. It’s unbelievable how many different things you can make with this yarn! It doesn’t shrink and it keeps it shape. I have learned how to do so many things that I was never able to learn with acrylic yarn.
I am back cruising the stores on Saturday and Sunday, coupons in hand, looking for great colors. I have started making my own patterns now. I created a pattern for grill mitts/potholders that have been tested in my kitchen. You can not burn yourself on them and trust me, if you could I would have. My new projects are making sweeper covers (like Swiffers,etc). I found a basic pattern and have thrown a few spins on it. There are great sites to find patterns and network with other Crafters. Two for crochet that I was referred to recently are Ravelry and CrochetMe.
Up next in my evolution is kids jewelry. My daughter has an unusual name and can never find personalized items for herself and has requested that I make some for her. Wish me luck!
You can visit my website here, also be sure to check out my web store!
Tags: crafters, crafty moms, crochet, handmade blankets, handmade gifts, knit, scrapbook
I haven’t crocheted much in years, but I do know how. I made each of my children baby blankets. I remeber making dll clothes once upon a time. I still have 2 crocheted discloths made out of the Sugar ‘N Cream yarn you are talking about.
I must disagree about cotton being the best yarn to work with. I love baby alpaca. The scarves I knitted are so thin and warm!
I took a look around your blogs, CraftyMomof3. You have a lot of good info out there!
I learned to crochet in 4-H. That and knitting. Something else I want to re-kindle in retirement.
Pot holders, I was really good at pot holders.
The sweeper covers are a really good idea. When you are done, you can just throw them in the wash? Looks like this would save a person quite a bit of money.
I will have to check out the baby alpaca. Do they sell it in the regular stores?
Pam, you can totally throw them in the wash. That’s where the cotton comes in handy. It doesn’t fray.
I get baby alpaca at a yarn shop, not the craft store.
Crafty Jen, do you know if Tupperware has a covered dish that is round and divided so that you could put cut vegetables (for salad toppings) or cut fruit in it? Do you know what I mean?
I think I am going to have to branch out to cruising the yarn stores on the weekends too!
Do they have coupons? LOL
Tupperware has crystal wave dishes that are divided. One has a removable cup for salad dressing. We also have the fridge smarts which are made specifically for fruits and veggies. Depends on what you are looking for.
I answered that question when I was too tired. I just realized that you were talking about the serving tray. Yes we have it. Page 32 item a in the catalog. Go to my site and you can see.
my.tupperware.com/craftymomof3
Wow, I admire your craftiness. I can’t even cut a straight line with scissors. I’m pretty hopeless at crafts.
Thanks!
Every one has their strengths. I wish I could write better or be more organized!
I was not kissed by the gods to be able to knit. I have tried and tried. How do you guys do it? I even took a very short class and gave up trying to keep the stitches on the needle. I used to crochet, but never did anything fancy. Just a big square blanket I made for my son. I think my only hope of making anything decent out of yarn would have to be crochet and my skills would have to be increased. I’m very jealous of people who can just crank these out. I love the softness of home-knit yarn.
I always enjoy the cruising the craft or fabric stores.
Thanks so much for sharing. I enjoyed hearing about the things you have made.
Thanks Lily.
Oh I am hopeless at knitting! I can do it but it frustrates me to no end! I love crocheting because it’s mindless at times. It took me quite a few years to learn how to successfully do patterns and I am still learning. For the life of me I can not crochet a triangle! I follow the pattern and it still comes out looking like a diamond. LOL
Thanks.
Jen, I checked out your store. I am impressed – you have quite a variety of stuff. I love the beaded socks. Too cute.
I am curious how you make time for crafting with three kids? Do you have a special room set aside? Do you try and make sure you get a certain number of hours done a week or just go with the flow depending on your schedule?
You have real talent and it’s great that you are able to do something you enjoy and make money.
I am not a crafty type of person, but I think if I did anything, I might try making bath products. That actually seems like fun – choosing the difference scents, etc.
Hey Anya- Thanks! To answer you question I try to make time and go with the flow because I also am a solicitor for Amvets, I work in my kids lunchroom 2 days a week and I have chronic fatigue! LOL If I have orders I make time to get it done, but because of the recession I haven’t had too many of these lately even though home made is the way to go when budgets are tight! I don’t have a separate room, I have a bag that goes with me every where so I can crochet on a whim.
Not to do a sales pitch but the Enchanted Potions company I distribute for has a whole set up with everything supplied so you can make your own bath products and they allow you to put your own labels on it. It’s pretty cool. You can also get some of the stuff at the crafts stores and Walmart. I personally think that bath stuff is the way to go because lately, going to the craft fairs, they are over saturated with jewelry and purses. That’s why I am trying to come up with “new and different”.
I love to crochet, even made a couple of sweaters. I like crochet better than knitting, it is easier to rip out your mistakes. HA!
Oh how I wish I could crochet! My M-I-L has tried to show me, I’ve looked at instructional guides & watched Youtube videos- still no luck
I love scarves & would love to be able to make some. There are so many pretty & fancy yarns out there!
Crochet takes talent. Scrap booking is something even I can do. I mae my daughter a scrap book of her trip with her choir, which was so fun because of all the great photos, the local paper had stories written by her director’s son who accompanied them, and around that we had all the great stickers for Venice, Rome etc. She CHERISHED that thing since we moved from where we lived when she was in the choir, and it helped her remember that trip and those friends so much better than just having the photos would have done. So then I did one for her of her high school days, sorted by sports, proms, school trips, orchestra, etc. She loved that one and took it to college with her and enjoyed showing her roommate, it was an ice breaker – what did you wear to prom, etc.
I’m getting ready to go through the 13 albums (yes) of photos from baby days, and these are fat encylopedic albums, and pick out just the really great shots, and do a book for each kid. We’ve run out of room on the shelves and it would be nice to have a scrap book, the rest of the photos can be retired to a shoe box as I was gifted with more enthusiasm than photography talent so there are many not so good photos and a few gems. it is really fun to do the scrap books although, with the amount of stickers we use, expensive. The prom stickers omg. One set was $5 for just a prom dress, little limo, and whatever else came with it. But what the heck you go around once. or in her case twice!