When is it ok to crochet?

Most of you reading this will know that recently I've been bitten by the crochet bug. I've made six beautiful blankets and just had my seventh order www.facebook.com/fattycraftertales if you want to see the pictures.
The first blanket was a trial one because I liked the pattern and needed to stop putting food in my mouth when I really wasn't hungry - more challenging than it sounds. If you've never tried to diet it's kind of like trying to pick up eye lashes with chopsticks whilst blindfolded.
After that I spent every stationary moment with my hook and some wool but as I repeatedly reinforced this habit, as soon as I sat down, anywhere, I started to look for my hook. Now of course I know that some places you aren't supposed to crochet; at work for example I am sure it would be frowned upon (unless I got a new job teaching crochet.... there's a thought) I'm pretty sure whilst the sermon is in full flow on a Sunday the crochet hook is supposed to stay in my bag but what about other times?
Last week I went to the in laws. I had my crochet in my bag. I left without growing the blanket because there didn't seem to arise a moment where it would be socially acceptable to get my wool out. It's wool for goodness sake not my boobs but still when is the socially acceptable time? I was sat down, I was still able to contribute to the conversation but alas my hook and wool stayed stowed.
I've figured that if you come into my home while I am crocheting it's totally ok to keep going - obviously I would break to offer tea I am British after all - which makes me think if I just walk around crocheting all the time is it ok never to stop?

An adulterous crafter

My friend is pregnant, five months ago she told me about her expanding family, and belly, and as she is the first in our friendship group to become a mum I didn't really know what the protocol was. Thankfully my other half came to my rescue and congratulated the couple while my socially stunted brain processed the information. I would like to think I redeemed myself when I offered to make the baby a crocheted blanket. I love crochet so it didn't really seem like much of a chore, win win. 

What hadn't occurred to me was that I had been cheating on crochet with craft. I have been so wrapped up with new forms of craft I had completely forgotten about my first love. So when I started the blanket, excited to be reigniting the relationship I was surprised that crochet was not as excited to have me back. 

The first attempt at an advanced level technique failed miserably- hardly surprising- so I undid it and reconsidered my approach. 

The second attempt seemed to be going well until on my 14th round the square was not so much square and more an uneven hexagon. I decided to persevere but after another hours worth of effort it was clear I needed to undo it again.

After three unsuccessful attempts at following a pattern and having to undo hours worth of work I have to admit I did consider buying a blanket for my friend, ripping the label off and messing with it a bit to make it look like I had made it but I'm far too stubborn for my own good. Instead I abandoned the patterns and went back to basics. 

I used half treble crochet for the middle and a granny square type pattern for the border. It finally, worked really well. 

As the parents don't want to know the sex of the baby and my friend and I have always had a running banter about colours, I went a little crazy with my wool choice. Definitely more than three colours there! The outer edge incorporates the colours of the rainbow- I was certainly sick of the song by the time I reached pink! But I smiled as I imagined my friend singing the song - equipped with a visual aid, to her baby. 

I had a lot of suggestions by my very honest grandmother as I made this as to what I should do but I'm glad I stuck to my imagination. I text a picture of the finished outcome to my friend (we have a long distance relationship) and to my relief she really liked it. I'm not exactly sure what I would've done if she had hated it. 

I really enjoyed my time with the 4.0 needle and have already started thinking about my next project, I also have rekindled my relationship with my sewing machine, just in case Its feeling rejected.

I'm not going to stop meeting new crafts and wooing their crafty goodness but I am going to remember to show my loyalty to the crafts that I woo'd a while ago. 

Let this be a lesson to all you adulterers out there, anger the wrong craft and she will pay you back!