When I was very young, I lived on a farm in Gila, NM. There were no TVs, home phones, or computers. Almost all of the women were passionate quilters, crocheters, knitters, and seamstresses. I feel so fortunate to have lived in that environment.
A couple of years ago my daughter became disabled and we decided we wanted to learn something together. At the time we were hooked on Golden Girls and were intrigued with the hand bag Sofia carried around. Her crochet of course. So, my daughter and I hit the utube streets and learned the craft. My daughter loves making cakes and frequently collaborates with me on designs. Crochet keeps us sane! I will always hold crochet close to my heart 💜. It carries us through a very
Fantastic job with your knitting! I'm a knitter who is trying to get better at crochet. I still have trouble reading my stitches in crochet. The wonderful lady who helped me in the beginning of my knitting journey became a very dear friend. When I met her I was teaching myself to knit using a DVD. I noticed her knitting while I waiting outside my daughter's kindergarten class. I asked her about her knitting and mentioned that I was trying to learn. She immediately invited me to her daughter's home for knitting lesson. She was living with her daughter and caring for her grandchildren who were the same ages as my kids. After that first day, spent every Tuesday with her. We knitted while her granddaughter and my son played. Then we would go pick up our kindergarteners from school in the afternoons. She was a wonderful friend. We even started taking the kids to a nearby park on Fridays after school. The kids played while we knitted. She was a wonderful friend. Just before my 3 baby was born she had to move away. We kept in touch. Then one day my phone rang. It was her husband calling to tell me she was gone. I miss her every day, but I am so grateful for all the things she taught me. For the amazing friendship we had. She gifted me a love and understanding for knitting. I will always remember her.
Juan i learned to crochet from my best friend when i was 13. I'm now 61 and sadly she passed away many years ago. We didn't get to watch our children grow and we didn't get to go through the seasons of our lives that we believed we would. So when I crochet I'm spending time with my childhood best friend who showed me how to do the thing that i love most in the world to do besides my children. Her name was Cynthia Ann Hill there has never been another Cindy and never can be. I'm so blessed that i found your channel when you first started it and to go along with you and your yarn family on this journey.
Throughout my childhood crafts of all types were present and completely normal for Us. Quilting, Knitting, Embroidery, Crochet, Tatting, Painting and Drawing. It's always felt like Home to Me, very comforting. I've been crocheting for almost 40 years and do remember sitting on My Grandma's lap with my hands on Hers as She crocheted. I can't imagine My Life without it and this Year I started learning Tunisian Crochet! I Love It! I've made 1 shawl, half of another and I'm 3/4ths of the way finished with my first Tunisian Chevron! I'm So proud of Us Both Mr. Juan Valdez ❤
My husband taught me crocheting; he has passed now and yea it is a connection with him. I tell a picture of him what I have done: new stitches, special presents for grandchildren, etc. Going thru a box last month I found a hexagon afghan we made in the 1970s.
Hi Juan lovely to spend time with you I love that blanket .I have been crocheting 1971 I am 75 now I crocheted my wedding dress and bridesmaids too.i still love it and do for a children's charity.thank you Juan for all you do.still learning it's my happy time too.💝💝💝
I would be happy just to play in the closet of yarn!!!! This was a great video. Love working on my crochet while watching you. My mother taught me to crochet when we lived in Germany. (Army) I was 10. I am a leftie so at first it was difficult. I wanted to crochet like my mom! Also in school, we had a teacher who taught the girls to crochet. This was in the late 70's. I have been crocheting ever since. I am now 57. So glad I found your channel!
I crochet because my grandmother taught me when I was very young and then my mom crocheted items for all of us kids after she was ill and homebound. So I remember these wonderful memories and fabulous women as I crochet.
I also love everything about crochet and knit, I have a lot of yarn, and I am always looking for the next project. This hobby has helped me through some rough times, and I love it. You are right I love to talk about yarn and projects I make many gifts for other family and friends, I have finally made some items just for me. My grandma taught me how to crochet and is no longer with us, she would have been very proud of me. I have been crocheting for many years and I keep on learning new things. Have a great day and take care of yourself and your mom.
I have been crocheting since I was 7 years old- I turn 61 tomorrow-September 1st. So lots of math there! I am greatful for you Juan and the u-tubers for all the videos. They keep me company and I love to see what others are doing. Love the miss blanket- beautiful colors!
