Friday, October 12, 2012

I Love Yarn Day

How convenient. Today is my blog day and October 12 is I Love Yarn Day as well. If anybody has reason to love yarn, it’s me. Simply put, yarn changed my life completely.

If I hadn’t wanted to learn how to crochet and gotten the idea of putting it in a mystery, well....I might not be writing this blog or having the seventh book in a series, If Hooks Could Kill, coming out in a few weeks. And yarn is at the heart of my new series. Yarn to Go has knitting in it, and even though I do prefer crochet, after spending all that time thinking about knitting and trying out what I put my characters through, I like knitting now, too.

I used to sew all the time, but sewing isn’t portable. What I love about yarn work is that you an pack up a few tools and a ball of yarn and ply your craft anywhere. So nice when you’re waiting, to have something to do. And so relaxing.

I’ve heard people say they want to meditate, but it’s too hard. They just need to pick up some yarn and a hook or needles. I often find myself going into an altered meditative state when I knit or crochet. The very best remedy for not being nervous during turbulence on a flight is to just keep crocheting.

I think working with yarn can help people lose weight. In one of my books I have a crochet diet book called Hook Down the Pounds. It touts using crochet to keep your hands out of that bag of potato chips. I totally made it up, but there is something to it. It is a way to distract yourself for a few moments while you reconsider the impulse to eat whatever it is that you tend to overeat. Personally, I have put off snacking when I’m crocheting because I don’t want to have greasy hands when I’m working with yarn.

Another reason I love yarn is that you can make something wonderful out of it. A shawl someone going through a hard time can wrap themselves in and be comforted. A scarf to keep a soldier’s neck warm in some far off land. A blanket a shelter animal can have between them and the concrete floor. And everything you make with yarn has something more. I think that all the touching you do as you make whatever, leaves it imbued with your vibrations, your essence, your love or however you want to describe it. So that blanket, shawl or pair of socks is more than it appears to be.

I’m going to celebrate I Love Yarn Day now by working on a hat which may turn out to be lovely or it may end up looking like a gift for Frankenstein, either way will be okay, because there is something else wonderful about yarn. You can always unravel and start again.

8 comments:

Planner said...

I was not aware that we have an I Love Yarn Day. Is there a traditional way to celebrate? Are we supposed to organize our stash, hug sheep and llamas, invite Jo-Ann and Michael out to lunch, or teach a friend how to crochet or knit?

CrochetBlogger said...

Terrific description of the many reasons to love yarn! For my celebration of I Love Yarn Day I'm offering a 30% discount this weekend on Crochet Saved My Life, my non-fiction book about the health benefits of yarncrafting. I write in the book about some of the things you've talked about (meditation, diet), share my own story of crafting to heal from depression and look at the many ways crochet helps people from all walks of life.

http://www.crochetconcupiscence.com/2012/10/special-weekend-sale-on-crochet-saved-my-life-30-off/

Betty Hechtman said...

LOL, Planner. There doesn't seem to be a official way to celebrate, but I did read something about sharing the love by teaching someone how to craft with yarn.

Betty Hechtman said...

CrochetBlogger, I certainly agree that yarncrafting can be benefical to your health.

Planner said...

I forgot to mention another terrific way to celebrate I Love Yarn Day: Read a crochet mystery book!

Betty Hechtman said...

Planner, what a great idea!

Linda O. Johnston said...

I really enjoy how there are celebrations of all kinds of stuff we love, Betty. Not surprisingly, I'm particularly enamored of those that celebrate pets!

Betty Hechtman said...

Linda, all these celebrate something days are great because they are positive and make you appreciate whatever you're celebrating.