In my next life, I will be a crafty person. I will sew a fine seam, knit a fine purl, throw a fine pot, quilt, make those little puffy circles. You name it, I will do it. Even decoupage if necessary.
I have so much admiration for people who ‘make stuff’, mostly because I was at the back of the line when they were handing out whatever skills are required for doing it. I’m thinking patience, for one. Precision, for another. Basic hand-eye coordination, perhaps?
It’s not genetic. My sister B (we’re A, B and C – just like Monica McInerney’s Alphabet Sisters, only we were first) is very creative, sewing cushion covers, whipping up bunting and hemming trousers (my standards aren’t high). My cousin K even quilts, for Heaven’s sake! It’s not widespread within the family, but it is present. Which makes my efforts even more pathetic.
I took Mr6 to a Steiner playgroup when he was two. It was all very nice. We baked bread, played in the sandpit, sang songs, ate fruit, and played with plain wooden blocks and dolls with no faces. He was nonplussed about the dolls, but loved the story time and the fact that we got to sing Twinkle, Twinkle every week.
At my first visit, while the children enjoyed some ‘free play’ and I settled in for what I thought would be a cup of tea and a chat, I was handed some knitting needles. The Steiner way is that everyone should be busy, to set a good example. I was, I was informed by a friendly girl in a woollyhat, going to knit a wombat.
A wombat.
And so for ten weeks, I knitted, in brown wool, a faceless wombat. Not large. Not particularly complicated by wombat standards, but I struggled over it, swore over it, possibly even shed a tear or two. When I finished, I cheered. Then I handed it to Mr6 (then two), who took one look at it and told me he thought it would look better with some of those ‘googly’ eyes stuck on it. The Builder suggested that as a wombat it made a good pig. I still have that wombat. I even brought it with me in the move to the country. I simply can’t bear to throw it out.
Given that I’m human, however, it follows that I desperately want what I can’t have. I have become a stalker of craft blogs. I drool over pictures of cute little what-nots and divine little so-and-so as though it were… porn. Which, in a way, it is. It excites me. It stirs up feelings of longing and wanting and… hmmm, maybe we’ll leave that there. Because the only way for me to get what I want is to pay for it.
At the end of the day, though, I think it’s important that there are people who can and people who can’t when it comes to craft. You like to create, I like to acquire. It’s a win/win situation.
I know you’re keen to outknit me on the wombat front. This book is sure to help. And don’t forget to send me a pic of your superior finished product. I won’t be jealous. At all.
Love this, you’re honesty is awesome lol I’m kinda like that over a few crafty things – drawing, knitting, pottery, sewing. One day…or perhaps, like you, I sall wait for my next life!
Thanks Lita. I have to confess that the wombat in that picture is w-a-a-y cuter than the one I managed to produce. Almost cute enough to buy…
I am so with you on this. In yr7 and 8 we had to take sewing as a subject. I was “remedial”. I couldn’t even thread the machine. The teacher gave up and just sewed all my projects for me. I also cannot garden. Or do woodwork. Sadly, I have an aunt or can sew, knit, garden, build and write all while working full-time and she was single mum. So I am left with realisation that I am completely inadequate!
Real estate is my porn – but to each her own.
Love Michelle (mamabook)
I loved reading your wombat story Al. Like you I am a sincere admirer of craft and frequent purchaser. I cannot however, craft anything to save my life. I trawl craft blogs like an autograph hunter seeking a signature from a celebrity. Awestruck and overcome at the same time. Thankfully my credit card helps me to cope, and make regular purchases that I treasure.
Ha such a cute story, and I didn’t know about the busy hands idea with Steiner, I like it.
An adorable story… good luck with your creative pursuits.
Oh dear, I had a good giggle at your post (my family is a mix of crafty and non-crafty types too). But, it’s so true, we always want what we don’t or can’t have, though it’s great you have a “buy gorgeous handmade” attitude!
Alison, I’m like you but with a vegetable garden.
I would give my right knee to have a vege-garden, but the best I can do is kill any plant I put in the ground and then I have to trot on down to the local fruit and veg shop to stock up on vege-goodness.
Thanks for the perspective!
Cheers,
Tasha
You know I hear you on this, fellow A. I had The Talk with my daughter some time ago. Not The Sex Talk, but the ‘there are some mums who make things and some mums who buy things and I’m a mum who buys things’ Talk. It went well, thankfully, because there was no chance of me being a mum who makes things. I can’t even handle the Playschool stuff. Am a whiz on Etsy and madeit, though!
I am the C from the family. Like you, I don’t do craft. I haven’t resorted to stalking craft blogs yet (although maybe that will be my saving grace for all of these school ‘hat parades’ and things I have to cleverly create for these days?).I remember the wombat fondly. I have my own version – a half knitted scarf from my six years of stitch and bitch!
Thanks for your encouragement everyone. I don’t feel quite so bad about my lack of craft gene now – and much better about supporting hard-working crafters everywhere. 🙂
Lovely post – it makes me so happy to see the crafting community embrace and be embraced! Handmade is a lifestyle if you commit to it.