Crochet as a Subway Sport? Sunday afternoon on the Uptown "1"

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

As a part of our New Year Weekend, my husband and I took our niece to the Lion Brand Studio, to choose the yarn for her "Carrie's Cap" from the Just Hats book. She chose "Medium Sky Blue" and "Deepest Brown." A beautiful color combination. Once we got on the uptown 1, I decided why not start now. As I finished the first round, I heard my husband telling our niece, "yes, people watch your uncle on the train every time he crochets." I looked up to see half the car watching me. I smiled, then I continued to work, but on finishing the second round I realized that I had made some errors. This is never a big deal to me, since I know I'm going to make mistakes, especially the first time I work a new a pattern.

However, my new friends were not nearly as accustomed to such disappointment. I inserted my hook into the point of crucial error and ripped all of the offending stitches to a chorus of disappointment from at least five voices (none of which belonged to my husband or our niece). The group sentiment was followed by one rider saying, "What a waste of stitches." I found myself tickled by the way I had become a one-man spectator sport on the train. One fellow rider said "Good luck," upon exiting the train. I love the way that a crochet project in my hands encourages others to say hello, ask what I'm doing, or even just to smile. Maybe in the coming months I'll challenge someone to a crochet-duel or a crochet-off. On your mark, slip knot, CROCHET!