Love the fact that they addressed the elephant in the yarn room regarding judging people who use cheaper yarns. For me I'm a beginner and I won't call myself intermediate yet so I won't spend my money on high dollar yarn until I feel more confident in my technique. I joined this maker space to take time away from my IT job as stress relief so I want it to be affordable and fun in the same regard.
I pretty much use only acrylic, but I make a lot of toys, and the brand I use allows the toys to be washed at 40 degrees if necessary, also lots of colors
I feel this! I never wanted to leave my loops and thread acrylic and lily sugar n cream cottons because I wanted to feel more skilled before investing. Buuut... Joann's started offering more variety of yarn that's allowing me to experiment with more fibers and weights to help with confidence to use those fancy yarns. I had always been intimidated by fingering weight yarn but Joann's K&C yarn has fingering cotton for 10$ and now I feel so much more confident to use the balls of alpaca and silk blend I got from a local yarn store. (Don't be afraid to still try tricker fibers. Not all of them are 30$ a Hank. Those alpaca silk balls I got were only 8$ a ball
You use whatever makes you feel comfortable for learning! Learning effectively starts with feeling comfortable. If the yarn is a nice color and texture and easy for you to use, then it's perfect for you regardless of the price or how "fancy" others think it is. You're absolutely correct that you can challenge yourself with different materials when you feel comfortable doing so. And even if the materials stay the same and the difficulty goes up, that's fine too. You are the one sailing your own boat on this journey, and you can go wherever you like.
I use dollar store yarns to practice with. I’m just getting back into crocheting after being away from it for about 20 years. My daughters bought me a bunch of beautiful high end yarn, but I don’t want to use it up on practice swatches, so my husband took me to the dollar store and bought me a bunch of yarn I feel comfortable with just playing with and improving my skills.
If I want to try a more pricey yarn I will buy one and do a very simple project. One thing I’ve learned that some projects will look and feel as well as work with totally different with one brand over another. Then if I’m going to do a project that is going to be next to my skin I have a better understanding of what yarn I will want.
I cut contact with my parents yesterday because they have never made an effort to care about me as a person, past just being their daughter, and this video is so healing for my heart right now. Toni and Gwen are people I would love to just spend time with, I went to a class in Florida and it was not nearly enough time with these wonderful women! The yarn arts community gives me a family that respects me and I'll always be grateful for people like Toni and Gwen who cultivate such a lovely community
That isn’t easy. But sending all the good supportive love to you. I had to cut off contact with my father for quite a while until I was in a better place and could deal with him less personally, that seems strange to say about a father but I had to do it. I know it is a hard thing, a times a relief and a times lonely. But if that is what you need to do, good for you. All the love.
Yes! The fiber arts community can be so healing from garbage like you’ve dealt with. I wish you peace in this journey. Family is the one you make, and that’s not always biological and that’s okay. 💕
I'm so sorry for you. You did what was correct for healing yourself and your heart. You. Have the fiber arts community. ..May The Creator bless your creativity.
as someone with a rather rough relationship with their own mother it is so refreshing to see you interact with yours. she so clearly loves you and that really shines through 💓
Not even half way through the video and I already need more of Momma Gwen!! Please please please make this a monthly or every other month regular video!!
If y'all want to do this sort of video every week I'm here for it! I love to sit and crochet and listen to you two talk. Momma Gwen is just the best, she's the momma that everyone needs, so supportive, kind, intelligent and funny.
As a yarn person who is allergic to wool, I really appreciate you alls attitude toward yarn. Too many makers tend to looked down on and belittle those of us who use acrylic yarns
Gwen- I'm crying listening to you be so honored that your daughter moved close and wants to be with you! Yes! My baby girl moved next door after being away 5 years. We have a business together too. What a gift. We are so lucky.
"For my daughter to want me to be around... thats just a blessing to me" this line made me tear up. Im so happy for you two, and I'm happy to spend any time with my mom that i still can with her.
