thank you darling, thank you. I will accept these accolades. Now I am off to heal the lepers.

Those socks are gorgeous. Your choice of yarn shows the pattern off spectacularly.

Hurray for Crochet! Welcome to the club. you are now bi-craft-al. Unless you do other yarn crafts then you multi-craft-al. whatever.
your first square looks wonderful! And lack of drape is not necessarily a bad thing. It is one of the qualities of crochet that make is suitable for some projects. but you probably figured that out all ready.
BTW, I love your sense of colour. I love colour too, I mean real colour, not pales and pastels. Give me colour!

I started crochet, and then turned to knitting. I like crochet...for some things...but I prefer knitting. Glad you finally learned!

Yeah! Another convertee to the craft! Can't wait to see your color scheme for the bag! Just getting started on my own. Do my eyes deceive me or does the Monkey pattern make nearly every handpainted sock yarn look great?

The sock is gorgeous!

Your description is exactly why I have failed crochet 101. I get so tense that I pull everything too tight. Then it is really hard to pull the hook and the yarn through the non-existent spaces. So I try to loosen up and that just looks messy. I get frustrated and bored and go back to something I know how to do.

I don't remember such tension challenges with knitting.

Over the freakin' phone? You learned to crochet by phone? What's Ann's game over there... Dialing for Granny Squares???

Yeah, it hurts like hell but you JUST CAN'T STOP!!

Wait 'til you get to the sewing part. ; )

Can you sew?

You + Ann...dangerous, talented, crazy! What a duo!

I can't decide if you've gone to the dark side - the colors on your granny square make up for it being, uhm, I can't even say it - that single hook stitching thing.

Monkey sock is "heel mooi" as we say here in Holland. However, it cracks me up that anything would be called "Dutch canyon." I'm here to tell you that this is the flattest place in the world. No chance there's any such thing as a Dutch canyon in these parts.

There must've been some pretty strong crochet thoughts flying through the Garden State air today, because all I could think of on the drive to and from my mom's house was, "got to crochet some granny squares", "hmm, some STR might be good for that"! It could explain why your toe was cramping anyway. . .

Oh, and BTW, I agree with all of the other commenters - those kids are beautiful!

I applaud your courage and perseverance. Crochet makes my hand hurt.

Great square Cara - I love those COLORS! I'm glad you found the tutorial useful but... loosen up. heh Crochet shouldn't hurt. :)

I hope you do make the bag - isn't it awesome?!

My Grandma taught me to crochet when you were still in elementary school (maybe junior high). I have never ended up with a cramped toe. I personally find it much easier to crochet using my hands, but hey, if you can crochet with your toes and knit with your hands...take that show on the road! :)

I have been crocheting that long and have never done a granny square.

It feels like learning a foreign language, doesn't it? LOL That's how I felt when I learned to knit a couple years ago after knowing how crochet from age 7.

OMG, a granny square! Crochet! What's next?? What if you abandon the mitered squares for a big giant granny square afghan made of TakhiCotton? ACK!

Mwhaaaaa!!! Welcome to the dark side! Only kidding. I was a crocheter before a knitter and there are times I just have to crochet and the same goes for knitting. I always have many crochet and knitting projects going at the same time. Heaven forbid, I even combine the two crafts! GASP! Have fun with it.

Thanks to Vicki - I just started the granny square bag too! Good luck with yours!

You absolutely slay me, in the best way possible. You're awesome.

Remember what Stephanie in all her wise wisdom said about crochet? It uses 3 times as much yarn as knitting. (I disagree with her conclusion that therefore it is wasteful and bad and we should abjure it, but let that pass.) No wonder it doesn't drape: it's as if you were doing the densest cable pattern you could find or invent. As Kellie said, you can look at this as a feature, not a bug, and realize that it makes crochet excellent for things like sturdy bags.

Nice socks.

Wow. Your square looks awesome. I hope that crochet thing works out for you. I can't do it - I just don't get it.
Oh, and your sock? Fabulous.

I just moved into knitting from years of crocheting last year 'cause I felt left out. Now you all are going back to crochet? What's the world coming to? :)

Really - it's always good to keep learning new things! But like Laura said - relax, it shouldn't hurt!

Love the Monkey socks - beautiful colourway in the yarn. Good on you for trying the crochet - now get back to knitting.

Why is it called Dutch *Canyon*? I've been to the Netherlands, there are no such things.

I was gonna go on and on about how amazing the two of you are, working out crochet over the phone, but Vicki already beat me to the punch. So instead I'll just tell you that I have a friend who learned how to crochet from a dream she had. Seriously. She woke up, and she could crochet. Weird, right?

Almost as weird as YOU crocheting! Rock on, lady.

I love looking at the squares and each time I see them, I think, "I love them, me too, me too" and then I look at the bag and say, naaa, I wouldn't ever finish that, I think I am trying to justify buying cotton yarn. Must look at that Monkey sock pattern, I might even have a skein or 2 of STR to apply it to... Great socks, great squares.

The socks are beautiful. And the square is lovely, too. I am a little frightened, though, as to what it means for the world that you have taken up crochet. What is next? I am generally disturbed by the crochet but you did a wonderful job.

Thanks for the link the other day to TheRachFace. I am debating that beautiful short row heel. http://okwhatnext.blogspot.com/2007/05/tapping-collective-wisdom.html (I am very inexperienced with the socks...)

wow!! I think the Hudson just froze over too! And um, how fast do you knit!? Another monkey sock! It's so purdy! My sad little half finished sock is now yelling at me... ;-)

I love that you are embracing the crochet! I love crochet! What yarn are you using? 'Cause it is beauteous. As are the Monkeys (*love* the Dutch Canyon).

