Women Love Crafts!
by Connie Martin
 Whether it's a spare-time hobby or simply a form of relaxation, crafting has always been popular among women. There's just something innately satisfying about working with your own hands to create something beautiful. Before the age of technology, many forms of crafting were skills of necessity, passed down from grandmothers and mothers to prepare their daughters to be self sufficient in their own homes. These days, many of those skills are seen as hobbies rather than necessities due in part to the convenience and competitive prices of everything from knitted winter hats to designer quilts.
 The Mosque Foundation Convert Support Group introduced some of these skills to women in a craft workshop on December 19th. Three talented and enthusiastic women held workshops for the eager participants. Hanifah Ibrahim taught a form of Asian embroidery called "Shashiko," including visuals of some of her projects. Jeanette Williams taught basic crochet techniques, complete with samples of various types of stitches and patterns. Nadia Al-Ramahi showed various forms of Arabic calligraphy along with examples  and historical context.
The ladies in attendance were delighted to participate in each craft, and many were excited to continue their newly discovered hobbies at home. The only question that resonated at the end of the workshop was "When is the next one?" |