Welcome to our blog tour! Here at Crochetville, we celebrate National Crochet Month with our NatCroMo Blog Tour. This year, we’re interviewing crochet designers, teachers, and hobbyists throughout March and our theme is crochet memories. You can browse all of this year’s blog tour content on our page NatCroMo Blog Tour 2020.
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About Mary Sweeney
Please allow me to introduce our featured hobbyist of the day, Mary Sweeney. She enjoys crocheting everything, but her two favorites are baby things and amigurumi. She loves watching kids play with the amigurumi animals she makes. Today Mary will share some of her crochet memories with us and we’ll showcase three of her crochet projects.
Mary’s Crochet Memories
Would you share with us one of your earliest memories of crochet?
My very first memory of crochet is sitting in my my grandmother’s living room and being scared to death to ask her to teach me. Her face lit up when I asked her.
One of my other really good memories, also an early one, was needing to stay with my aunt after my mother had surgery. I brought my crochet with me and she taught me to do these flowered granny squares and how to read a pattern. I think I was 12 or 13 years old at the time. She took me shopping for yarn so I could make these squares and I picked the most god-awful shades of green and purple. It definitely kept me occupied while my brother and I stayed with her.
Would you share with us one of your most memorable experiences as a crocheter?
The biggest thing that sticks with me is the joy on people’s faces when I gift them something I made just for them. There is one in particular that really stays with me. I had just started a new job and one of the guys I was working with had his second baby – a little girl. I broke out one of my favorite patterns for a baby sweater, booties, and bonnet. He was so touched that he thanked me for that outfit about 20 times, took it around to everyone in the office and showed it off, and his wife sent me a beautiful hand-written thank you note.
Would you share with us another crochet memory?
This isn’t so much a memory as it a feeling. When I crochet I feel my gram with me. When I give something that I’ve made I feel like a little part of her (and me) go with the gift. I feel like as long as one of my hand-made items it out there being enjoyed, she’s still with me.
Showcase: Crochet Projects by Mary
Granny Square Layette
Pattern source: Creative Crochet by Leisure Arts © 1996
About the project: I made this using Bernat Softee. It really is a favorite of mine to make. It works up quickly and it looks amazing. I converted the baby socks into little Mary Janes that are just adorable.
Mary’s Mittens
Pattern source: My Best Friend’s Mittens by Brenda K. B. Anderson
About the project: I made these one year as Christmas gifts for all my nieces. I posted the picture to Ravelry and the designer actually asked my permission to feature the picture on her page. It was the first time that ever happend!
Summertime Scrubbies
Pattern source: Seven Circular Summertime Scrubbies by Marie Segares (on Ravelry)
(*Mary got this pattern free when the designer was featured the 2015 Crochetville NatCroMo Blog Tour!)
About the project: I had to use this one. This is the first pattern I did from the Blog Tour! I don’t remember what year it was but I made them and used them to decorate a baby gift for a work colleague as part of her baby gift.
Follow Mary Online
Here’s where you can connect with Mary online if you’d like to see more of her crochet projects!
- Ravelry: marytsweeney
- Facebook: mary.sweeney.58323
And one more project!
Finally, I have to share my Tunisian entrelac scarf. The pattern is Tunisian Crochet Entrelac Scarf and Neck Warmer by Misty Pursel. I took this class at the Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival several years ago and I’ve been obsessed with Entrelac ever since!
