A Little Background
How this endeavor began: When we moved overseas and after having my fifth child, I wanted desperately to have something to do. I had learned to crochet when I was 22, and while I made many blankets, I never really tried to push past basic stitches. That worked while I stayed at home and raised my four oldest children. When the youngest of those went to school full time, I went to work outside of the home. This was something I LOVED. I worked for two years, and then found myself pregnant again. While I wouldn’t change having my youngest for anything in the world, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to go back to work after she was born. I wanted to. I had planned to, but holding her in my arms and looking at the price of daycare in the states, I knew it wasn’t going to happen. There I was back at home, being a full time mom again. Now don’t get me wrong, I love being a mom. I love being there at home with my kids when they are little, but I also desperately missed working. You know, actually pulling in a paycheck. That paycheck is a nice validation. Motherhood, unfortunately, doesn’t pay so hot.
We as a family decided to take a great opportunity overseas. I thought this would be an amazing experience personally as well as for my kids. However, I knew I needed something, so I figured I’d turn back to crochet. It was something I loved doing, and I made some personal goals. One, learn new stitches, trying and mastering those. Two, learning to read a pattern. I have become quite good most of those. I admit there are still patterns out there that make no freaking sense, and while I appreciate the effort of those who write them, if I paid for them and ask a question, the nice thing would be to answer. But I digress. I thought in my naivety that I could sell the items I made. While I was able to sell a couple of pieces; it was nothing compared to my output. I now have five plus large boxes of completed items I would love to sell. I run in to the issue that people don’t want to even pay what it cost me to pay for basic materials. Seriously? Now, it’s two years later. I still haven’t had any luck with selling items, but I don’t stop. One, I love the craft. To me, it’s art in action. Two, it gives me something to do while my toddler runs amok. Three, it is a truly relaxing activity that I can multitask with. That means I can read, watch my daughter, watch the TV, and crochet all at the same time. I like having so many balls in the air. It’s why I loved working outside of the home so much.
Well, I hope this opens some insights into me and how and why I crochet. Perhaps not. I hope everyone can find that something that allows them to express themselves. I hope everyone can find something that inspires them to keep learning, keep striving, and no matter the frustration, never give up.
We as a family decided to take a great opportunity overseas. I thought this would be an amazing experience personally as well as for my kids. However, I knew I needed something, so I figured I’d turn back to crochet. It was something I loved doing, and I made some personal goals. One, learn new stitches, trying and mastering those. Two, learning to read a pattern. I have become quite good most of those. I admit there are still patterns out there that make no freaking sense, and while I appreciate the effort of those who write them, if I paid for them and ask a question, the nice thing would be to answer. But I digress. I thought in my naivety that I could sell the items I made. While I was able to sell a couple of pieces; it was nothing compared to my output. I now have five plus large boxes of completed items I would love to sell. I run in to the issue that people don’t want to even pay what it cost me to pay for basic materials. Seriously? Now, it’s two years later. I still haven’t had any luck with selling items, but I don’t stop. One, I love the craft. To me, it’s art in action. Two, it gives me something to do while my toddler runs amok. Three, it is a truly relaxing activity that I can multitask with. That means I can read, watch my daughter, watch the TV, and crochet all at the same time. I like having so many balls in the air. It’s why I loved working outside of the home so much.
Well, I hope this opens some insights into me and how and why I crochet. Perhaps not. I hope everyone can find that something that allows them to express themselves. I hope everyone can find something that inspires them to keep learning, keep striving, and no matter the frustration, never give up.
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