I’m planning to write
an in-depth story about crocheting through adversity. Please leave your story here. Kindly condense your story as much as possible and do not use real names if you don’t want them to be published. Your email addresses will be visible on this blog but everyone will be anonymous in the future article. Try to give as much information as possible while keeping in mind that I will have a lot of posts to read (I hope!) so keeping your story to its essential elements will be very helpful.
It’s my personal experience that having a crochet project to work on during times of adversity is extremely helpful. If that has been your experience, please share it with me.
The picture above is blurry on purpose. Who feels crisp and in-focus during adversity?
Thanks!
Four years ago I injured my back at work and have been off since. Crocheting has saved my sanity more times than I can count through this ordeal. I have crocheted volumes of items since I can do little outside of my home. I have learned several new techniques like hairpin lace , plastic bag crochet and rag crochet and have a list of ones yet to be attempted. I’ve had the opportunity to work with yarns of every type from fur to ribbon, bulky, super bulky, fingering and boucles. I love trying out all the types of yarns and finding patterns sometimes occupies days at a time. Once I find two or three really good patterns though, I’m stash diving and off for days, sometimes weeks. I love making shawls and wraps and have made hundreds since the injury. I’m even beginning to sell a few items!
NORMA, Thanks for your story. You are a testament to making lemonade from lemons! Also, I am a devoted fan of lifelong learning. You certainly embody that. Thanks for sharing. jd
I’m not sure if this is what you’re wanting, but I know that I crochet to sooth my nerves. If I’m having finals or stressful school work, I tend to crochet and it calms me. I call it my therapy, because when things are all around stressful, I can crochet, and it seems to take me to a new world. I am suddenly calmer and happier. 🙂
DIVA, your experience with crochet mirrors that of many of us. That’s one of the things I enjoy most about crochet – it’s calming and therapeutic. Thanks for sharing. jd
Last year I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I contacted a local breast cancer support organization, Support Connection, and they were so helpful and assisted me throughout my treatments. When chemo started and each session lasted 8 hours, I decided to give to other women who are also going through cancer. I began crocheting shawls for other women and donated them to Support Connection. The crocheting brought comfort to me and, I hope, to the other women. I now teach crocheting to women with cancer.
MARGARET, What a courageous story you have! First, you conquer a terrible disease. Then you share your experience, strength, and hope with others. Teaching is such a gift. Thanks for sharing. jd
I have crocheted since 1972. I continued to crochet ever since.
I was a single parent at the time and still am. In 1999,my mother died, my boss would not give me time off work of her funeral. I went with out sleep to go anyway. I was over worked due to working 80 hours a week. I became depressed. I was going to school part-time, then a run in with the Department of Children and Families. That was when they took my children away. I wasn’t doing anything but wrong except my babysitter was not 18 years old yet. I lost my job a few months after that. A year later I lost my apartment because my money ran out. I could not work.
Then I started to loose my mined. The only thing I could concentrate on was to crochet.
I crocheted, blanket for adults, baby blankets, and baskets. Then I crocheted shawls for the females in my family for Christmas. That was one for each of three daughters, one for the three sisters, one for the sister-in-law, and two or three for me.
After that I crocheted hats for homeless people in Orlando. I never counted them. I just crocheted and gave it away.
Now nine years later, I crochet for extra income. I crochet for charity, family, friends, customers, myself, and for my grandchild. I thought that my life would end when they took my children away, but God had me life and it was his way of telling me to slow down. I did go back to school and got that degree and then I got one in E-Business. I love life now.
