Ya d k i n • Va l l e y
PEOPLE
above left: Sylvia Beam above: Amy Beam right: Sylvia’s knitting
Most years when this season comes around and the tem- ations made by their great grandma, whom they all call peratures start dropping, my mother-in-law crochets tobog- “Granny” One of her great granddaughters, 4-year- old gans and headbands to keep our family warm. I have always Emma, gets really excited when she sees things crocheted, askadmired her crochet work and wished I could make things ing if Granny made them with her balls of yarn, which Emma like that. So, a couple of years ago, I decided to try it. I began calls “fur-balls.” Sylvia says her favorite project was a doily by learning simple stitches. The first time I made the first small she made and gave to her mama for her mama's 90th birthday square that was just about five inches by five inches with dou- which Sylvia now has on her bedroom dresser. She also enjoys ble crochet stitches, I was so excreating the afghans cited. From there, I went on which she has made to making hats and am curover 50. The most difrently planning to try some ficult project she has more difficult stitches and ever done was when larger projects soon, but I she made three WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER Amy Beam still have a lot of practice to go sweaters using the pineto catch up to my mother-in-law, apple stitch. Sylvia Beam, who has been crocheting for over fifty years. Sylvia gets new ideas for crocheting and learns new stitches Sylvia learned to crochet from her mother, who loved to online where there are so many resources now for somebody make beautiful things. The first stitch she learned was the just learning to crochet to those who crochet at more adgranny square stitch. Sylvia said it was hard for her to learn vanced levels. According to an article written by Krista and she cried during her first lesson, saying, “Mama, I just can't Childers on allfreecrochet.com, there are now over 150 difdo it!” But she kept trying and did learn it, then she kept going ferent crochet stitches so there is definitely a lot to learn. from there. “That's all we did way back. Crochet and sew! There are countless videos on YouTube, as well as social media Mama made our clothes. She crocheted more over her last groups that trade tips, ideas, patterns, photos and more. Just twenty-five or thirty years, though, but as I learned more, I searching for crochet on Facebook brings up so many groups, outdid her in crochet,” Sylvia said. Over the years, Sylvia has some of them having close to 300,000 members. There are made many things: hats, blankets, shawls, headbands, baby also groups who meet locally. One in particular is the Knitting clothes, doilies, and so much more and also given lessons to and Crochet Circle meeting at The Arts Place in Danbury, NC, several of her family members, including myself, my daughter, on the third Saturday of each month for two hours to crochet and my granddaughter. She says she loves to crochet because and share ideas. it's just fun. “It's relaxing, and it takes all the stress away.” The best part about crocheting, continues Sylvia is how For more information on crocheting, many resources can be fun it is to give away the things you make. All of her family found on the Crochet Guild of America's website (www.croand friends have enjoyed all the presents, including her grandchet.org) which includes lessons for beginners, kids and great grandkids who are pictured here wearing creadvanced crocheters and children.
Granny’s Crochet
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