Those monkey socks are incredible! I love the colorway. As far as I've ever been able to get in crochet is single crochet - anything other than that and all I create is a big wad of knotted yarn (to the endless amusement of my crocheting friends)- way to go, mastering a new fiber technique!

Your granny square looks fabulous(I had pigs fly by my house too...check my blog:) and I think if I had your sock here I would just sit and pet it all day...lol..I did cast on this last weekend for a Monkey(you made me do it). I'm about 75% done on the first sock...Why are they always prettier when someone else knits them?

Cue the Emperor's March - welcome to the Dark Side, Cara!! We knew you'd cave eventually ;-) Seriously, your first square looks great, so get yourself some bigger hooks ... that Babette will be ready to sew up before you know it!

Love the Dutch Canyon Monkey socks, the colors are fantastic - I cast on for a pair myself, now about half way through the second sock. My colors are swirling a bit more than I expected, but I'm quite pleased with how they're turning out ... and I actually got them to fit!! (proud grin from the newbie sock knitter). Thanks for the inspiration.

I don't think I've ever posted a comment (I might have, but have the memory retainment of a fly), but I want to give you *kudo's* for at least attempting to crochet. I learned when I was about 7, and didn't knit until I was 29...so I've had a LOT of practice on it. It's really not so bad. Just don't go making the little covers to go over air fresheners or anything. Those are just stupid. And after seeing your Monkey socks, I think I'm gonna give those a whirl.

the damn bag link didn't work for me . . . temporary weirdness or my damn server?

I'm heading over to Vicki's blog to see if it's there.

(Dutch Canyon? I originally read it as Dutch Crayon. Makes more sense that way . . .)

oh my goodness.
i almost spit milk out my nose and mouth.
crochet. i never thought you'd....**losing the ability to speak**
:o)heehee!
the square looks awesome and as always, the socks looks amazing. can't wait to see what else you have up your sleeve!

I have to admit, I'm not usually a big fan of the variegated STR colorways (when they're knit up), and was kind of neutral on the Monkey socks. But boy, your sock is spectacularly gorgeous. Forget about Jaywalkers, STR and Monkeys were obviously made for each other.

Good for you on your granny square - I like those colors. And the socks rock!

Love the square! I just wish I could watch TV & crochet. I might do more of it, but I need my eyes! Especially now that Sam knows about Jason's baby...

If it wasn't for the fact we've had a series of t-storms and rain over the past couple of hours, I would seriously go outside and cartwheel around my house in joy!!! YOU FRIGGIN CROCHETED!!! And yes, I can still cartwheel. No more back flips on a balance beam like back in the day, but I swear I'll be 90 and still able to cartwheel when the inspiration strikes. Crochet will get easier, it will give you new color/design platforms. It is SO FAST - kind of like a quick hit of an illicit drug, but in a good sort of way. . . . Oh, what the heck, I'm off to get soggy and cartwheel in my yard for you. Please promise to bail me out if the neighbors freak. . . .

Something about "have to have" crochet items hit the parkway this week...

Wow! That is a fast 24 hour turn around!

Did you know that crochet is not just a craft, but a superpower??
Perhaps I will have to learn myself....

Funny. I can crochet, but I'd love to knit like you. In fact, one of my summer goals is to learn to knit a sock-----or two if I get really wild! Love your blog... I've added it to one of my daily reads.

Funny. I can crochet, but I'd love to knit like you. In fact, one of my summer goals is to learn to knit a sock-----or two if I get really wild! Love your blog... I've added it to one of my daily reads.

Always happy to see some crochet spring from a new set of hands! I've got to commend you for learning several stitches at once along with working in the round and all that over the phone! If you do decide to make the bag you can always knit the strip that makes the sides and bottom of the body... though you'd have to match up gauge somehow to make seaming easy.

You'll get the hang of crochet. I learned to crochet before I learned to knit and I think knitting is so much easier than crochet. But when you get good at it, crochet is soooo much faster. I'm a decently fast knitter, but I'm a much faster hooker...er...yeah...I'll leave it at that! :oP

I can't get into the granny square thing (except for the Babette blanket which I am avoiding looking at for fear I might make one), but I LOVE to see other knitters taking up the hook. Crochet is so fast and easy,and it's good to have both skills.

That's great! I can't get into the crochet myself. I guess it doesn't help that I don't have anyone local to teach me. But did you see Knitty Gritty recently had Lily Chin on and she was crocheting with knitting needles? It was interesting and much more likely for me to try that way at some point.

Wow, your square looks great! And your treble crochets are looking totally awesome. I took me years... YEARS I tell ya... to get the hang of treble crochet so pat yourself on the back, or massage your foot or something. Next, I have one word for you... RIPPLES.

Yeah! Welcome to the club. I am very excited. I just learned to crochet and need a little color inspiration. Please keep it up and keep posting!!

Yeah! Welcome to the club. I am very excited. I just learned to crochet and need a little color inspiration. Please keep it up and keep posting!!

Oh how funny, I just learned to crochet myself last month! It's tough at first but you really do get the hang of it and it starts getting easier. And it's addictive. Watch out! I'm warning you now. Those squares look horribly addictive. I just finished a bolero, and although I have so many other things to knit, I just couldn't put the damn thing down. Don't say I didn't warn you. :-)
I'll be watching for more.

I've been secretly crocheting since March when I went to Phoenix, but it's really increased since Marnie's visit to LA this month and my subsequent visit to Portland. I keep putting off blogging it, but I know it needs to happen. Totally addictive, isn't it?

BTW, You kid pictures are awesome. I wish I had thought to tell Kat to ask Potter Craft to use you for the Boho book. She ended up with a great photographer, but I bet it would have been easy to use you - I think the photo shoot was in NY. You should contact them through Ann & Kay - they must have other kid books coming out, and your work is lovely.