M.D., your story is very moving. As a mother, I can’t imagine much worse than being separated from my children. Your faith gave you strength to do what you had to do in the face of adversity and distress. Yet, you persevered with your education and in sharing what little you had with others in the form of charity crochet. You are an inspiration. Thank you, jd
In regards to your writing, my story: On Feb. 21 of this year, my 20 year son was with friends and they overdosed him on drugs. They did not call 911 until he was blue. We were notified 30 min after this happened. My son died and was revived 3 times within a 6 period. He was stabilized enough to go into icu. For 3 weeks, I stayed by his bed, knowing that he may die, and that he was severely brain damged. My crochet help me to be able to sit by my son, and also keep my hands busy, and helped me not to break down. I was able to create 3 different projects in that time, and that helped. My son is in the nursing home now, and we are still living on hope and faith that he will be able to recover. Thank you
Laurie, First, let me express my sadness at what happened to your son. It could happen to the child of anyone – but it happened to you and you are still his mother and you are still by his side. When my daughter was in the ICU with meningitis years ago, there was a woman nearby whose infant was in an isolette and not expected to live. That woman knitted all day long, remaining at her child’s side. She couldn’t even touch him. I saw her frog her work and start over, just to have the knitting to occupy her as she couldn’t leave to get more yarn. I was not a crocheter at the time, but I understood what she was doing and saw how it ‘saved’ her. Your son will be in my prayers. Thank you for sharing. jd
JD,
My story is a short one. Recently my daughter discovered a lump in her breast. Frightening at any age but especially for a 30 year old single mom. Her family doctor sent her for a sonogram and they decided she needed to see a surgeon for his opinion. The surgeon did a needle biopsy and discovered it was a solid mass and said it needed to be removed because a negative test result, based on the few cells he was able to remove, would not necessarily mean no cancer. So we set up the surgery and I was left waiting for several hours, by myself, in the waiting room while they had my daughter in the staging room, during the surgery, etc. Let me tell you the yarn and hook I took with me helped tremendously! It at least helped me focus a little bit on something other than what was happening in another part of the hospital. On this particular day busy hands really did mean a less stressful mind!
We were very fortunate that the mass was NOT CANCER and it was just a fibroid cyst.
Wanda
WANDA, How wonderful that your daughter’s breast mass was benign! Such good news. However, in that awful state of ‘waiting and not knowing’ you turned to you yarn and hook for comfort. I do that too. I think many of us do. Thank you for sharing your story and please pass along my best wishes for your daughter’s continued good health.  jd
Crocheting through Adversity …
I lived in 29 apartments before the age of 26 – mostly in Omaha, NE – as a tomboy my childhood was full of adventures and the unexpected. Exploring new places, and meeting new friends was fun and exciting till an attack of polio at 9 in 1951. While fortunate to have little obvious physical effects no-one knew or understood the permanent invisible damage to the immune, autonomic and central nervous systems till years later.
Since childhood I’ve struggled with overwhelming fatigue and body aches, swollen glands, mysterious fevers and illness’, muscle spasms, poor quality sleep and unexplained physical weakness.
Then in 1997 collapsed at work and forced to “retire” at 55. Months of exams and tests diagnosed Atrophic Hypothyroidism, Fibromyalgia and Sjogrens (an autoimmune disease). More extensive testing in 2007 also revealed several Stealth Viral Infections and Chronic Sinusitis as well as weak Adrenals. Dr.s also suspect there is some Post Polio issues.
After surviving an abusive marriage, 10 years as a single parent, graduating with a BA in Computer Graphics and being fortunate to work at Microsoft it was devastating to suddenly loose the ability to function “normally”.
Living with diminished physical abilities has changed my existence from an active, productive life (indoors and out) surrounded by stimulating people to spending hours – sometimes days alone. It’s also been stressful for my 2nd husband and daughters to understand and accept the restrictions required to manage these invisible illness’. It’s an ongoing process that includes developing the ability to enjoy extended quiet times while striving to reduce stress and learn new methods of living with these diseases, improve my health and feed my soul.
Pursuing creative outlets with crochet was the best treatment for the looming specter of depression and offered a unique opportunity for exploring my inner self. The physical body might have less energy and endurance but the mind is now free to brainstorm and enjoy FiberART – especially pattern, and sculptural designing with hook and yarn.
I learned to crochet as a child and continued to practice after marrying, raising a family, attending college and while working – as time allowed – till “retiring”. It was great stress relief during chaotic periods and now is my salvation, especially on difficult days when even thinking is sometimes a struggle. During those times I enjoy researching new design ideas online, reading email from my Yahoo Groups and sharing with friends.
This new endeavor included Hook, Yarn and Pattern Acquisitions after getting my laptop computer. Also discovered eBay and connected to the wonderful world of new friends and unique artists. I’m slowly creating a Craft area with a “research” library. The rational – if Seamstress’, Woodworkers and Mechanics can have well stocked work spaces so can FiberARTists. /;)
It’s taking awhile to organize but have plenty of time and the bonus is teaching my brain new ways to work creatively with less physical energy.
I enjoy creating with all types of yarn and fiber including fabric, VCR Tape, plastic bags and anything that can be used with a hook, as well as designing fun and useful items to share with others. Have been published in several issues of Crochet Pattern-A-Day Calendars and designing a Pet CagePad Pattern Book to help raise funds for rescued animals.
