My mum is an iconic woman. "Why? And why is that relevant to crochet?" you might ask. She was born in Liverpool in 1946. Yes, we've come a long way with regards to equality, but even now, we still have a patriarchal society; in 1946, it was on a different level. The eldest child, born straight after the war with all the expectations of a firstborn on her shoulders. These factors may be significant enough, but she was also born with albinism—a recessive genetic condition that affects pigmentation in the skin, hair, and eyes. Like most people with albinism, she has always had eyesight problems. She really wanted to be a nurse, but her eyesight prevented her from pursuing that dream. However, these limitations didn’t stop her from developing one of the fiercest work ethics imaginable and having the grit and determination to be the best version of herself—something Scousers are famous for. In the last few years, she supported my dad as he developed dementia, was diagnosed with cancer, and, in autumn last year, passed away at home, knowing how loved he was.
Getting Gritty
So, one month ago, just six months after my dad died, when she fell and broke her hip, she did what she's done her whole life—she just got on with it. She dialled 111—of course, she did! Not 999 like most people would. Then she waited for the ambulance. She didn’t call anyone else because it was late, and she didn’t want to wake them. Despite being in pain, lying on the floor for hours alone, the following day she brushed off our protests. In the last month, she had surgery to have a new hip; she did the rehabilitation to get out of the hospital and back home, where she’s now living independently again and getting back to her social life of coffee mornings and lunches with friends—making full use of walking frames, a wheelchair, and a network of friends and family who she is finally learning to ask for help from.
My mum has always been like this; don’t get me wrong, her stubborn determination to do things her way can be challenging. But her grit, determination, and mindset to not let things stand in her way are some of the biggest characteristics she has instilled in me. I have, in turn, seen that strength in my daughter too. This is not a characteristic you can be told about or learn in school. It’s a living example you must see to appreciate.
Getting Creative
What has this got to do with crochet? Well, despite being registered blind and having never crocheted before, she recently allowed me to teach her. We’re still on the basics but progressing well. So, in her honour, I've written this post and can recommend a few good crochet projects based on this theme.
Firstly, check out the ‘Crochet Iconic Women’ books by Carla Mitrani. Her patterns include some of the obvious ones like Queen Elizabeth II, but there’s also the next generation of amazing women, including Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai.
If you have a special person in your life, why not find a crochet project that's just for them? Or even better: a mini version of them! You could use the ‘Crochet You’ book by Nathalie Amiel to design a bespoke character based on their own characteristics. This will be great for me to make a mini version of Mum with her white hair and red eyes. Or, how about a kit that is just named after that special someone? I can recommend the Circulo crochet kits to make Amy, Liz, or Sophia for the experienced crocheter. And not wanting to leave the knitters out, how about a Hardicraft knitting kit to make April, May, or June? If you don’t fancy making a person, just pick up your hook and get creative making something for them. And when you give your fingers a rest, read a good book that leaves you feeling immensely proud of the amazing women in this world.
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