In the Interests of Keeping it Random...Some Musings on Crafty Motherhood

Well, it's quite a departure...but I've been moved by certain people's posts to post some of my own craftish things. When Hedgehog was a toddler and we were pretty homebound a lot of the time, I liked to try my hand at various projects to keep her and myself entertained. One afternoon I made these felt puppets for her:



I've always loved to make things with paper, fabric, and yarn. Whatever's handy. I'm good with knitting needles and crochet hooks, less so with the sewing needle (although that doesn't always stop me). When I got pregnant I think the thing I was most excited about was the potential for crafting--first the little blankets and sweaters, then later all the projects I knew we would do together. And we have done them. The things I've made for Hedgehog over the years have run the whole gamut from the ridiculous (a hideously hand-sewn a-line dress in My Little Pony cotton print--might have been cute but for the drunken stitching) to the sublime (a very elaborate sweater coat with hood, cables and bobbles, in super-luxe purple yarn)...from the meditative (the thousands and thousands of tiny origami stars I folded for her when I was still pregnant) to the ill-conceived (bean bags made from one my old dresses; the old fabric gave way and left Hedgehog strewing beans like Gretel all over the house)...from the cherished (a gigantic crocheted Eeyore) to the reviled (a pillow knit from sneezy ugly novelty yarn)...Hedgie has known it all.

Crafting has helped me keep my mothering sanity over the years, though. In fact, I know I'm in terrible shape when I'm too down to work on a project; nothing on the needles or in the works--it's like a mental health red flag! In general, when I'm overwhelmed by the responsibility of Hedgehog or underwhelmed by my parenting ability, I have turned to the sweet cheer of bright yarns, embroidery floss, fabric bits, and patterns--it doesn't always fully subdue my feelings, but it's a great comfort anyway.