Lately I have been enjoying crocheting hats. I have lots of yarn to choose from since I inherited my mom’s stash. My friend and owner of Rows and Roses, Sati Glenn, had written a new pattern. I was one of the first to test the pattern and here is my first hat.
I liked the pattern so much I had to make more. So I made another purple one but added a flower of the same color on the side. I thought it gave it a nice polished finish.
Then I got the idea of making one for my 3 year old granddaughter. Her mother told me she really liked Spiderman and Shazam. So we decided to use the colors red and blue. I made the hat red and put a design of three blue flowers on the side.
I was having so much fun I wanted to make more. So I thought of another granddaughter who is nine years old. She likes bright and pretty things, so I decided to make a yellow hat.
You would think after already making three hats this one would be a cinch. Wrong!
Something’s Wrong
I must have been distracted with the movie we watched while I crocheted. As I progressed I knew something was wrong, because it wasn’t looking like the others. Instead, it looked like just a big yellow circle, but I kept crocheting anyway, round after round.
Finally, after about 2/3 of the way through the pattern, I knew I must stop. There must be too many stitches, but I couldn’t imagine how I could mess it up so much. But, still, something was wrong.
As I counted back round after round I found my mistake all the way back on the 4th round. Somehow I had added about ten extra stitches!
I just couldn’t believe I would make such a huge mistake on something so easy. But there it was right before me. So, I pulled out round after round, not paying any attention to where the yarn was going. Finally, back at the 4th round I began again. It was a pain to have to practically start over, but I was happy and ready to get back to work.
A Tangled Mess of Yarn
Things were going well as I was paying attention this time. Then, it happened. I saw a tangle in the yarn, so I had to stop and get it out, not just once but several times. Finally I could go no farther, even though I only had about 3 rounds left to finished the hat.
The rest of the yarn was in the worst tangle I had ever seen. I wish I had a picture to show you. It was a mess – attached to the cone on one end, the unfinished hat on the other end and what seemed like another tangle leading out from the middle.
I tried so hard to untangle it, but the more I tried, the worse it got and the more frustrated I became. After at least an hour, probably more, I was ready to give up.
So I decided to stop and not worry about it. I was tired and knew I would just get more frustrated if I continued. The hat would have to wait.
Yarn Restored
The next day I felt rested and refreshed, so I decided to try again. I was more patient this time. Grabbing the cone holding the rest of the yarn, I tried to follow the line of yarn from it. I gently pulled apart the knots, sometimes having to twist the cone, sometimes sending it back through openings in the tangle.
Finally, after gently working with it for probably half an hour or more, it all fell into place. Next time I have to take out a lot I will make sure to wind it up right away so there won’t be any tangles.
What a relief I felt as I took the hook in my hand and finished crocheting the hat! To make a longer story short, I decided to put flowers all around the bottom of the hat. Since my granddaughter’s favorite colors are turquoise and pink, I alternated those colors on the bottom of the hat.
Lessons Learned from Tangled Yarn
I’m sure there is a lesson somewhere in my tangled yarn story with my striving so hard but seemingly getting nowhere.
I did learn that I must be more careful when I take stitches out. And if there is a big tangle I should not to try to remove it when I am tired. A good night’s sleep can work wonders.
Life is like that sometimes. When I strive so hard and push myself but seem to make no progress in a particular area, maybe I should step back a bit. Taking time to refocus and refresh myself enables me to tackle the problem without so much striving. Sometimes I need to put it aside and wait for a better time.
With my writing and art I know that timing makes a difference. When I push just to get it finished, I lose the joy of creating.
But when I wait on the Lord, trusting in His timing, I am much more at peace with myself and my work. I want to share the following scriptures from my reading this morning. Then, a poem I wrote in response to it.
Psalm 27:14, Psalm 28:7, Psalm 29:11 (CSB)
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart be courageous.
Wait for the Lord.The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
Therefore my heart celebrates,
and I give thanks to him with my song.The Lord gives his people strength;
the Lord blesses his people with peace.
I’m linking up with: #InspireMeMonday, #LMMLinkup
I am a knitter and I have also had the experience of taking out stitches and tangled yarn. The verses you have chosen apply to many situations–wise counsel! Love the art & style of the hats!!
