A Giving Purpose for Hands
https://www.tiktok.com/@debrahillsings
My daughter’s mother-in-law, Sue Roop, loves sharing her yarn creations with family and friends. Each item is truly a handmade work, designed with love and care. Enjoy learning more about how she dedicates her time to skillfully create and share her handmade gifts from her home in New Mexico.
D is for Debra and S is for Sue
A Giving Purpose for Hands
D: Sue, it was such a pleasure visiting with you in New Mexico last March. I was thrilled when you shared with me the blanket you had crocheted. As I touched the amazingly large blanket that you had handmade yourself, I was amazed at the soft texture of the yarn and the tight-knit woven feel of the weave. I could tell that I was holding something in my hands that was made with a lot of loving care as well as years of skill and experience.
I thank you so much for being willing to share your love for the crafting arts with my readers on this national Handmade Items Day. Do you mostly knit or crochet?
S: I pretty much just crochet. I haven’t learned to knit yet, which is something else I’d like to learn to do eventually.
D: Great. Along with crocheting, are there any other crafting things you enjoy doing?
S: I like to arrange bouquets of flowers for our dining room, around the house and in pots outside. These are the most creative things I do.
D: Well, that’s definitely true. I know your home is beautiful with those talents and skills that you bring to enhance everything for everyone. Have you been crafting since you were young, or when did you begin to learn to crochet?
S: Well, I learned to crochet in my 60s. My son Paul asked me what I’d like as a gift several years ago, and I told him I would like to learn to crochet, so he signed me up for the UNM Continuing Education classes.
D: The University of New Mexico, right? How fun. Were there many other students in that course?
S: There were just a few other little old ladies like me.
D: Oh, interesting.
S: At that time, I had been volunteering a lot with my daughters. We checked in on hospice patients and delivered meals for Meals on Wheels. And my son Paul said, “Mom, why don’t you do something for babies? You’ve always liked babies.” I told him I was interested in learning to crochet baby blankets, so he got me started taking crocheting classes.
D: Oh, that’s cool. Do you consider this a hobby, and how much time do you devote to it? Tell me about how you work this exercise of creativity into your life.
S: Well, crocheting is strictly a hobby for me, and I devote several hours a week, usually while watching a show with my daughter Karen. She usually draws her pictures on a drawing tablet, and I crochet while we listen to and watch our shows.
D: Oh, that’s nice. Do you have a specific purpose in mind when you sit down to work on each item you create?
S: Yes, I do, and I try to vary my blankets for babies born in the winter or summer. At this point, I use pretty much the same three patterns.
D: Are there specific holidays or events for which you know ahead of time what you are going to create? For instance, do you have specific yarn types that you would use for spring or fall or patterns you’d use for winter blankets versus summer blankets?
S: Well, for babies born in the winter, I use the heavier, baby Bernat yarn and I do like a basket weave or a shell. And for the summer baby blankets, I use the lighter baby Bernat yarn and crochet more of a granny square.
D: Do you have colors or patterns you enjoy using and making for any specific holidays or events?
S: No, and I hadn’t thought about different events or holidays until you just brought it up. I haven’t ventured into the Fourth of July or Christmas projects yet. When I first started, I did crochet blankets for our kitty cat and some little bird and bunny nests.
D: Really? A blanket for bird and bunny nest?
S: Yes, you can crochet nice little circles and build them up, and you can put little baby bunnies or little bird eggs in them to cushion them. So we did that.
D: I truly never ever have thought or heard of that, and I think that is amazingly wonderful.
S: Yeah, that was fun. But now I pretty much just crochet baby blankets. Someday, I’ll try creating baby booties or hats, but I’m still in the blanket phase.
D: Fair enough. Have you done blankets for adults like me yet? I know I’d love some! It might take a little longer, but I know you can do it.
S: I do have some friends who crochet hats or scarves for homeless people for the winter, but I haven’t gotten into that yet. Crocheting blankets for adults is another lovely idea from you that I’ll be working on!
