Have you ever wanted to start something that could give you endless enjoyment? perhaps you have always wanted to make personal gifts that a person could actually use. Maybe you just want to try something new. Everyone has their reasons for starting crochet. Here is my story!
For years I dabbled with knitting. I tried many things but the only really success I had was making mittens for my daughter. As a left handed knitter I had never learned how to hold the needles. My hands would cramp and I would get tired. Almost every project I started ended with me pulling it out and tossing it into a tote. I needed to find something that gave me satisfaction. Something that I could be proud of.
I had seen crocheted items in the past but always thought it would be too hard. How could someone possibly make such intricate items with just one hook? After so many failed attempts at knitting I decided to do a search. I figured it was worth a try.
I began with YouTube. I searched for beginner tutorials for left handed crocheters. The more tutorials I watched the more interested I was in giving this creative art a try. I went to our local Walmart and grabbed myself a 5 mm crochet hook and some cotton yarn. My first project would be a dishcloth. I just had to learn how to chain and single crochet. How hard could it be?
That first dishcloth took forever!! I practiced making a chain for several days. Eventually I was happy and decided it was time to try my first single crochet. From there I was hooked! It absolutely amazed me that I could turn a ball of yarn into something that was useful and beautiful!
But what else could I make? I thought back to my knitted mittens for my daughter. Not only were they useful but they also saved me a ton of money. Perhaps I could save money in the gift department as well. All while doing something I enjoyed!
I quickly discovered that it was far easier to crochet in the round (or at least for me anyways) then it was to knit in the round. That was the beginning of crochet beanies. My daughter had a selection of colors and sizes that she could pick from. I was saving money and she was excited to show off her new hats (Have you looked at the price tag on hats and mittens in your local department store? Yikes!). But of course I didn’t stop there!
Over the years I learned a variety of stitches, obtained new skills and discovered interesting techniques. Through a variety of patterns and videos available online I have made a variety of items including:
- Dish clothes (I bet I have 20 that still needs the ends weaved in)
- Hats (Oh boy…..I have definitely went hat crazy over the years)
- Mittens (Its nice to be able to whip up another mitten to replace the one lost in the snowbank)
- Scarves
- Baby blankets (Is there such thing as too many?)
- Amigurumi (Oh my….you can make the cutest little characters)
- Baby bibs
- Baby sweaters
- Shawls
I am a long ways from the the perfect crocheter but I have definitely developed the skills to attempt any project. What started as a desire to save money turned into a hobby that will last a lifetime. I have progressed from a beginner who knew nothing about crochet hooks and yarn weight to having the ability to experiment with hook size and yarn weight.
The beauty of crochet is that anyone can do it! It doesn’t require a lot space or money. For less than $20 you can get started with a crochet hook, yarn and a yarn needle to weave in those pesky ends (my least favorite part of crochet).
The future posts in this blog will take you on my crochet journey. I want to share my favorite patterns and stitches. I will share my favorite tutorials along with a few tutorials of my own. I even want to start creating my very own patterns! I hope that you will join me on this journey! Together we can keep this fabulous art form alive! What is your favorite handmade item? Feel free to leave a comment below!