Oh mama Gwen, hearing you talk about having your daughter close by and your relationship fills my heart with joy! I have a similar relationship with both my daughters and am so proud of the women that they are and love being around them doing whatever. ❤️❤️
y’all got me crying into my granny squares 😭 i tucked in to weave some granny square ends but the part about moving closer to your mom had me setting my project down. i moved about two hours away from my family for college and basically said good riddance. i didn’t feel like i could get along with any of them. but when i moved back home to save money, my relationship with one of my sisters and my mom mended so well and now i consider my sister my best friend and i miss my mom’s hugs so much. me and that sister moved out together and now we only live about 10 min away from our family and it’s literally the perfect distance to just stop by and say hi while also having space. i love that you ladies have experienced the same thing. it’s the best feeling
I was listening to Momma Gwen talking about her crochet journey and found out she and I have one major happening in common. Your momma went in the military and was stationed in Würzburg, Germany in the 90’s. I was in the Army and stationed in Würzburg, Germany for 6 years in the 80’s. This is the first time I’ve encountered someone whose life experience was so similar to mine. I didn’t crochet at the time, but I sewed and made my children’s and my clothing. This put a smile on my face. Thank you.
Hi Toni, I am a new subscriber. I am 61 and live in rural Georgia. I stumbled upon your channel this morning. What delightful video, I enjoyed it so much. It is so wonderful that you can crochet with your Mom and share your crafting with one another. You two are a beautiful mother and daughter duo. I loved your positivity and ease of conversation. I picked up my own crochet and felt like I was right there in the room with you. I am looking forward to going back and watching your previous videos. I also enjoyed hearing about your stashes. I have been crocheting for 45 years and knitting for 25. I usually have a knitting and crochet project going at the same time and pick up which ever one suits me at the moment. I have made all kinds of different things but right now I am really enjoying making amigurumi. It has been fun being able to use up some of my own stash on these projects and it has brought out a whimsical side of myself that I haven't seen in awhile. :). I hope you and your mother both have a happy Sunday!
The vibes off the videos with your mom and you are just immaculate, I can watch you two over and over just to hear the joy and equal love and involvement in the craft, I appreciate another video with her!!!
Love the purple story, Toni. I think you would look amazing in many shades of purple. Purple has always been my favorite color. When we moved into a house in 1973 my parents asked 3 year old me what color carpet I wanted, and I said purple....and they listened! That's when every room had a different color, yuck! So fun to craft along with the 2 of you.
Totally feel y’all on crafts being a recharger and peace bringer. They are an absolute necessity for me. Love when y’all get together y’all are so funny and have such relaxing vibes 💕
Thank you. I lost my mom last year. And one day I was watching your videos and I started watching one with you and your mom. I love the relationship y’all have. It reminds me of me and my mom. Again thanks. Please keep doing these videos.
Ladies you are so on point! One year I had just moved out, and my Mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I replied yarn, she looked at me like I was crazy! But she bought me yarn and I gifted her and my Dad with a throw and pillows for their sofa and Mom loved it! No one in my family got how much I liked to make and or create things. Now 50 years later I still enjoy creating things! Love your videos! 👍
You two have such a beautiful relationship! It truly is a blessing to watch the unconditional love and unquestionable support between you and our mother.
I have watched this video 2 times so far. I was with my mother the first time and I was like: Mama Gwen is my spirit mama. She laughed and said that you sound like my kind of people. Your mother is such an attractive woman both physically and emotionally. She seems so positive and wonderful.
Gods, as someone who struggles with having a relationship with my own mom, seeing Gwen and Toni together just makes me so happy. Such lovely humans and I wish y'all could come to Seattle. I love using acrylic yarn, and I occasionally will get nicer yarns but I just prefer acrylic even though I've been crocheting for years.
Toni, you are so blessed to have Mama Gwen as your mentor and champion. She’s creative and quite lovely in her own right. I loved how she addressed the yarn snobbery that is very pervasive among knitters and crocheters. She was erudite and polite about the subject. She must be fun to just hang out with.
I'm a grandmother, but I think of my Mama often. She was my best friend and I still miss her. It is heartwarming to see the close relationship you have with your Mama. I can see you cherish her.
I have a weekly crochet time with my mom. I love that she & I can craft together and chat and talk. And some people are 100% knitworthy... and some are not.