D: So…I bet your daughter Karen is wondering why we’re putting all these new project ideas in your head with what you have going on as well.
S: Well, we kind of got started into the crocheting a few years back. When the pandemic hit, we had to stop delivering meals for Meals on Wheels and visiting hospice patients. And I learned to crochet in the nick of time so I am able to create something to give back. I’ve always thought that every new baby should have their own homemade blanket when they’re born.
D: Yes. That is so sweet. I remember you told me you mainly make these pieces out of a love of giving to others. Can you elaborate on what that means to you?
S: Oh, it means the world. I mean, we all have a purpose, and we need to give back and help one another in this life. And we’re all on our own journeys. It helps me be creative, but I can give back to my community since I had to cut back on a lot of volunteer work.
D: Have you passed this talent on to any others?
S: Well, when I first started, both my daughters learned to crochet too, but they both work full-time now and don’t have so much time to devote to this. Maybe later on in life, they’ll be able to crochet and do more with it than I have, but it’s a start.
D: That’s really cool that you’re doing it together.
S: Oh, yes. And we help each other. The rainbow blanket I make now is the most popular. I was working on it with my daughter, Cathy, and she came up with the pattern and the colors. She hasn’t crocheted now for a while, but she helped with the colors. One time, Cathy crocheted a scarf for our cat to keep her from licking a wound.
D: Do you have any advice or encouragement for someone who would like to begin creating handmade items?
S: Yes, just step in and keep practicing. When you first start, you make a lot of mistakes. And I would crochet in the wrong direction and have to undo it, and I still goof up once in a while. But just keep crocheting and it gets easier and easier with time and experience.
D: You live in New Mexico, with its very colorful, vibrant culture. Has the native culture of New Mexico influenced any of your artful yarn creations?
S: Well, until you asked this question, I hadn’t thought about any Native influences. Our family does have Alaskan Native American nieces, and we have Navajo nieces as well as Hispanic nieces and nephews. Once you pointed this out to me, I’m starting to plan to research some colors and patterns.
D: Well, you know, you guys actually sent me a blanket, a throw blanket with the colors of New Mexico. And I use it. I’m always warm under that blanket. I use it through all seasons. I love it. I sit in my living room, and I have it wrapped around me most of the time.
S: Oh, yeah, I remember that. I’m so happy you like it!
D: It’s beautiful. I always get lots of comments on it. Do you have any future projects or collaborations coming up?
S: The only thing I’m working on now is a blue-and-white blanket for a future grandson of a friend of mine. Sometimes, I donate baby blankets and clothes at church for Birthright donations on Mother’s Day.
D: All right. Is there anything else that you can think of that you wanted to say or share that we did not touch upon yet?
S: Well, I think crocheting is a perfect way to start looking at different charities, like my friends who make warm hats and scarves for the homeless. And it just gets us thinking of other people. We should continue being kind and generous to others as much as we can.
D: I wondered, do you have others in your family? Did your mother or grandmother do handmade items?
S: My mother and grandmother did not crochet or knit; however, they did sew a lot. I remember my mother making my clothes and my grandmother sewing, too.
Meet Sue Roop
Suzi Roop is a retired paralegal/medical transcriptionist. She is the mother of four adult children and one marvelous daughter-in-law! Her hobbies include crocheting, decorating with flowers, and reading books, especially mysteries and thrillers.
Before the pandemic, she volunteered, delivering meals for Meals on Wheels with her daughters, visiting patients in Hospice, and walking dogs/socializing cats at the animal shelter.
After the pandemic, she has spent a lot of time crocheting and spending time with her family.
Special Thanks to Elizabeth Baber and Dr. Shakira for all that you do to make it happen.
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Debra Hill is an independent inspirational singer, author, songwriter, and writer. As a blind performer, she adds a personal story of God’s faithfulness. Her life exemplifies that Christ’s power will work to lift all regardless of circumstances.