I have a lot of stress and crochet, knit, and cross-stitch to relax. I have to say that I love listening & working along with you in your videos. I find your voice to be very soothing and have learned a lot from your channel. Thank you!
My Nonna taught me as a small child and whenever I got to visit her she would bring out all the projects she had made and we would discuss all of them. She loved making items with crochet thread which isn’t my favorite type of projects. I treasure the tablecloth she crocheted that I have.
When you see a pattern that someone is doing and you are doing one you wanted to do all of them. You get excited right. I only have one that is hard for me to complete a beautiful fall colored afghan that I started in eighty eight or so my husband got sick about that time. I quit crocheting because he needed my help. I took it out this Spring and put it down after about six rows. It will be beautiful if I ever get it finished. It is vintage yarn. I will try again during the Winter months.
I don’t have any romanticized stories about why I like to crochet. No familial connections. I have panic/anxiety disorder and crocheting, slow stitching, embroidery and knitting are very soothing to me, and help lessen both mental and physical stress.
Good morning Juan from a cold Uk just wanted to say I love all your posts and can't wait for Sunday with your live with Mama Wilma she is a treasure I only wish my mum was still with us, look after each other Love Julie xxxx
Hi Juan, I love your knitting project. Beautiful. My grandmother taught me how to crochet. Now, it is fun and relaxing; but between craft shows andy Etsy it's how I can pay my bills. Your blanket is turning out beautiful. Much love and take care ❤
wow thats awesome congratulations on moving up to "toddler" status....so super proud of you ...ik you would get it....ive wanted to learn to knit for about a year and your inspiring me to give it a try...so hopefully soon i will get thye nerve......Ive always wanted to learn to crochet when i got clean a couple years ago My late fiance gave me the confidence I needed to try it and once i did i was hooked i fell in love with it and since losing him in April of this year it makes me feel more connected with him while im working ik some people say im crazy for thinking that but i dont care anyway to feel him and keep him alive is ok with me and the fact thats its yarn and crochet just makes is so much better because i LOVE it....its become my new addiction lol at least this is a healthier one then my last lol.....sending you all my love and prayers Juan
This was a fun video, Juan. Thank you for taking us along with your organization process. Of course, I love anything you do, lol. Much love and hugs....
I connect with my Oma when I crochet. She taught me at 4 years old, in kindergarten for "Show & Tell" I brought in a little blanket I was making for my baby doll in pink yarn from Woolworth's and my crochet hook "Hero" from Germany. I was so proud to show my teacher and classmates. I still have that Hero hook! I've been crocheting for 60+ years. D.
My mother used to crochet but she never taught me. I sewed most of my life and made quilts then I taught myself to knit before my fist great-granddaughter was born, then during the pandemic I started crocheting and learning about different yarn and needles and hooks, now I’m addicted and now I got my daughter crocheting and now she has bypassed me on what she does. She is a behavioral teacher and uses it to distress. That is my journey and now I learn everyday watching your channel. Thank you Juan for all you do for this community
Thanks for the Big Lots tip. I dont go there often, but went today to hunt for yarn. They did not have very much but i got 4 skeins of Caron 1 pounds. They were marked at $3.99 but when I got to the check out they were only $2 each. They are all a varigated color with pink and aqua. Great for a Boggy blanket or 2.
I'm the only granddaughter not taught to crochet by my grandmother; I found someone to teach me during my first job after college and have continued exploring it and its possibilities since. I've often thought I learned as an act of defiance. Every time I sit down to crochet, I think about her skills and am hurt that she taught the rest, but not me.😮😮
I crochet and started my love for knitting . I find them both very relaxing but to me knitting is less stressful on my thumb. I’m making two shawls on my Chiagoo circular needles. They are my fav. I need to also purchase the 60” knitting needles. Tfs you do beautiful work and your yarn in the background is BERY WELL COLOR COORDINATE. Very easy on the eyes❤
Hi Juan, it's Saturday and I just finished a chevron afghan. I changed colors e every 2 rows in DC. I did 22 colors then switch to a brown color and then reversed the colors to make a mirror image of the colors. It turned out beautiful.
