March is Craft Month

I never realized that each month was devoted to something. Last month was Bird Feeding Month. March is craft month. I enjoy crafts and wish I had more time to devote to the crafts I enjoy such as knitting, sewing, cooking and gardening. I find there is just not enough time in the day to get everything done that I want to accomplish!

My mother was an avid knitter and it was natural that I would take up the craft. I’m nowhere near as an accomplished knitter as my mom was but I do love to knit. I have knit sweaters, Christmas stockings and scarves. In fact I tend to get a bit carried away when I go to a yarn shop and I always have several projects on hand!

Another craft I enjoy is sewing. I don’t do nearly the amount of sewing I did when the children were little but I do like to make quilts and dolls for the grandchildren. I have also made christening gowns in the past.

I love to learn about new crafts and try them out. When I was newly married we spent a summer living with my husband’s grandmother on Nantucket. That summer Alma, my husband’s grandmother, got me into a private class that she took on making Nantucket baskets. Each week Alma and I would take part in this class learning to make a Nantucket basket while we sat in the yard of this elderly man who taught the class for free. I have made numerous Nantucket baskets over the years. These baskets are unique as they are woven on a wooden mold. I had a good friend of mine make me several molds so that I could make the various size baskets.

Of all the crafts I enjoy I think making the Nantucket baskets is my favorite. Probably because of the fond memories I have of weaving the baskets with Alma. I hope to be able to pass this skill down to my children and grandchildren.

What is your favorite craft? Is there something that you make that has been passed down to you?