The Granny Ripple Blanket I Turned to When My Husband Was Sick

When I first started crocheting, I became frustrated because I wasn't very good at it. My tension was uneven, and my stitches didn't look great. I almost gave up several times, but I kept practicing.

After a few months, I developed a way of holding my yarn and hook that felt comfortable in my hands. Eventually, crocheting became like therapy to me. Now that I've been crocheting for over 20 years, I hate to go a day without it. If I go longer than a few days, I get nervous and need my crochet.

Crocheting Through My Husband's Illness

I'm almost always working on something, but I tend to crochet even more when I'm under stress because it helps me through difficult times. I probably crocheted the most while my husband was sick. It helped me cope with his illness by keeping my hands busy and my mind occupied. I made many things during that time.

Unicorn and Dinosaur Blankets For My Grandkids

For some reason, I made a lot of blankets. My grandchildren were young then, so I crocheted a special blanket for each of them. A unicorn blanket for my oldest granddaughter, and a dinosaur blanket for my youngest grandson at the time.

I also made a blanket for my husband and blankets for my sons and daughters. It seemed as though I always had a crochet hook in my hand.

Keeping My Hands Busy Kept My Mind Together

Crocheting helped me through my husband's illness and, eventually, his passing. My hands were moving, I was counting stitches, and I was doing something productive. It gave my mind a break from my worries.

During such a difficult time, it helped me focus on making something beautiful and thinking about the good things in my life: The people whom I loved and who loved me.

Why Unfinished Projects Never Stress Me Out

I find crocheting very calming. There's something about the rhythm of the crochet hook going into the yarn and the sound it makes. It's just peaceful to me.

I tend to start projects, become bored, and move on to something new. Having unfinished projects doesn't stress me out. I have plenty of them around my house, and hopefully I'll finish them someday.

My Go To Granny Ripple When I'm Upset

The patterns that calm me the most are the ones that don't require too much thought or counting, such as granny stripes, granny squares, and other simple stitch patterns.

I enjoy complicated crochet patterns, but they can feel a little stressful when I'm already upset. During those times, I like to pull out my granny ripple blanket and work on it. The pattern is repetitive and easy, allowing me to crochet without thinking too much and giving my mind a break from whatever is troubling me.

Give It Time Before You Expect It To Relax You

If someone is considering learning to crochet as a way to relax, I would tell them to give it time. It probably won't feel relaxing at first because nothing is easy when you're just beginning. It takes time and practice to improve, but once you reach the point where the movements feel natural, crocheting can be incredibly calming and helpful.

I've also heard that it may help lower blood pressure and keep the mind active, which could support brain health as we age.