Simply Crochet - UK (2019-11)

GOOD READ

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Getcreativeandmastera language

thathasalwaysfascinatedyouthrough

anonlineoraudiocourse while your

fingersworkaway.

If you’vebeenwantingtogetstuck

intoa newnovel,buthaven’tyetfound

thetimetodoso,theninvestinan

audiobookandletyourmindwander

intoa fictionalland while creating your

nextdesign.

Mostairlinesallowcrochethooksin

handluggage– perfectforwhiling

awaythehoursonlong-haulflights.

Getyourcrochetoutwhilecookingor

bakingtopassthewaitingtime – just

remember to use a timer!

It doesn’t stop there...

CrochetdesignerSarahMcFallofYarn&
Blarney(yarnandblarney.co.uk)explainshow
crochetinghelpshertodealwitha chronic
illness,providingherwiththetimesheneeds
tofocusonherself.“Asa teenagerI was
diagnosedwithCFS/ME,whichI stillhave
now;it’squitedisabling.Mymumtaughtme
howtomakea grannysquaresothatI had
somethingtodo– crochetgaveme
somethingelsetothinkabout.Makingthings
forotherpeoplealsohelpedmetoshiftmy
focusawayfrommyselfandthethingsthatI
couldn’tdo– andlookatwhatI coulddo.It
gavemea senseofachievement and, I
supposeina way,purpose.”
Fayagreesthatusingyourcrochetingtime
toenjoyotherthingsthatmakeyoufeel
happyandrelaxed,likelisteningtoyour
favouritemusic,is hugelybeneficialforyour
mind.“WhenI havea veryintricatepieceon
thego,I tendtoalwaysgobacktooneofmy
favouritealbumsthatI knowcalmsmymind
andmakesmehappy,”saysFay.“Forme,that
is alwaysBenHoward’sEveryKingdom.”
Tryusingyourcrochetasa toolto
transportyoutoa placeofcalmwheneverlife
feelsoverwhelming– skipthecoffeebreakin
favourofa crochetbreak,focusonyour
breathing and let your mind relax.

PRODUCTIVETIMEFILLER

Oneofourtoptipsis tocarryyourcrochet

withyouwheneverpossible– it’sa greatway

topassthetime.“Alwayshavea projecton

thego,”advisesClaudia.“Somethingyoucan

grabwhenyouleavethehouseandworkon

• evenif it’sjusttoworkona rowortwowhile
  waitingforthekidstogetthroughsports
  practice– a regularmultitaskofmine.”
  Sarahagrees,explainingthatshecrochets
  almostanywhereandatanytime:“Inwaiting
  rooms,inthecar,atthebeach...theonlyreal
  constraintis light,althoughsizeofprojectis
  alsoimportant.Smaller,moreportable
  projectsareeasierwhenoutandabout.”
  SimplyCrochetEditorSaraHuntington
  discoveredcrochetwhenherthreechildren
  wereveryyoung. “Awetandboringholiday
  afternoonintheLakeDistrictandthechance
  discoveryofanold‘Learntocrochet’booklet
  werethemagicingredientsfora newhobby,”
  Sararecalls.“I tookit upinthatafternoon,
  andbasicallydidn’tputit backdownagain
  for 15 years.”Saracrochetedasa waytopass
  thetimewhileattheparkwiththekids,orto
  relaxwhentheyfinallywenttobed.The
  otheradvantageofcrochetingwithyoung
  children,Sarafound,wastheendless
  opportunities to create pieces for them – and

allinbeginner-friendlyminisizes.“Thefirst

thingI crochetedwasa doll’sblanketformy

daughter,”saysSara.“FollowingthatI moved

ontoclothes,toysandthingsformyhome”.

Whetheryou’rea bornmultitaskerormore

ofa one-tracktype,trymaximisingyour

crochetmomentsandseeif it works for you.

Written by Colette Earley

Farleft:FayfromThe

CrochetCirclePodcast;

left:Fayenjoyscrafting

outside;below-right:

SarahMcFall’scrochet

helpsherdealwithher

CFS/ME;below-centre:

Sarahcancrochetfrom

thecomfortofbed...;

below-left:...orona day

out at the beach!