I love the start of the shawl I got started crochet from my mom she is gone now 1996 she would crochet/knit at night cause they was Christmas gifts from Santa all the time crochet keeps me busy I started a cool 3d blanket for my sister but she past on b4 I got the time to finish it so it sits in its bag am made a hexagon sweater for my granddaughter she is 1 she loves it n making one for her mom my oldest daughter n×t to venture out for 2 more rolls of yarn to make my youngest daughter one too aha thank you if u got this far in my story of yarning
Juan I emailed you a knitting pattern under my full name. It’s for a scarf with knit and purl stitches. How about making that your next step up from the Linus shawl. You are doing brilliantly with that shawl, I love the idea of you making it with a Malabrigo yarn. Using different thickness of yarn and needles is an excellent way to build your skill and figure out what you like working with. Circular needles can hold a lot more stitches than straight ones, as a rough guide they can hold approx twice their length in stitches. Have a look on the internet for more precise info than I can think of off hand as to how many stitches a length of cable will hold.
My main love is knitting so opposite. My grandmother taught me and I never could crochet didn’t get it - so knit for 30 years plus and then in 2020 I had time with covid and being at home I taught self via RU-vid. Now I do both and love both. The colours of your shawl are beautiful. I can’t wait to see it when finished. Take care.
I always say I'm a better knitter than I am a crocheter even though I started learning to crochet first. I picked up knitting easier than I did crochet but I'm not getting better at crochet. Pretty soon once you get the Linus Shawl finished you're gonna want to do more knitting. Your stitches on that look excellent as well as the eyelets on the edge. Maybe challenge yourself to work up a knit swatch with a cable. Your not a toddler knitter, you're an adventurous beginner! Would love to see a spinning session when you start and get comfortable with it. Spinning has always fascinated me!
I love crochet because it's my Zen. And I get pleasure from the reactions I get from the recipients. Me and my Mom learned together and crocheted together and all the things. Now that she's gone when I crochet I feel a connection to her
Both of my grandmother's crocheted and knit, my grandmother that lived next door to me until I grew up and moved out did it all the time. I have knitting needles and crochet hooks that belonged to both of them and I love having that connection to both of them. They were both very strong and knid women, women the best sense of humor which they also passed along to me, so when people in my family see me knit or crochet a reference either of my grandmothers it warms my heart.
Juan my grandmother knitted, and my mother knitted. I learnt to knit from them when I was a kid. My daughter knits and does the most wonderful Aran cardigans and jumpers. Now my granddaughter knits, that’s five generations, so I guess it is the connection between us all. Juan you taught me to crochet, I’d tried it before but never got the hang of it and now I’m making a blanket of granny squares. I also do hand spinning and have for years. So I guess I love yarn and fibre crafts and colour. How about a video with knitting and spinning?
Thank you for uploading this I very much enjoyed seeing a small part of your stash lol. I crochet because I have 300+ ideas to make so I gotta get to it!
You've definitely inspired me to try knitting again. I tried it many years ago and just didn't get into it. Maybe I will this time around. I love watching your progress on the Linus shawl as well as your growth as a knitter.
Ok yes I also ordered those little balls of yarn from Amazon and I’ve started a granny square blanket with it. They’re small like 5 rows bc I used a 3.75 crochet hook but it is looking very pretty and I’m using only that yarn!!!
Hi Juan, watching late on Friday night! You put colors together really well! That red wip with the dark charcoal is stunning. I’m going to watch you crochet now ♥️♥️♥️
My reason is because I needed something to relax and get away from my work. No one showed me how to crochet other than reading the learn how to crochet book. My mom knew how to but never helped me. Same thing for knitting but didn’t care for it that much. I took sewing in
If you’re going to change yarn every row for the vintage variegated chevron you could maybe try a mosaic and use some vintage solid along with it. I’m thinking of a mosaic tote bag with some Caron variegated and solid (gravel & fig) but in the round so can switch/carry the yarn and won’t have ends. Love seeing all the yarns!
Hi Juan that is such a beautiful blanket you're making!!💜 I'm getting so inspired by you Juan right now. i have some Loops & thread yarn soft Classic "Classique Douce" I didn't know what to do with that yarn but now I know. I have to try to make a beautiful blanket just like yours... 🥰💜💜💜🥰
Thank for suggestions to hook up a size or two working a baby blanket single crochet chain two single crochet all in the same stitch with a 6.5 hook 😊 ❤😊😊😊
