A few things I’ve learned about the craft
As a more experienced crocheter, who loves yarn and the process of crocheting I’ve realized what is for me and what I love about crocheting isn’t what always draws others to the craft. There are always lists of what novice crocheters should know or tips to improve. Instead, I have a few reflections that go beyond how to hold your hook or how to monetize your hobby.
1. Make what you want
There are many tips and tricks that people will share on how to crochet faster or how to do myriad things in crochet but if you are passionate about crochet, what is really important is that you like doing what you want. That means if you want to pursue crochet as a business, as a side hustle or just as something you like to do to relax… make what you want. If you want to make six dozen lovies, or baby blankets to sell, cool. If you want to make hats go for it. If you want to solely work on one project or have six concurrent projects – that’s your prerogative.
2. Crochet with yarn you like
Though I have tried different yarns and will experiment with different ones, I am firmly in the worsted/Aran weight camp. DK or Light worsted are ok, but for my regular comfort zone… give me a worsted. The range of worsted still seems to vary; they aren’t all on the bulker side or on the thinner side so there are still quite a few to work with. As I’ve mentioned before, there are more than enough yarns for people to love and use. Working with bulky too long, makes my hand cramp and I like to see more progress which I can’t see after working with laceweight for a lengthy period of time.
3. Don’t be afraid to change the pattern
Patterns are like recipes – suggestions. There are times when I look at a pattern and think there’s an easier way to make a section or make changes based on what I want to do. Patterns are great just as recipes are. Once you have made them then tweak them. Or if you know that you don’t like a certain ingredient don’t use it or select another. If you aren’t a fan of eggs, then don’t make a frittata and if you aren’t a fan of puff stitches or cables, then choose another pattern. If you are being graded on what you are making or need to sell something that needs to look a certain way, then fine, otherwise feel free to express yourself.
4. You don’t have to use the recommended or suggested hook
The biggest, most freeing thing that I have learned about crochet is that you don’t have to use the recommended or suggested hook. There are certain manufacturers whose suggestions are useful, while others, I’ll increase a hook size or two. Also, not all hooks are the same, a metal hook may glide over one yarn while a plastic or wooden one will slow you down. Use the right tools for the project. You only know what the right tool is, if you try a lot of yarns and use different hooks.
5. Crochet in public
Crochet in public. For a while I didn’t crochet in public because I didn’t want people to ask me about my project. Though, I would crochet at lectures or talks at the public library. Just sitting and listening, makes me fidgety. I would take pages of notes that I wouldn’t necessarily want to keep just to keep busy and stay focused. Taking notes on the salient points is still useful but for something where I may zone out, crocheting a pattern that I know well, helps me stay focused. Also, when I have to wait, having a project allows me to be engaged with my surroundings and not as closed off as I would be if I were just reading a book.
There still more to learn and about the art of crochet. It’s fun, a pastime and a way to make things that I can share with others. I don’t want to sell things, that’s added pressure to make a deadline. Even though I set goals and break those down into mini goals for myself, that’s it a goal I have set for myself. If I don’t make my goal, I haven’t disappointed anyone. It’s enjoyable sitting down with a hook and yarn while rooting for my favorite team on tv or a streaming a movie or show and finishing a few rows or a hat. No pressure and no stress, just relaxation and a way to share something with others.
Happy crocheting!
As more yarn is added to the working stash, I give in to the temptation to start another project. Multiple projects is like reading multiple books at a time, As long as they aren’t the same pattern it’s not an issue just picking up where I left off. If I’m working on something with basketweave, I try not to start another project that requires a different number of repeats. Yesterday, a box arrived and a new yarn that I had never tried before was in the box, so I started a hat.
2021 will be a great year for crocheting. For this year’s crochet goals I’m thinking 60 hat and scarf sets and 10 red scarves. This will still give me time to make some other things. At first I was thinking 50 sets. But since I finished a set, a hat for a second and have made good progress on the accompanying scarf and the first week of January hasn’t even ended, 60 sets and 10 red scarves is a manageable goal. This will also give me time to work on some other projects or use some oddballs to make hats.
Since I finished my mystery balls with black, I’m looking forward to starting an afghan made with those this year. I’ve been buying yarn with reckless abandon and I’m itching to use some new yarn.
The Granny Square is a utilitarian way of using up yarn. Generally, when many people think of a Granny Square afghan they think of lots of smaller motifs joined together in bright colors. The Granny Square, which is a simple shell or fan stitch – three double crochets with a chain stitch then three double crochets again with a few chain stitches at the corner can be used to make a block as large as you wish. This is a pattern that I can almost make in my sleep. It’s versatile.
Last Saturday, after exercising and showering before my busy Saturday of reading on the couch, I went shopping in my yarn stash. I found some yarn for hat and scarf sets and other small projects…
Black ties all the colors together nicely. Many yarn companies make color changing yarns and some of the combinations are striking. Why not make my own? Wool yarns or fancy yarns aren’t included, but ombre, color changing, are all included. This is a fun and different way of using up yarn. I plucked a ball of yarn out of the yarn bowl to start the ball rolling (bad yarn pun intended) and I wrapped black around it until I felt like changing colors, then kept alternating between a color and black. I use all of the color, then wind some black around.
This is a work in progress because I need some additional colors to add to the mystery ball with black. Two full pound skeins of black with the colors interspersed should be enough or at least a good start. For the mystery ball that’s just yarn joined together, no amount is too short. If it can be joined (using the Russian join so it’s somewhat seamless) and it coordinates with the color it’s being added so – it’s included. Unlike the black and color balls, the mystery ball is solely color and colors are matched together as they are joined. In a run of three colors, the one in the middle coordinates with the ones on either end of it. When I’m ready to use that ball, I will use it two stranded with a lighter weight black for as large of a square I can make and then complete the rest of the rounds in black.
One of the benefits of working on multiple projects at a time is that I don’t get bored with crocheting. Also, since I’m working on afghans, after a short time, they are too large to be portable.