Thank you so much, Carol. Years ago my mom tried to show me how to knit, but I guess I just don’t have the patience for it, but I love to crochet. I’m glad you like the hats. 🙂 Yes, those verses are so helpful and encouraging. Blessings to you!
I love this story, Gayl! There are so many different ways it fits in with our hearts. Instead of just putting it away for the night, I tend to get frustrated and think I should just quit the whole thing! But when we wait on the Lord, He will direct and lead when the time is right to begin again. Thank you for sharing these thoughts and your beautiful poem on your beach photo. It’s full of such peace too. Hugs and blessings and love to you my dear poet/sister/friend! xoxo
Thank you so much, dear Bettie. I sometimes get frustrated with it, too, but I’m trying to enjoy it more. And, yes, waiting on the Lord is never in vain. He always comes through in His timing which is always right. I’m glad you enjoy the poem and the beach photo. Hugs, love and blessings right back to you my dear sister/poet friend! xoxo
This is powerful, Gayl. I love the life and faith lessons you’ve gleaned from crocheting the hats and how best to act when things go wrong. When I get frustrated with my slow, slow progress in life and distinct lack of energy to proceed at the pace I want to or achieve much at all, I’m going to try putting your wise words here into practice instead of getting anxious or upset:
“My heart take courage
Wait for God who gives you strength
Trust always in Him.”
The whole of your beautiful poem exudes holy rest and peace. I love it! PS: Re the delightful, quirky hats…. can I put an order in for a purple one, please, with a single flower on one side?! Blessings and love to you, dear creative friend. xoxo <3
Thank you so much, dear Joy. I’m glad you found some encouragement in my poem. 🙂 I’m also glad you found peace and rest in my poem. You always encourage me with your comments. Thanks so much! By the way, I would be glad to make you a hat, dear friend! It would be my pleasure to do so. Blessings and love and hugs to you, too, my dear sister/poet friend! xoxo
Oh, really, Gayl? I know it was a bit cheeky of me to hint at it. 😉That’s such a kind offer. I would love a purple hat, please! Thank you so much! Do let me know what details you will require. I’ve only just noticed your clever play on words, i.e yarn meaning thread and a tale to tell. Blessings, love and grateful hugs to you, dear sister/poet/friend! xoxo 💜
I would love to make you one! I’m afraid I’m not as clever as you think…. I didn’t even really notice until you mentioned about the word yarn, but it really does fit. Maybe it was somewhere in my subconscious…. lol Much love to you, Joy! I’ll send an email soon about the hat.
Those hats are so cute, Gayle. I love the life lessons on waiting you learned and shared here. Thank you also for the hope-filled encouragement in your poem and the verses. Love and blessings to you!
Thank you, Trudy. I’m glad you like the hats and life lessons here. I’m so glad you were encouraged and found hope here in the scriptures and the poem. Love, hugs and blessings to you, dear Trudy! xoxo
I’m so glad you’re loving the hat pattern, and I LOVE all the hats you’re making! I agree with you about losing the joy in creating when you’re pushing to get something done. I balance precariously between “no more time, must hurry!” and “I built this for myself- with God’s blessings- and I will enjoy it” every day, it seems. Your words are soothing and inspiring, and remind me to step back and breathe.
I’m glad you got the tangles out 🙂
Sati, it’s been so fun to make the hats and I appreciate all the help you have given even on other projects! Thank you for your inspiration! It really is hard to find the balance, isn’t it, of when to push and when to take time and enjoy. I’m glad my word were soothing and a good reminder to stop and breathe. I’m glad I got the tangles out, too!!!!!!! I don’t want to have to do that again, but not sayin it won’t happen again. lol Blessings to you, dear Sati! Love and hugs, too!
Those are so pretty! I remember when I used to do more sewing–I was working on a shirt, I think for my husband. But I was working late at night, pushing myself to get to a certain point–and mistakenly cut into the fabric in a place that could not be fixed without it looking obvious. I was so sad, but it was a good lesson that God created us to need rest for good reason. Sometimes pulling away from a problem for a bit will give us clarity when we come back to it.
Thank you, Barbara! I’m sorry to take so long in responding to your comment. I remember sewing years ago and how easy it is to make a mistake. So sorry about that shirt, but glad it reminded you that our bodies need rest. Yes, sometimes pulling away from a problem really does help. It’s good to focus on something else for awhile and then come back refreshed. Blessings to you!