I saw an ad for a rechargeable electronic crochet hook. It counts your stitches, and your rows. It has a visual display, a recharging cord, and changeable hook sizes. And its pink!
Everything about that is wrong. Handwork is for hands, not electronic devices. I am a crocheter. I regularly lose count of rows and stitches, but that is part of the art and skill and frustration. You aren’t really crocheting unless you have counted your stitches, lost count, and started over again. That is part of the meditation technique… carefully counting and focusing, looking down and thinking only of the stitch, the yarn, and how godawful long this simple scarf is taking.
Crocheting also tests your visual and spatial skills. Is the scarf getting narrower as I go? Better count again. Must I skip the first stitch in the row, or put a stich there? Is it getting wider as I go? Crochet also tests your English language and instruction reading skills. What did that woman mean by that last sentence in the instructions? What does the acronym hdc mean anyways? And once I figure out it means half-double-crochet, how do I do that again? Focus, meditation, feeling the yarn, moving the fingers, frowning at instructions. That is crochet. Making mistakes is also crochet. A wise woman told me that a piece without a mistake is unlucky. Let’s just say I have a lot of luck coming my direction. There is no place for an electronic gizmo to check my work, that would mess up my luck!
Now I could see buying a beautiful hand-carved crochet hook. Or a thick ergonomic crochet hook that nicely fits my hand. Maybe even a lovely, organized kit with each size hook in a separate pocket. But wait, I could crochet that myself! In my spare time with the right set of instructions during the winter when I don’t want to be outside. But I won’t be buying any electronic tools that supposedly make things easier and instead drive me crazy when I misplace the charger. Yarn and hooks do not require batteries. Leave well enough alone.
Michelle Eames 