That’s Too Hard.

Ever look at a pattern and think that? I sure do. I can think of many patterns over the past 45 years that I looked at and said to myself that there was no way I could do that. Okay, sometimes I was absolutely right. There was no way I could do something. But other times, it was just my own insecure little self getting in the way of my creativity.

I remember sitting at our kitchen table watching my grandmother crochet ‘irish rose motifs’ and then connect them into a blouse. I knew I’d never be able to crochet clothes like her. Avoided doing so for years until one day, I really wanted to make something for my dad. But he wasn’t big on scarves and hats nor did he like crocheted gloves. Dad had very specific pairs of gloves he liked to wear in winter.

But he did become accustomed to wearing sweater vests and one day, visiting my parents, mom happened to notice a pattern to order in our newspaper for a men’s crocheted sweater vest. “Here, you could make this for Dad. It’s easy.” It was nice my mom had ocnfidence in me, of course she didn’t crochet either so I wasn’t sure how she figured it could be easy. But I was gullible enough to believe her.

The pattern came and I stared….. and stared…… and was sure I’d fail. Several time, I picked it up and put it down. Now, I should explain that I am a very visual/hands on type of learner. I should also explain that I’m very apt to panic and worry I’ll totally stuff it up. However, thankfully, the mood hit and I began to work on the vest. I tried it. I made it. I finished it and gave it to dad and he loved it. He wore that vest for a good thirty years in the winter. Under a sports jacket.

Fast forward to 2006 and an online conversation with quietish about costuming for Mugglefest 2006 in Norman OK. Having located a pattern, this time my hesitation was in being able to complete it in time — two weeks! I had no doubts any more that I could make a sweater. Just how fast I could do it. She encouraged, I began. I probably drove her insane with my progress reports but I made it and proudly wore it with the apron I also made to Mugglefest 2006 — in 114 degree Oklahoma summer heat. Hey, I never said I was fully sane! 😀

Since then, I’ve made a few more Mollys and have tried a few more projects that I never thought I could do. All it took was a leap of faith and encouragement.

So what about you? Is there a Harry Potter tutorial you’ve hesitated tackling because you thought there’s no way you could do it? Oh come on… give it a try… You’ll never know for sure and even if you don’t do that well, you tried and you had fun doing something new!

Explore the world of Harry Potter crafts beyond comfortable boundaries! You can do it.

Crafty Witch Mary