Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, quarantine has encouraged many individuals to embark on a variety of creative endeavors. People across the world have experimented with painting, dancing, baking, and just about anything imaginable as they find new passions or rediscover old ones. For me, the latter was the case, as I rekindled an interest in crocheting ? one that had been dormant for nearly eight years.
My crocheting journey began in third grade, when I picked it up from a mentor at an after-school program. With a single green hook and a skein of purple-to-pink gradient yarn in hand, I set out to create a scarf. It was of little importance to me that I had never worn nor had any intention of wearing a scarf, the mere thrill of crafting something from the seemingly endless yards of cotton was sufficiently rewarding. However, being a spontaneous seven year old, my crocheting career was short-lived, and I quickly moved on to new hobbies.
Eight years later, the nation was facing an unprecedented period of panic and chaos. Without the usual stress of school and extracurriculars I had become accustomed to, I found myself with an overwhelmingly excessive amount of idle time. Upon finding my old crochet hook, I decided to buy a few skeins of yarn and see what I was capable of. Surprisingly, muscle memory kicked in after a couple stitches and it felt as if I had never stopped. In the following months, I gradually accumulated a collection of clothing pieces and accessories I had crocheted.
All one really needs to begin crocheting is a skein ? a long coil ? of yarn, a pair of scissors, a crochet hook, and a willingness to learn. Online platforms, such as YouTube and Skillshare, have many free or inexpensive resources teaching the basics of crochet: single crochet, double crochet, half double crochet, and magic circles. With an understanding of a few rudimentary stitches and techniques, you will surely find yourself capable of much more than you would expect. Then, you can progress to more complex projects and experiment with new types of yarn, sizes of hooks, and complexities of stitches.
A common misconception about crocheting is that its sole demographic is grandmothers with a particular interest in making sweaters and scarves, but this is far from the truth. Crocheting is a hobby that can appeal to people of all ages and has a plethora of applications. Personally, I have found tank tops and hats to be especially fun and easy to make, and perhaps a bit more fitting for my generation’s style. Despite being relatively time-consuming, cute amigurumi animals or large, cozy blankets are also a great option.
Overall, crocheting is a wonderful activity that I would highly recommend. The materials required are very inexpensive, and the resulting pieces will undoubtedly be worth the minimal cost. If you ever find yourself in search of an activity to partake in during your downtime, consider picking up a crochet hook and some yarn!
