What, you say? Cool crochet? Clear the granny square visuals from your quizzical mind and consider this notion for a moment. Why does crochet have to be defined by potholders, chunky scarves, odd shaped ponchos, clumsy sweaters, frightful hats, and frilly home decor embellishments? Wasn't crochet "cool" among our ancestors once upon at time? Did crochet design lose its translation throughout the generations. An art was perhaps lost. Well, not entirely...

You might think that since the latest generation is enamored with learning how to knit and crochet (I had to hide the dirty passion in my day), that just maybe the industry has changed itself up and flooded the fiber market with cool crochet designs. Although I do find the occasional inspired specimen (only because I look a lot), it is still a surprisingly dismal scene. Yes, there are way more designs and instruction for the finding, and more techniques, more creative use of stitches, but where's the style? Truly? Where's the fashion sense? Do we need a Project Runway for crochet to wake up the scene? Do we need a So You Think You can Crochet to inspire the talent to the necessary extremes? Do we need to boost crochet awareness with celebrity participation by pitching Crocheting with the Stars? Or maybe a crochet collaboration is in order with an America's Next Best Crochet Crew, although I can't be sure Randy Jackson would get behind that one. Did I mention that many crocheters are multi-taskers and that TV is the easiest task to multi with? Did I also mention that this particular crocheter is obsessed with all things dance?

I digress. I have created twistedfibers.com because of this aforementioned issue, due to my secret desire to star in a reality competition series. Wait, that's not it. I've pioneered Twisted Fibers due to my frustrations in quest for cool crochet. Yes, that is it. Even though crochet doesn't have to be anyone's dirty secret anymore, my PTSD (post-traumatic shame disorder) pushes me to prove my case and feverishly exclaim, "Crochet is cool!"

This madtastic crocheter has a second purpose for this site as well. Although I was taught the very basics of crochet by my ridiculously creative and talented mom (I wish I had picked up knitting and sewing nearly as well), I went on to learn all of my intermediate and advanced techniques on my own, struggling with crochet stitch guides. Yes... the dreaded stitch guides. Hook in hand and hunched over leaflets, my creative silence was often broken with exclamations of, "What the hell does THAT mean???" and "That doesn't even make SENSE!!!" Yes, many disproportionate, incomplete projects have been made. Many sad, sad little slabs of crochet-gone-wrong. I did not inherit my mother's applause-worthy patience. Instead of unraveling the mistakes and trying again, I'd most often succumb to my inner tortured artist and denounce the misdirected creation as an embarrassment to yarn. I know. I am working on that. My point being, my second ambition for this site is to offer super-intuitive, easy-to-read crochet instructions for the new and experienced crochet artist. Welcome to a collective guide of crochet stitches explained by an empathetic crochet lover.

~Thressa Willett
thressa.willett@gmail.com