Crochet Queen: Royal Ramblings

Karen Ballard in World Wat II Knitting Hat Like her many and varied crafts skills and needlework-related interests, Karen has also earned enough college credits for the equivalent of a Bachelor's degree in computer science, with minors in management, mathematics, and sociology; and she is a generous and regular promoter of others’ art. A talented maker in her own right, Karen has many accomplishments to share about herself as well! I met Karen at A Chain Link Crochet Conference a few years ago, and it has been my pleasure to visit with her for this interview.

1945-60 - “Well-Scrubbed Boys & Girls”- With the return of the soldiers, priorities revolved around making up for lost time and fixing up the nest.  America settled into domesticity.  By the 1950’s, wholesome families were being raised in suburbia and stay-at-home moms formed sewing circles and gathered together to create friendship quilts.  Crochet was found in crafters’ totes everywhere. Projects reflected the range of creativity from sequin snowflake tree skirts to ripple afghans.  “Aprons:  Icons of the American Home” is a retrospective exhibit that toured American museums through 2002.  “While these bow-in-the back aprons aren’t likely to return as a fashion statement, they are coming back, this time as collectibles.  As they disappear, so does an era’s worth of memories.  Aprons that wiped sweat off foreheads in steamy kitchens, dusted furniture, doubled as hot pads, and held peas from the garden when the bottom was pulled up.  Aprons remind us of mothers, grandmoth