I enjoy making things. I always have. Whether it was playing with my Light Bright set or coloring my Fashion Plates, I have always been a crafty girl. But it was when I learned to crochet that my creative juices really started to flow.
Learning to Crochet
I learned to crochet through an online course almost 16 years ago. It was actually around the same time that I started craft blogging. I had tried to learn to crochet several times before, but I just couldn’t get it. For some reason, that crazy slip knot was so tricky. But one day I stumbled across a blog that had just started a 6-week crochet course. Unfortunately, the blog is no longer around as are many of the blogs I have grown to love. I joined in, followed along with all of the steps, and practiced. And at the end of the 6 weeks, I was crocheting.
It might not have been the prettiest thing I had ever done, but I was super excited that I was actually crocheting. The pictures below are from the very first crocheted items I ever made. Whew! Some of these are pretty rough, but I like to look back at these first few crochet projects and see just how far I’ve come.
The first picture is my very first “square” if you can even call it a square. I had issues with tension and have since realized that I am a very tight crocheter. I think that was pretty apparent from the beginning too. In the second picture, I had started to master the square and made more of a rectangle. This was a few weeks after my first square. I also did my first button loop and circle and had to whip stitch the sides together. The third picture was a pretty challenging car toy with different shapes. I think this was several months after my first square. I had to stitch all of the pieces together by sewing and crocheting, which was difficult. But, that was when I realized how much fun crocheted toys can be.
Refining My Craft
Over the past 15+ years, I have really refined my craft. I learned what I am good at (scarves, blankets, Amigurumi toys, and potholders) and what I’m not good at (hats!). I am okay with that. My family and friends know that they won’t be getting any crocheted hats from me anytime soon.
I have also learned a new stitch here and there, although I still have a long way to go. Along with the very basic stitches of slip stitch, chain stitch, single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, and triple crochet, I learned a few advanced beginner/intermediate stitches, like the picot stitch, v-stitch, shell stitch, and puff or bobble stitch.
What Are You Waiting For?
If you are struggling with learning how to crochet my advice to you is to not give up! Just look at the first square I attempted. It has taken some time and lots of practice, but it is totally worth it.
If you want to learn but don’t know where to start, there is no need to fear. There are lots of great resources out there to help you. To get started with the basic crochet stitches, check out this beginner crochet tutorial from Bella Coco or this Learn to Crochet tutorial from TL Yarn Crafts. There are so many other great tutorials out there, just search “learn to crochet” or “crochet tutorial” on YouTube, and you’ll be good to go!
Leave a Reply