My teen daughter and I spent the day selling at a craft market and getting home to chill and stitch with you two is just the downtime I needed. I can only hope my daughter and I have even a sliver of what you two share ahead of us!!
One of the things I love about this channel is the no judgement zone that it is. There are a lot of higher quality yarns I can't use because I have eczema and a lot of wools are too irritating for me.100% wool is not the be all end all that some people make it out to be. Why would I buy a yarn that makes me break out and is difficult to afford just because it's yarn snob approved? It's not creating an inviting community that the crafting community should be. But at the same time, I have been venturing into more high quality yarns and learning what I can and can't work with and it's been such a fun learning experience. I also want to say that my favorite videos you make are the ones with your mom. It's so heartwarming to see the energy between the two of you. I love my parents, I consider myself close to them, but it's a much more formal style of relationship. The kind of relationship the two of you have is something I have always admired (and a bit jealous of), and I am honored that you are willing to share a bit of it with all of us.
I enjoy you but your MOM reminds me of my MOM AND GRANDMA. I trust both of you like my best friend. I am 80 yrs young. Found you on RU-vid and went searching for my yarn needles. THANK YOU❤❤
I'm blessed.. I have 4 children with 4 different favorite colors and they are so varied and different from my own. Thanks to them I have learned to work in pink, purple, orange, blue, and green. And they will ask me to work in some wild colors.. I'm not a neon person, but you know neon pink and lime green make my baby girl smile and she struts in the top I made her. I'm grateful to not only have living inspiration, but also wonderful support as they collect ideas and colors to share with me. I've spent years telling them they can do anything and it's amazing to have them turn around and tell me the same thing.
Like many others here I would love to see Mama and daughter more often. I could really enjoy the once a month chats. If I could afford a retreat with the two of you present, I would love to be there. It would no doubt be one of the best times of my life. I met a young woman who was just beginning to dip her toes into the idea of learning crochet. She had bought some yarn and a crochet hook. Now she was trying to get up the nerve to actually try to make a chain. I told her one of the absolute best people to learn from was you. You have an amazing teaching style.
Omg Thank you Mama Gwen yesterday I was told I was cheating at knitting cause I use the addi machine for only hats donated by my knitting store . I don’t like conflict usually I stay quiet. But I Channeled Mama Gwen . I validated her comment by saying it was a theory But in my defense Mama Gwen said Mind your own Business nicely. A Big Hug for this strength .!! I have made 15 hats to Donate it not a competition. Learned a lot from that Podcast . Thank you both
I need yall to know that sitting here, at work, on break, working on my own crochet business in my down time, yall have me CRYING talking about the bond you two have. Just so lovely to see the support yall have, and how that reflects into the community you’ve built. Hoping you do some events nearby that I’ll finally be able to meet you and thank you for the inspiration in person. Just thank you for opening up and sharing with us, you have no idea how much it means 💜
I feel like I’m right there in the comfy living space , hydrating , crocheting and sharing stories about ourselves and yarn experiences 🧶 WITH THE FUR BABIES !!!!
The biggest negative I ever got is actually my favorite thing and that's saving my dogs fur to make yarn. Having recently lost one I feel more positive about this than ever before. One day (probably soon) I will have enough fur from my dogs to make enough yarn for a blanket. One day I will feel their warmth in the form of a warm soft blanket. You wouldnt believe the facial expressions I get when I explain this. As for the stash, I just started a scrap sweater I suspect my yarn stash will fit in two grocery store bags. As for moths never had an issue as my projects are safe in grandma's cedar chest which is over 100 years old. I often wonder what kind of projects she kept in there. Favorite yarn Puzzle Kickball. Absolutely gorgeous. I have a sweater and a blanket from that yarn. Love you ladies.
