Blog 4
This week has been a really hard week academically, so I have been trying to do new things as far as my occupation goes. Instead of using a full pattern, I am trying to use a generic hat pattern, then trying to customize it and adapt it. I want to make a cute jack o' lantern hat for my daughter for Halloween. It has been so fun to be able to have some creative freedom, rather than being stuck in the parameters of a pre-made pattern.
Hasselkus' description of place and space was a something that I very much experienced. I have a closet in my home that has never been used, or at least for anything that I ever use. I now use the closet to store my crochet supplies. I now see this closet constantly. It has gone from an unimportant background piece of my home to a warm, inviting, happy storage vessel. Inside of this closet went from completely meaningless, to a place where I want to open up and see what fun treasures I have waiting for me.
This process was fairly slow. I feel like the closet only started to hold meaning to me after I had gone to the closet to put my things away after many practice sessions. I don't think I ever looked at this closet as anything other than a coat closet. I continued to associate it that way until about a week ago. I remember asking my husband if he could go find me a 6.0 mm crochet hook from my "crochet closet." This confused him really badly. Number one, he has no clue what a 6.0 mm crochet hook is, and number two, when the heck did we get a crochet closet? I don't know when it really connected in my brain that this closet now holds meaning to me, but it definitely does now.
My occupation is one that could be done in many spaces or places, but I have found that it is more comfortable for me when I can take part in my occupation in my own place. I can crochet anywhere, such as in the waiting room of the health center on campus, but that area holds absolutely no meaning to me. I can't sit how I prefer to, I can't listen to my music or watch a movie while I crochet, I can't sip my coffee. Because I can't do what I prefer to do in any given space, I definitely prefer to crochet at home, in my own space. I don't have to worry that I am making a mess of someone else's space, nor do I have to worry that I am making anyone around me uncomfortable. This also relates to how home is important to each of us. My home is where I am most comfortable, so it makes sense that I would prefer to take part in my occupation there.
I do find it funny that I was completely convinced last week in our Learning Through Discussion group that I had no connection to my home. Now thinking about it, I really do have a connection here, even if I forgot it at the time. Sorry, Melanie, Renee, and Alyssa. I accidentally lied to you. I said I wouldn't care if I had to move out of this place because I "hate it." I guess I really don't hate it that much.
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ReplyDeleteHi Makenna, it’s Melanie! I’m glad you’re starting to find some places with meaning in your house, even if it confuses your husband at times! The pumpkin hat sounds super cute! I know that once I got more familiar with knitting, I really enjoyed the process of modifying other people’s projects to suit my own needs, and it’s a really fun way to try new things. I’ve found that hobbies like this can be a great place for low-stakes decision-making, and this can come in very handy for me, since I can be a little indecisive. Hope the crocheting continues to go well!
ReplyDeleteThis is Melanie Shaw, by the way (in case we need to differentiate for class)
DeleteI am also very indecisive, so I am trying to allow myself to let loose and try something new, without being overly critical of myself. I am making the hat regardless of how it will potentially look. I have really enjoyed modifying the project. It has been freeing to a degree.
DeleteBefore I moved on to harder patterns, I wanted to master the stitches I already knew. I figured making something custom would be a great way to do this! It's kind of like the whole "retrieval practice" notion from the "Make It Stick" book. I am quizzing myself to see if the knowledge of each stitch really stuck haha.
ReplyDeleteI feel like the closet would've been empty still had I not chosen to crochet. I think it would still be the closet full of coats that nobody wears. Also, I do think I will be able to find these same meanings if we ever do move. I think as long as I have my family with me, the memories will all still be with me.