Life continues to be full of challenges but without the world of crocheting it would also be very empty and lonely. For me it’s literally a “mind” and “life” saver – while offering positive ways to help others and satisfy my creative itch. /;)
Sincerely
LynnJ AKA LadyWillow on Eons, Ravelry and Flickr SITEs.
FiberARTist & Photographer
See my completed projects and photos below….
http://community.webshots.com/user/lady13willow
One of my sharing connections – OneSpirit – more info below….
http://www.nativeprogress.com/
LYNN, your story is one of triumph over all kinds of adversity! What a bulldog you must be! Good for you. Your creative energies will benefit not only you – but the rest of us too as you share the fruit of your mind and hands. You have certainly had a lot to overcome – yet you have such a positive attitude. I think crochet (and other artforms) brings that out in some of us. You certainly are an inspiration. Thank you for sharing your story with us. jd
I am crocheting through adversity. I got divorced 3 months ago and yesterday a friend of mine passed away. Crocheting helps me express my grief and rage over the
situation.
DONNA, I am so sorry to hear of all your recent losses. What a period of sadness for you. A wise person once reminded me – and still often does – that this too shall pass. However, when we are in the midst of such strife, it’s hard to have that objectivity. I’m gratified to learn that crochet helps you cope. ‘Grief and rage’ are two very descriptive words. Please keep forging forward, one stitch and step at a time. Thank you so much for sharing. jd
What a brilliant idea! Many people go through times in their lives whether they are suffering themselves or someone they love are in distress. Needle work is an awesome stress reliever. I do more knitting and some crocheting and find that when things get rough out come the needles and yarn. I hope you get some great stories.
LINDA, As you can see, many wonderful people have shared their stories. I have so much to learn from all of you. Crocheting is a great stress reliever for me. I find it meditative. When things are rough, for whatever reason, I find comfort with my hook and yarn. Never fails. Thanks, jd
Crochet helped me through thyroid cancer. I was 34 and had just had my third baby when I was diagnosed. I had been having problems for years and the most painful one for me was that I could barely understand anything I read. I started dragging my crochet around to hospital and doctor appointments because I couldn’t read anything while I waited. I had to make my own patterns because I couldn’t understand all those abbreviations. It took several years for me to be able to read and understand anything, but I always had my crochet.
Besides helping me with concentration and keeping me calm before treatment, crochet kept my hands in physical shape. I had lost a lot of my coordination — even now I struggle with fine motor skills. But if I hadn’t had crochet it would be much worse.
Crochet also helped me fight depression during the years of treatment.
Up until about 15 years ago, I had been crocheting on and off since I was about 10 or 12 years of age. At that point, I went through a pretty nasty divorce (I was being abused). I remarried a wonderful man and just four months into our marriage I had to have emergency brain surgery. Not long after that, I returned to crocheting more for therapy than anything else. The brain surgery left me with many problems – a seizure disorder, cognitive and memory problems and I’m still unable to drive. I felt very isolated and crocheting helped.
A little over a year ago I started suffering from major depression. If it weren’t for crocheting, I think I would have totally lost it. I truly believe crocheting saved my life.
We have very little money since I am no longer able to work and my husband is also disabled due to a back injury. My crocheting has helped in that I am able to make birthday and other gifts for family members. I also have been able to make a little bit of money by crocheting for others. I’ve also gotten much satisfaction from the wraps I crochet and donate to a local nursing home.
Thank you for letting me share my story, JD.
SANDY, you have certainly been through a great deal of adversity, yet you continue forward. Like you, I find crocheting to be beneficial for creating many gifts – money saving AND unique items not to be found in every mall.  Thanks for sharing your story. jd
Many, many years ago–shortly after I got my divorce, I fed myself and my daughter by crocheting vests. Remember the 70’s? Everyone wanted them. I could do 2 in a weekend and made $15 each. It kept my mind and hands busy, and put groceries in our cupboard.
CAY – what a resourceful mom you are! So few of us can really make money with crochet – but when you NEEDED to, you did! That’s triumphing over adversity. Wish I had one of your vests from the ’70’s! Thanks for sharing, jd
I was told by my dr. more than 50 years ago to crochet an hour a day to keep the arthritis in my hands under control, but with kids that went by the wayside. My 3 month old baby was in ICU for 15 days and fingers flew as I couldn’t touch him. Over the years I’ve picked up my yarn many times as I’ve had to sit beside a hospital bed or in a waiting room. Now the yarn and hooks keep my sanity as I sit here in an empty house since my husband passed away. Nursing homes and the local missions all receive things from me constantly.
I’m impressed! You’ve managed the almost iomsspible.