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MY MOTHER IN LAW’S MOTHER IN LAW’S TOTE

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By now, you all know that I’m not the world’s best photographer.  But, I had to TRY to show you this lovely tote.  Here’s its story.

My mother in law is 87 years old.  She married my now deceased father in law when she was 15 and he was about 20 years old.  My father in law’s mother died when he was two, leaving him and his elder brother.  She was about 19 years old in 1914 when she died.  My FIL’s father remarried a few years later to the woman my husband called periamma (grandma).  At some point early on, periamma crocheted this lovely tote. When I was in Chennai, India (the family home) in November, 2009, my MIL gave the tote to me, knowing that I would appreciate both its history and the lovely thread work.

What surprised me, and what does not show up in these photos, is the vibrance of the colored threads.  They are very strong, bright yellow, red, blue, pink, and green.  The thread is size 20 and the stitches are amazingly even.  This is the kind of tote that a housewife of the era would have carried to the market or have used to tote around her crochet projects. However, this tote is in mint condition so I don’t believe it was ever used.

I feel so honored to have this piece.  It was yellowed but in otherwise excellent condition when I received it.  I soaked it for about a week in Oxyclean, rinsed it thoroughly in cool water, blocked it and laid it to dry on my glass-topped dining room table.   Many of you will know that during the era when this piece was crocheted, there were virtually no patterns for crochet.  My MIL also knits and she has told me that she never had an actual pattern.  One knitter would pass along her knowledge to another so patterns spread around the world this way.  Each artisan would interpret the piece in her own way, adding or subtracting elements to please herself.  It’s amazing to me how reliant we have become on patterns, altho’ there are still places and people who have no access to patterns or can’t read them.

I have very few mementos of this ancestor.  I wish I had known her.  But, I’m sure she would be happy to know that her grandson’s wife cherishes her work.

Looking for more Crochet patterns for totes, shopping bags or oversized bags ? Check out these crochet patterns we found on Etsy.

Comments

  1. I have a crocheted tablecloth that my grandmother made for me in 1969! I don’t dare put it on a dining table. Thinking of hanging it but not sure how to. Treasures!

  2. Barbara,
    How fortunate you are to have this treasure. You might consider basting the tablecloth to a firm cotton backing – like a high quality sheet – and hang it like a quilt – either over a rail like a towel rack mounted on the wall or by those huge wooden pieces that are designed to hang a quilt from one corner. I have a cherished afghan made by my aunt that has been tacked to foam core by Michael’s years ago and is mounted on the wall. I really enjoy having it hanging in my family room.
    jd

Have you read?

Crocheting Christmas Gifts? Make This Supply Checklist Before You Buy More Yarn

I have never met a crocheter who needed much encouragement to buy yarn. The trouble starts when the yarn arrives and the project also needs a smaller hook, stuffing, buttons, a tapestry needle and a shade of green that looks nothing like the one on the screen.

If you are crocheting Christmas gifts this year, a little planning before you shop can save several stops and starts. Pick your projects, check the patterns properly and make one supply list for the whole gift pile. You can still enjoy choosing beautiful yarn. You will simply know what it is for.

This checklist is especially useful if you are making several small gifts, such as ornaments, mug cozies or stocking fillers. If you order supplies online, Amazon Prime may be convenient for eligible items. Check the price, contents and delivery estimate for your address before ordering, rather than assuming every item in your cart will arrive together.

1. Choose projects that fit the time you have

Start by writing down the recipients and a realistic project for each one. A pair of elaborate amigurumi toys may be a joy in September and a rather different proposition in December.

Small pieces are easier to fit around everything else Christmas brings. Our free crochet Santa spiral ornament can be used as a tree decoration or gift topper. If you want more tiny festive projects, CraftBits has a crochet peppermint candy pattern to consider.

Read the entire pattern before adding supplies to your cart. Check the stated skill level, finished size and any assembly or finishing steps. A project that looks quick in the photo may have several pieces to sew together.

2. List the yarn by weight, fibre and amount

For each pattern, note the yarn weight, suggested fibre, colour and required yardage or metres. If you substitute yarn, compare more than the colour. A bulky chenille will produce a very different result from smooth cotton, even if both are labelled “cream.”

When buying crochet yarn on Amazon, check the amount in each skein and calculate how many you need. Leave a little allowance for gauge differences and joining pieces. If the finished size matters, make a gauge swatch with the yarn and hook you intend to use.

If pattern abbreviations or supply details are confusing, our guide to reading crochet patterns explains what to look for before starting.

3. Check every hook size before buying another set

Write the hook size beside each project on your list. Look through the hooks you already own before buying a new set just for one missing size. If you crochet often, a comfortable hook in your most-used sizes can be a better purchase than a large assortment you rarely touch.

For amigurumi, the hook listed in the pattern helps produce a firm fabric that holds the stuffing inside. Changing yarn or hook size can change the finished dimensions and the amount of yarn you use.

4. Add the finishing supplies people forget

This is the part of the list that saves me the most frustration. Depending on your projects, you may need:

  • Tapestry needles for weaving in ends and sewing pieces together
  • Stitch markers
  • Stuffing
  • Buttons or embroidery floss for details
  • Ornament hanging loops
  • Labels, tissue paper or small gift boxes

Check whether a kit includes these items before buying them twice. If you are making toys for a baby or very young child, avoid detachable small parts and follow appropriate toy-safety guidance; embroidered features are often a better choice than plastic eyes.

5. Work out the cost per finished gift

If you are making the same ornament for several people, buying the main yarn colours and ornament hanging supplies in suitable quantities may simplify the job. First calculate how many complete gifts the supplies will make. A big multipack only helps your budget if you will use it.

Include stuffing, finishing pieces and packaging in the total. Scraps from your existing stash may cover some colour changes, so shop your yarn basket before adding another six-pack of red.

6. Give yourself a finishing deadline

Aim to finish crocheting a few days before the gifts need to be wrapped. That leaves time to sew on the last detail, weave in the ends, wash or block pieces where appropriate and package them nicely. I know weaving in ends feels like a task for Future Me, but Future Me is usually busy wrapping presents.

If you decide to use Prime for your crochet supply shopping, check the current membership terms and the delivery date shown for each eligible item at checkout. Then put the parcel aside, make a cup of tea and enjoy the reason you bought it all: giving someone a gift made by your own hands.