I wish I'd met you when I lived in Columbus, and was on a student budget (aka broke) and only knew how to crochet. You're so warm and inclusive and willing to help people use the resources they have to learn what they can. Instead, I walked into a yarn shop with someone who I thought was a friend, inviting me to their knitting night. I bought a couple skeins of their fancy pretentious yarn, but couldn't afford $30 per skein (and this was 15 years ago, before inflation), so a lot of what I was using was RHSS or other kinds of budget friendly yarn. I ended up getting kicked out and banned from the store because during one knitting night, I asked, "What's the difference between a knit and a purl?" and the person who answered basically said a knit and a purl were opposite of each other- I accepted this answer and kept crocheting and left awhile later. The next day, I've got this email from my "friend" saying that the shop owners and the rest of the group discussed my "rude" behavior after I left and I am not welcome back at their store. They thought it was rude to the point of kicking me out that I asked a question about knitting, without paying for a class! Again, I was a student, and not even really interested in learning to knit. I'd asked a question that took less than 15 seconds to answer. The email followed up with how I should have bought more yarn from their shop instead of bringing RHSS. It's not like anyone else really noticed what other people were knitting with- I'm pretty sure at least one other person in that group was using acrylic, or at least something that didn't cost $30 per skein. My "friend" then followed up with how she was personally so embarrassed because she's the one who'd brought me to that yarn shop and that group of people, and now her standing with her yarn shop friends was compromised because she was associated with me. Since this "friend" was also a coworker in the lab I was working in, all of this BS also affected my work environment. She didn't really talk to me anymore, and hadn't even had the courage to talk to me directly- she'd just sent off this super upsetting email and left me to be betrayed and devastated. As you can see, I'm still pissed about this whole thing even 15 years later. I've since learned to knit. I've since gotten a better job and can afford nice yarn if I want it- but guess what? I still prefer washable yarns over their fancy stuff that can't even get wet without felting up or smelling like wet sheep. (Plus, the idea of using fancy yarns these days still gives me some negative feelings about getting rejected by people who only used yarns like that.) I wish I'd had people like you and your awesome mom back then. I could have used some kindness when I was in a new city, just trying to find a hobby that wasn't work or school and make some friends. Thanks for making these videos and helping people feel good about their hobbies, their current skill level, their resources, etc.
@crazybiogeek, sigh, I had a situation develop with a work colleague after we both applied to the same opening … it was very unsettling to find out my “friend” was … so NOT! I take Gwen’s words to heart from a previous discussion “let us not gatekeep our wonderful hobbies.” It reminds us to be our authentic selves, and never put another through the snobby wringer that others put us through. I imagine those snobs caught in a trap of their own making, the harder they wriggle, the tighter the web. Biologists Unite! ☺️
Dang! The beauty genes are strong in the family! Always love to craft with my own beautiful mom (she knits, I can knit and crochet. She taught me to knit).Thank you for your service Momma Gwen
Oh, Toni! I knew I loved you, but Your mamma Gwen. OMG, she is a hoot. I'm sure your home growing up with her is full of beautiful memories.❤🎉 You both are the women to watch , for my favorite past time! Thank You ALWAYS LINDA. 🎉🎉🎉😊😊❤❤
This Time spent with You and Mom was So Enjoyable... Thank You Both... please do a Video together after each of your Big Excursions and talk about how much fun you both had; this would make Great Content too... I really Enjoy your Podcast Toni, even though I don't always comment because I don't want to stop Crocheting, lol, I do watch and really Love what you Do... Thank You ❤🧶... Oh and Yes, you are definitely on your way to a Million
I love your videos! I find that I am more likely to use colors out of my comfort zone if it’s not an article of clothing. I’m working on big square throws right now and trying to really experiment with color. I once gave some colleagues scarves for Christmas. I spent a lot of time choosing a special color for each person, and used a different pattern for each. It was heartbreaking to see only one person appreciate the gift. After that I only made items for my daughter, who loves everything I make, and one other colleague who absolutely appreciates the time and skill involved.
I am so glad you showed your mom's completed project at the end. I would LOVE to see some of the other projects you refered to in the video AND momma Gwen's stash! I have 2 antique cupboards FULL of yarn, and then totes and totes. But I always love a good display situation. Thanks for making my work day pass more quickly!
Keep crafting.Your hands will heal your soul. Crafting has helped me through good times and bad times. My crochethook and knitting needles got me through.And our Creator.
