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HERE’S MY RETIREMENT PLAN

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No, I’m not planning to retire any time soon.  But, maybe someday………..

So, how will I live out my days in retirement with no alarm clock to rattle me awake, no days spent dealing with crabby medical insurance clerks, and no employees to ‘manage’?  I plan to crochet a lot! I plan to organize all my pattens, hooks, and yarn (no, that’s actually a fantasy.  I’m as disorganized as a responsible, adult human can be!).  I plan to buy lots and lots of yummy yarns and attend many crochet conventions.

Could this be my DH crocheting??

I also plan to teach my husband to crochet!  I think it would be nice to have this hobby in common.  I think he would be great at it.  I think it would be awesome to face our rocking chairs west and spend each afternoon napping and crocheting.

Is he hiding behind a huge skein of yarn? Is he scared??

What does he think of this plan?  Well, he’s quite the diplomatic soul.  He hasn’t said NO!  It may be that he does not have a clear understanding of how much fun this could be!  We plan to travel – and crochet is very portable.  Also, yarn is available in a lot of countries around the world.  One big shopping expedition.  Mail it all home so we don’t have tote it around.

If money is no object (these, after all are plans but may really be more fantasies), we could enjoy crocheting on cruises, in hotel rooms, and in tents in the African outback on safari.  Right?

My husband is very indulgent.  He frequently points our yarn he thinks I need to buy.  That means he is either completely blind (as in he walks by mounds of yarn daily in our house) or he really, really likes me.  Can I leverage this to my advantage?  Wonder how long it would take him to learn.

So, who else plans to teach the spouse to crochet for future reference?  I can’t be the only one!

Note:  It’s scary how much the top image looks like me.  Not the hair or the face, but me, barefooted (like right now) surrounded by piles of yarn.

Further note:  In the spirit of full disclosure, I fell head over heels for this guy when he was standing in my apartment, showing me how to tie surgical knots with one hand, using sewing threads and the refrigerator handle.  So, if he can tie knots with one hand, he can surely learn to crochet, No?

Comments

  1. tie surgical know with 1 hand-yup you got a natural there-teach him now-it will keep his hands nimble!! (arthritis at bay) And he points out more yarn for you to buy!! What a dream!!

  3. I’m dedicated to try to teach my hubby crochet every decade until I die. I figure, somewhere along the line, he’ll either learn it, or stop being so darn diplomatic about the whole thing!!!

  4. Problem is I’m already retired but seems I’m busier now than when I was working and STILL very little time to crochet but do manage to squeeze it in there. And yup, just like you I’m as disorganized as an adult can be. Grand plans for getting organized but never get it done (NO ROOM!! LOL)

  5. Good thinking. I learned by many years of experience to UPS my yarn buys home way ahead of myself.

  6. Sounds great! Fortunately, my wife already crochets (a little) so the “teaching” will be for advanced techniques.

  7. I’m retired now almost 9 years…my stash has grown 9x over, my patterns in various binder books and on the floor, projects going in almost every room and the car, yarn,needles and patterns on the stairs up to the sudio….pure heaven!

  8. great to have dreams… I retired twice since 1976 and work harder now then i ever did getting a pay check…I know men who do crochet, loom and knit but I doubt if my hubby would…We camp a lot, he fishes and bike rides and walks the dogs while i stay inside the motorhome and do my charity work..I always take needles and hooks with me no matter where we are going..I wish you luck no matter whether you teach hubby or not…

  9. Need to know can you crochet on a plan – is it allowed. My husband no chance but he seems happy watching me.

  10. It varies by airline, security officer, and geography, but you’re likely to be okay with a plastic hook and no scissors. I’ve flown internationally with only plastic hooks and dental floss where I use the floss container’s serrated metal cutting edge for my yarn. Other crochet supplies are in my checked baggage. If you stick with plastic, you should be fine.
    jd

Have you read?

Shock Wave Free Crochet Lap Blanket Pattern

This Free Shock Wave Crochet Lap Blanket Pattern from Mary Maxim looks like one of those wonderfully satisfying projects that gives big cozy payoff without fiddly detail. Mary Maxim lists it as a free download, designed as a crochet afghan/lap blanket, with a finished size of 45 x 50 inches.

What immediately stands out is the yarn choice. The pattern is made with Bernat Blanket Extra Thick, using 5 skeins, and calls for a U.S. U/50 (25 mm) crochet hook. That is gloriously chunky territory, which usually means fast progress and lots of squishy texture. If you are in the mood for a project that feels substantial in your hands and grows quickly row by row, this one definitely has that appeal.

Mary Maxim describes the blanket as having a beautifully textured, plush, soft finish and suggests it as a project for home décor or gifting. Based on the materials and oversized hook alone, that sounds about right. This feels like the sort of blanket you make for curling up on the couch, draping over a chair, or giving as a practical handmade gift that will actually get used instead of folded away “for best.”

The pattern is marked Easy, and the listed stitch requirements are straightforward: chain, repeat, double crochet, single crochet, and slip stitch. That makes it sound approachable for confident beginners and very appealing for anyone who wants a relaxing crochet project without too much counting drama.

I also think the lap blanket size is a smart one. Not every crochet blanket needs to become a giant commitment that takes over the lounge room and your will to live. A 45 x 50 inch blanket is a useful, manageable size for gifting, for wheelchairs or reading nooks, or just for keeping on hand for chilly evenings. That practicality gives this pattern extra appeal. The usability point is my own take based on the finished dimensions Mary Maxim provides.

At the moment, the pattern page shows no reviews, so there is not much customer feedback to go on yet. Still, if you enjoy easy crochet blanket patterns, super chunky crochet throws, or quick lap blanket projects, this one looks like a solid freebie to save.

My overall take? This looks like a fast, cozy, beginner-friendly crochet blanket pattern with plenty of texture and instant-gratification energy. Very much the sort of project you start because it looks easy, then keep going because the yarn feels ridiculously soft.