I learned how to crochet when I was 12.  I wasn’t the best of students and had quite a time picking it up the way my sweet instructor was teaching me.  But I stuck with it and one day picked the crochet hook up in a different way than she had been holding it  and I was off and running!  This is one of my very first afghans I crocheted up about 31 years ago.

I made this for my mother when I was 18 and in the Army in Germany.  I ran a one-man post office for a time and during my down time I crocheted afghans to mail home at Christmas time.  I must say that it is still in great shape.  I had been wondering if any of my crocheted afghans were still around after reading this post at Not Your Average Crochet by Hannah.  Amazingly, I went to over to my Mother’s house the other night and this afghan was folded up on the floor.  I was ecstatic!  I told my Mom I had just been wondering if any of the afghans I had made years ago were still around.  It does look a bit felted, but I guess that means that the stitches are truly locked in now.  The Ripple afghan was the first thing I learned and I have made several ripple afghans over the years. I’m pretty sure this afghan was made using Red Heart basic worsted weight yarn, as that was what was quite available back then.  Seeing this afghan really made me feel good.   Not only to know that it had stood the test of time, but that my Mom had kept it all of these years.  I really need to pick up a crochet hook again.