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Are you looking for an activity to feel relaxed? Do you enjoy the project creation process?
Or maybe you love your grandma's sweater!?
Crochet is a fiber art that uses a hook to create interlocking stitches from yarn or thread. It includes various styles and culturally specific patterns, such as Irish crochet.
Suitable for all ages, crochet can be calming due to its repetitive motions. It can also provide a creative challenge through learning new patterns and completing projects.
Learn how to crochet with these helpful tips!
Did you know?
"Crochet comes from the word croc/croche, the French word for hook. It could also be connected to the Norse word krokr, which also means hook. " The origins of crochet are uncertain, with theories suggesting beginnings in Arabia, South America, or China. However, its modern form and widespread popularity are largely "attributed to European immigrants to the US in the early 19th century."
How do I begin in the crochet world?
Choose the right tools:
Crochet requires crochet hooks. There are a variety of hooks in different colors, sizes, and materials. The right hook for your project depends on the yarn and the size of the stitches. But, no worries, magazines and tutorials will include all the specifications you need to know.
Supplies for beginners and your first project are simple:
Image created by the author
Learn and practice the basic stitches:
The slip knot and chain stitch are crucial starting points for any crochet project, and regular practice is essential. Most stitches are based on single, half-double, double crochet, and slip stitch combinations. Mastering these basics is key to successfully learning other stitches, so ensure you understand them before beginning a project.
Use social media as a source of inspiration:
For inspiration in crochet, explore Instagram and Pinterest, and share ideas with other crocheters. YouTube and TikTok also offer valuable tutorials, advice, and recommendations from fellow crafters.
Be patient with yourself:
Developing a new skill will require time and a lot of practice. In the beginning, it will be hard to learn the technique, the stitches, and the hook — but keep practicing, be patient, learn from your mistakes, and celebrate your progress when you learn how to croche. You'll be a master!
Where to find inspiration
The internet provides numerous tutorials for all levels of crochet projects. Practice basic stitches, such as single crochet (sc), half double crochet (hdc), and double crochet (dc), before starting a project.
Easy Crochet offers detailed tutorials on single and double crochet stitches. Beginners can learn how to crochet with simple projects, like making a scarf.
Photo by Karen Cantú Q on UnsplashIf you want to check out other ideas for projects, you can visit the following websites or social media profiles to stimulate your creativity:
Hooked by Robin
Robin has more than 40 videos of crochet projects for beginners.
This website offers a variety of art project articles, including one with 31 Quick & Easy Crochet Projects for Beginners, which includes various hats, scarves, cardigans, and socks.
TikTok
To find more ideas and different styles, you can write crochet for beginners on TikTok, where you will find great videos.
For instance:
@iamjamiepaige made a video to show how to do the basic stitches:
Workshops
If you live in Toronto, Legin Knits is a website where you can buy kits to start crocheting and pieces made in crochet. Moreover, they organize workshops for people who want to learn how to crochet and promote well-being and mindfulness.
Benefits of crochet for mental health
Crochet makes people happy, reduces stress, and increases creativity. Those who learn how to crochet fall in love with the technique and the idea of creating beautiful projects from scratch.
Here are some benefits related to long-term health:
Image created by the author. To hear an audio description of the text in the image, click play on the audio player below:
Crocheting can have great benefits for your health:
Craft activities like crocheting boost happiness and self-esteem.
Repetitive activities like crochet induce mindfulness, like meditation.
The hobby fosters a productive mindset with engaging, colorful, and creative options.
Crochet can calm the mind and body, helping with sleep.
Crafts like crocheting boost serotonin release, help with pain, and treat depression.
Moreover, crochet is also becoming a popular technique for young people. Some content creators are talking about all those benefits and how they use crocheting to deal with mental health problems.
Mary Eva on TikTok explains below how crocheting helped her during her recovery from eating disorders. She also shows her crochet projects:
Quiz
Stella has been facing stress problems due to the demands at university. She has been thinking about taking up crochet as an alternative to relieve her symptoms. Which of the following will be the benefits she will obtain?
Stella can use knitting to improve her mental health and work ethic. While it won't give her better exam scores automatically, she'll have a better chance of success in school.
Did you know?
All the benefits that we know today are demonstrated by science. Sarah McKay, a neuroscientist and science communicator from Sydney, Australia, says that when you're knitting or crocheting, “You are doing something that requires some of your attention, but it's not super stressful. By nature, your breathing slows, your heart rate slows, and it gets you into a calm, relaxed state."
Take Action
After knowing all these benefits, what are you waiting for? Are you ready to learn how to crochet? If so, take these next steps:
This Byte has been authored by
Mercedes Salas
E-learning Design Student