I love, love, love watching the two of you sit down together to chat and craft! My mom passed when I was a teenager, but before that, she loved to hand quilt projects (this woman did NOT use a sewing machine for ANY part of her projects, and I'm talking king size bed quilts...that is the kind of patience I do not possess, haha). The relationship the two of you have and show in these videos together is the kind of relationship I imagine my mom and I would have if she were still around today. Thank you so much for sharing these moments - it's so, so heartwarming.
So in the podcast you hit a point where you were talking about the joke but also true I need her crochet so I don't hurt people I'd like to say this is very true but also it's true for people with mental illness I suffer with it and also anxieties and crochet and just starting Tunisian crochet has really helped me and so many ways with that I was diagnosed at 5 and I'm now 42 it has really opened up my life and really helps me I think crochet, knit ,yarn crafts and crafts in general are a blessing. Toni I am a big fan and I also am now a big fan of Mamma Gwen. I ordered a signed copy of your book to learn Tunisian crochet better and it gets here very soon so I'm so excited thank you for writing this book I just know it's going to be a big help
Why do I feel so seen and heard right now? Almost everyone in my life has something to say about my yarn stash - and it is not positive. But that feeling of finding exactly the right project for a specific yarn, it's so magical. Thank you for this video.
Omg I love mama Gwen. I related to too many things you two were talking about to remember them all. But omg would a knitting/crochet/book/mystery cruise be AMAZING!!!! All my favorite things in one place ☺️☺️☺️☺️. You would probably fill up a ship with your following!! Thanks ladies it was a lot of fun!
I agree that yarning with someone has a magic. We have a knitting group at work and it’s great. When people are annoyed or having a bad day you still have this hour where you knit and talk about granny squares and are just people.
37:54 I usually work solely in verigated or ombré type yarn. I always get boreddddd with solid color. I like watching the color change through my fingers.
Had to come drop a little message here.. I am currently on my first ever crochet project (a little scarf ) and I have been loving having you two playing in the back and making me company. I am loving learning this new craft and it feels great to feel the love and passion that you share for the craft too. Thanks for the company and the lovely energy 😊
My mom taught me how to crochet and knit. It's like riding a bike, you never forget. Currently I'm using my mom's stash of yarn. I don't have a stash...lol.
I love you mom, Toni! She's so down to earth and practical. Such a breath of fresh air in this yarny space. Thank you both for sharing your afternoon with us! ❤🧶❤🧶❤️
I usually watch and thumbs up your videos but this is the first time I've seen your mom. I've got to say "I love your mom because she is real." I feel you are more your true self with her around. Continue !!!
Lots of people give me their "leftover" yarn. Homespun is the most often donated, after Supersaver. People love the look but get frustrated and I get the yarn. It is much easier to knit than crochet and loom knitting is even easier. Like you said, for every yarn there is a project.
In March this year, I lost my mother, I am an only child, and my mother's side of the family is all gone. I never had any contact with my father's side. In April my best bud passed so I am grieving. Watching you and your mother has lifted my spirit to enjoy the good, positive memories of them both.
Mama gwen , you are so wise. I made this blanket they had red and yellow strips. And you taught me that a project is never a waste of time because you learned from it!
Anytime someone says don’t do something, it makes me want to do it more! I remember my childhood friend told me I looked like a clown when I wore pink lipstick, I would wear it every time I saw her 😆 I’m just like Moma Gwen! Growing up an only child, I have many hobbies, and enjoy alone time. My social clock runs out pretty quickly.
Toni, I am over 60 and been crocheting since I was about 9 or 10 years old. I have been enjoying your videos for the last couple of months. The conversation on yarns was interesting to me. I have usually shop the discount stores for my yarn and have been cringing at the slowly rising cost of yarn. I am wanting to branch into other yarns but have not taken the leap. Maybe this year as I am wanting to make some sweaters for myself. Thank you for a good conversation on yarn crafts,
Seeing Toni with her Mum makes me miss mine so much more. My mum taught me to crochet and embroider when I was young. She passed when I was 16. I’m 59 now and still grieve for her and all the things we never got to do together.
