Dare to Create and Create Daringly...

This Sunday evening I was at my cousin's house, as we meet each week to have dinner, and play games. Since childhood she and I have often sat at table over a game of cards and tried to solve world problems.

This week the conversation turned to the Crochet Liberation Front. I am still amazed, and tickled pink about the reception of the idea. We discussed how we were both so annoyed at how most of the industries in this country have forgotten where their bread is buttered. Customer service is almost a thing of the past, supply has nothing to do with demand, and being empowered to dream the dream and live the dream is all but dead, if not buried.

As we were speaking on said topics, I pointed out how many people were willing to help produce the CLF First Ever Book, just to get something we all have been craving for years! I also brought up, that though I have many offers to help with editing and pattern testing, that almost all of the offers to help also had note attached that read something like this:

"I'd like to submit something, but I don't know that I'm ready for you to reject me."

That makes me really and truly sad. I see it in more than just crochet, people (women especially) are so used to being over critiqued and judged that they are willing to forgo trying verses being torn apart in the process.

One of my goals with the CLF is to empower EVERY single member to do more, be more, and at the very least feel proud of what they make, even the mistakes.

Since when did making sweaters mean you were better than the person who makes face cloths? Face cloths have a purpose! So too, do tea cozies and book marks, and headbands!

In today's world where time is at a premium, very few have the luxury to work on time intensive projects. Why feel less competent? If you don't have time for more than hats and scarves, so what? Do you enjoy making them? Then feel proud of what you do!

I scan CLF Members' projects at least twice a week on Ravelry. I have seen nothing that is substandard in my mind. I have seen functional things, beautiful things, silly things, and the completion of projects from wonderful, creative minds.

I am tired of our society judging every action so harshly, so what if you miss a stitch now and then? Big deal, you can tear out the row and re do it...or if it's decorative yarn who will notice?

Submit your designs because you want to try! You don't know what I'm looking for, heck right now I only have a vague idea of what I am looking for! Over the course of the discussions about the book I have had four other ideas about other CLF publications! If a design doesn't get chosen for one, you may be asked to have it published in another!

For me, high school was a very long time ago, I didn't do cliques then, I don't do them now. You don't have to be my best friend to get into the book. I want to see old and new faces, I want to hear what you have to say. The Liberation of the HOOK is now, and it is your hand that weild's the hook. In liberating the hook, we liberate ourselves!

Dare my friends, dare to be creative, and create daringly.