Pink Beanie

My mom is undergoing chemotherapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer.  One of the side affects of her treatment is that she has lost her hair.  I'm always looking for stylish but comfortable scarves and headwear for her and came across this cute FREE "Chemo Cap", or beanie, crochet pattern at Michael's yesterday.  It took about two hours to complete and was very easy to make.

I think it might be too big for my mom though, so I tried it on last night.  With all my hair (and I have a lot of it!), it fit just fine, not too snug.  So I'm going to make another one, and make it a bit smaller for her.   Also, she's not a huge "pink" fan, so I'll probably make it blue or another versatile color.

The pattern is by Bernat.  You can probably find it online at their website: www.bernat.com.  Bernat is donating $30,000 to Susan G. Kormen for the Cure through the purchase of yarn in the Knit & Crochet for Breast Cancer collection from 8/15/10 thru 11/15/10.

I also learned a new stitch!  The Reverse Single Crochet - or Crab Stitch.  It's very easy, and I have to wonder why I'd never used the stitch before, as it makes a nice edging.  Here's how you make the stitch: Beginning row is worked in single crochet.  At the end of the row, do not turn.  Instead, work from left to right in reverse single crochet: insert hook in next stitch to the right, and complete as single crochet.

Creative, Me?

Create: To produce through imaginative skill.
Creative: Given to creating.

I've always been creative.  My mom is creative, as is my dad.  So were my grandparents for that matter.

My mom's father was a carpenter, and her mom a taylor.  Mom taught me how to bake, to sew and crochet.  She did arts and crafts with me and encouraged me to create.  I remember her teaching me how to crochet.  I used to sit for hours, making one long giant string of chain stitches.  I also sewed- doll clothes, halloween costumes, quilts... 

My dad was a developer.  He built houses.  The man can make and/or fix just about anything.  I grew up helping him fix sprinklers, holding boards while he hammered them in place, shining the flashlight and supplying him tools while he changed out spark plugs or unclogged the kitchen sink.  My dad didn't have sons to help him, he had me!

I guess that's why I've always been creative.  I find comfort in making things.  There's an excitement about planning out a project, the hunt when searching for and purchasing just the right supplies or ingredients, and then the comfort in the time spent putting something together, espeically from scratch, and the reward and satisfaction when finished.  I always have many projects in the works, and sometimes I have to talk myself out of starting a new one until I finish something I'm already working on!

My creativity changes by the season.  In the fall and winter I love to crochet, to bake, to simmer soups on the stove, and to get out my sewing machine.  In the spring I garden, and plant flowers.  In the summer I like to paint - walls.  And I scrapbook year-round.  

So, this is a blog about creative me.  I'm not sure who would want to read about my endless endeavor to create, but here it goes.  Enjoy!