May is to be all about Crochet.

Crochet.

Watched my mother crochet for years...never asked her to show me. Asked her to make me numerous of things for me to wear; scarves, belts, dresses, tops, bags, hats, gloves...always full of ideas but never interested in learning, until now.

Was back in Greece for a week to visit my family and I thought it would be a great way to spend time with my mother with her teaching me how to crochet. Watching her do it all these years, if I am honest, my brain just found it so tricky to understand. I also never liked how long the process took. My mother gifted me a blanket that my late aunt-godmother gave her to give to me that she crocheted for a year! I admire the patience of the women of older generations. This is a generalisation and I know that this does not apply to all but they seemed to be more patient back then, with their time and relationships and also with life. Today most of us, most of the time, just want it all, now. So I guess with my learning to be more mindful these days, I also developed the patience to attempt to learn crochet.

Mum started me off with teaching me the basic chain. It's funny how clumsy your hands are to start with, holding the needle and thread and twisting and turning and how as you get the idea, it just flows. What a satisfaction.

She had me on the single crochet stitch first, just sent me off to practice that and get my hands flowing. Then the half double stitch. We looked up how to crochet baskets together and came across some lovely youtube tutorials. And we made this little basket together.

Mum has made some really lovely things over the years and not really given herself much credit so I decided to give her the credit she deserves. Check out her instagram @nine9forty9 where I have put together some lovely images of some of her work. Need to add some more but for now...she giggled every time I would say I was off "photo shooting" her work but I am sure she felt a little proud. Below is a beautiful dress she made for me which I absolutely love.

My crochet month ran into June too as due to holidays, I only had a couple of weeks in May to learn crochet and crochet needs a lot more time than that. And I also realised that this is my own journey and so I could be a bit more flexible with my time frames as long as I am learning and creating.

This month I also had the pleasure of attending a really good friend's, and the person who inspired my own creative journey, Isabella, founder of twome @_twome, "Crochet-your-own-necklace" workshop at Herne Hill Market.

Was nice to be in another area and also nice to be outside. Really enjoyed the workshop and it's my second workshop with Isabella. She is such a gentle and loving person and it's such a delight to be taught by her. Check her website out www.twome.co.uk for more workshops as she teaches weaving and macrame too along with many other crafts she has learned herself.