Slices of life, both written and photographed.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Crocheted Art for Cindy's Show and Tell at "My Romantic Home"



When looking at a crocheted doily, it's easy to remember  reading about simpler times when young girls learned to do a lot of handiwork, in preparation for their lives as dedicated homemakers.

 It's almost a given they learned to crochet.  Nowadays, most teenage girls  probably never learn to crochet. They are more apt to be checking online social networks to chat with friends! After all, times change.

The patterns of crocheted pieces probably number in the dozens.  Each appears to be unique and exquisite.  

In my own childhood, images of my maternal grandmother crocheting are very clear. She did beautiful work, including one pattern that had pineapple shapes.  She never had instructions. All of her works came from her own head. She probably duplicated pieces she had seen, as amazing as that seems.  Her crocheted doilies topped every table, shelf, and dresser in her home. 

Unfortunately, while loving the look of crocheted pieces, it's an art I never learned since it seemed impossibly difficult.  Still, whenever a table topper or doily comes across my path, it's tempting to buy it.  Crocheted pieces remind me of a calmer, simpler time in history.

The one shown in the photo at the top of this page, now gracing our dining room table, was a gift to me. All of the green glass on top of it came from  thrift stores or yard sales.

Now that Christmas is around the corner, maybe some red glass can be added, to make a holiday color combination.

DO YOU LIKE CROCHETED ITEMS?

Be sure to check out Cindy's enchanting blog, My Romantic Home, http://romantichome.blogspot.com/  to see some of the other entries for Show and Tell Friday. Her blog button is in the sidebar to the right. Click on it and, just like a magic carpet, it will take you to Cindy's blog!

12 comments:

middle child said...

I used to crochet a long time ago. I mastered the shells , single chain. double chain and granny squares. WooHoo! Now my best friend is from the phillipeans and she has crocheted since she was young. She used to make wedding dresses before she moved to America. No patterns or directions. And as with everything she does, it is simply perfection.

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Susan -

My Mom and grandmother crocheted doilies years ago. While I love the look and have a bunch of them in my house, the tiny stitches are too hard on my eyes. I prefer to work with yarn.

Blessings,
Susan :)

diane stetson said...

I have several doilies in my house as Mom passed them on to me. They are so so pretty. I love them. I think yours are lovely too!

Kathy said...

There was a time when young ladies learned such skills - I am thankful my daughter crochets, knits, paints, plays the piano - we often say she is a young Victorian lady :)
Kathy

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Hey Susan! Of course I love crochet! I've been crocheting all day long. Unfortunately, my skills are limited. I tried a crochet-a-long pattern that Gloria posted (Crochet Galore) and mine turned out to be a bowl. HA! I am gonna get some of that stiffener stuff tomorrow and see if I can actually make it stay in the shape of a bowl cuz it sure ain't a doily. :/ Some folks just have a natural talent for such things. Hope you are having a fabulous Friday. :) Tammy

Linda @ A La Carte said...

I don't crochet but I appreciate the workmanship! I love your green glass!!

Terri Tiffany said...

I used to have many pieces when I lived up north. Now in Florida, I don't use any except on one library table.

kluless said...

I used to crochet afghans when I was a stay home mother and had the time. Nowdays I crochet a necklace now and then but never did get good enough with the tension and even stitches to make doiley patterns come out right.
Thank you for visiting my blog and I hope your cold is better, as well!

Chatty Crone said...

It's kind of sad all these wonderful old crafts are being lost with our generation! Sandie

Rebecca said...

I don't crochet either, but it doesn't diminish my love for crocheted items! Displaying the green glass on top of yours is a beautiful arrangement!

BECKY said...

I love doilies! I guess it's because my maternal grandma, too, had them all over her house. I particularly remember them being on the arms of chairs and the couch, which as a little girl, I found that to be a little strange! I don't have any old ones, but I buy them from time to time and have them in different rooms of my home. As far as crocheting....can't do a lick!

Claus said...

I LOVE crocheted items!! I can't make them though, but am lucky enough to have a talented grandma who know how much I love and appreciate such delicate items. My mom's birthday was a couple of weeks ago, and she gave her some beautiful doilies, in orange and cream colors, perfect for Autumn!! They will look lovely with those garage sale pumpkins I got! It was like it was me who got a birthday present, instead of my mom :o)
have a lovely day!

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