Posted on: Friday, December 27, 2002

In praise of Auntie's crochets

By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

Were you one of the lucky ones?

Did you wake up on Christmas morning, slash through your "choice" presents, leaving that one limp, soft-sided, wrapped-without-a-box present for last?

You know the one. The one from Auntie. Same thing she gives you every year. Big hint: it's hand made "expressly" for you from the finest acrylic yarn.

If it's not too late, don't open that one. Keep it for later. Or wrap it back up and put it in a closet like a treasure to be rediscovered years from now.

Believe it or not, a time comes in your life when you actually miss getting the too-small-for-your-feet-by-four-sizes booties complete with pompons in contrasting color.

You get nostalgic for the plastic dolls with the wide crocheted circle skirt meant to fit over the extra roll of toilet paper and stand at the ready on the back of the tank.

You remember fondly the leg warmers Auntie earnestly tried to create for you during your big "Flashdance" era. If only Auntie believed in elastic, those babies would have been the envy of your Jazzercize class. As it was, you could barely make it out of the house without one of them spooling underneath your black high-top Reeboks with the glitter laces.

You gotta give Auntie credit. Hawai'i is not exactly a yarnworker's paradise. The only time a sweater gets called into action is maybe the last quarter of a night game at the stadium, but even then, a windbreaker is a much more popular choice.

Crocheted afghans spend more time hiding the cat scratches on the back rest of the couch than actually warming someone's lap or blanketing a sleeping body.

It's a tough sell in a warm place.

Auntie had her time in the sun during the beer can hat years, though. Back then, her work was like gold. Uncle said he'd help by providing the "raw materials," but even he had a hard time keeping up with the demand.

And there was one good season of lacy crocheted puka shell chokers circa 1977 before that look fell out of favor.

But other than yarn 'ilima, yarn pakalana and yarn whatever-flower-comes-in-that-kind-red-color lei, the demand for crocheted goods isn't very high in the islands.

Treasure those itchy crocheted ponchos and keep every kalakoa yarn pot holder. The time comes all too soon when every auntie in your family who makes those gifts is gone, or Auntie's eyes and fingers don't allow her to practice her art anymore. The younger generation aunties don't seem to have time for such handiwork. Their idea of a Christmas craft is taking the cellophane off a Costco pupu platter. Not that there's anything wrong with that, because, truth be told, those Costco pupu platters are 'ono. But it's not the same as those itchy, scratchy bundles of love.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com