by Harvey Gibson
Start with a magic circle. Make an ‘e’ shape with your yarn, insert your hook through the ‘wrong’ side. Yarn over, pull up a loop with your hook. Crochet in the round and join with a slip stitch in the first stitch of the round. Repeat.
There are circles on circles in crochet—a hobby I picked up just under two years ago. I still struggle to pull off a magic circle (a basic technique used to start off certain kinds of projects), I find myself running to Google more frequently that I should at this stage in my learning. However, when I run into bigger problems or come up against a stitch I’ve never seen before, I’m lucky to be able to consult the folks who attend a twice-weekly gathering held at my favourite local yarn store (shout out to Yarn Over Craft and Fiber Co.). People are welcome to come sit in a circle—or wonky oval depending on how many have shown up—and socialize while knitting, crocheting, or simply enjoying company. Formally organized or informally gathered, circles like this have existed for, I suspect, as long as humans have used fiber to weave, knot, twist, braid, loop together to create.
The circle I attend when I’m able is majorly made up of women, a lot of them older than I. Between all of them, there are more years of experience than years I’ve been alive. Thankfully, they are generous with their knowledge and happy to help me when I get stuck or tangled. A member of this circle gifted me a crochet hook when I realized I didn’t have the right size hook for my project; another gave me tips on why what was supposed to be a flat circle was curling into a ball. They celebrated the completion of my first large, crocheted garment and encouraged me when I expressed my frustration at failing to make a single sock, let alone a pair, for the fifteenth or twentieth time. I’ve seen this group hold space for anyone going through a hard time or experiencing challenges in life outside the yarn store.
This is only one kind of community connection that is, to me, the lifeblood of creating a healthier, safer world. There are so many groups like the knitting circle I attend, whether it’s a program running at the local library or through the city, a community group, a rec league, a shared hobby… this is one of many reasons I am anticipating our conference, Reconnecting Community: A Call to Courage, this September. The shift from “what’s wrong” to “what is already here and what is strong?” is one that is so simple, yet so powerful. When you look at your community through that lens, I guarantee you will be surprised at what you find. I bet there are hidden gems all around you that are waiting to be discovered.
PS: if you’re curious about the Reconnecting Community conference, head over to www.stopstoviolence.com/rcconference to learn more & to get tickets. I’ll be the one crocheting!
