What is Crocheting and why is it a Good Hobby?
What is crocheting?
Crocheting is a form of needle craft where yarn is transformed into textured fabric by using a hooked needle. Crocheting also involves a process where stitches are made by using the crochet hook to loop and pull yarn through the loop. Crochet can be done with just one hook and any type of yarn and has many different uses. It’s one of the easiest crafts to learn and is great for beginners.
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Why is crochet a good hobby?
Crochet is a great hobby. First and foremost, I would like to say it's a relaxing hobby, it helps with stress (which is frankly the reason I started learning), depression, anxiety, insomnia, delaying dementia and promotes self-esteem.
It is affordable with a low entry barrier, easy to learn, a hobby which you can do from the comfort of your own home and portable enough for you to do it on the go.
On top of learning a lifelong skill, and of course exploring your creative side, you end it all off with a practical project right at the end! It's all about the beginning, the journey and the end!
What can you make with crochet?
The whole process of crocheting is to eventually complete a crochet project, which could include a wide variety that you can make, from simple scarves to complicated blankets. Crochet has many uses – from making baby clothes and hats and bags to making blankets for your dog or cat. You can even make crochet jewelry!
Or my favourite, which is crochet toys or amigurumi! In this blog, all the crocheting content if mostly focused specifically on amigurumi or 3D crocheted toys so if that is eventually what you would love to master, you are in the right place!
How long does it take to learn crocheting?
If you’re looking to start crocheting, you may be wondering just how much time you’ll need to get the hang of it. Depending on how much experience you have, it could take anywhere from a few hours to several weeks or months to learn how to crochet. That depends on a lot of factors, if you have someone specifically teaching you step by step beside you, it could be a lot shorter.
If you decide to learn on your own, depending on your teaching materials, whether it be videos or books or magazines, it could just be hours to days for the most part. Because crocheting is such a popular hobby, the great news is that there is plenty of learning materials on the internet and Youtube!
Is crocheting hard for beginners?
No and yes, read on for more of what I mean.
No. The first few steps in crocheting when mastering the basic crochet stitches is not difficult, and after you get the hang of the basics, the next few steps are pretty repetitive. Then as you gather more techniques under your belt, it gets easier and easier.
Yes. Some new crocheters have difficulty with mastering certain aspects of the crocheting process, like the tension when crocheting, which oftens leads to projects curling up and also painful wrists. These are some of the reasons that prompt them to give up crocheting. Once you get past these barriers, it gets easier with practice!
Tips for success in crocheting
When crocheting, the most important thing to remember is to take your time and enjoy the process. You will be crocheting a project, which is an amazing accomplishment, and at times you will feel frustrated or annoyed, but it’s all part of the experience, so remember to keep your patience.
There will come a time when you’re finally done with your project, and then you can admire your work and feel accomplished. For most crocheters, the why is an important factor in pushing through to the end, if you are crocheting for a loved one or for a baby or a child, imagine finishing the project and gifting it! So always remember the why and it makes the journey easier and more meaningful.
How to get started with crocheting
The first step to getting started will be to grab some supplies, only 2 specifically actually and then you’re good to go. First, you need a hook. You can choose from 3 types of hooks: Plastic, metal and wood. There’s no right or wrong type to choose, but I suggest starting with plastic or metal because it’s cheap and works well. Don't worry about the more expensive ergonomic hooks, only consider them later on when you are really serious about crocheting.
Then you want yarn. Not all yarns work for crochet, though most yarns work if you select one that’s right for your project. When selecting yarn, make sure to look at the care instructions. This will tell you how often to wash the yarn before and after crocheting so you don’t damage the yarn. Start off with acrylic yarn, often the cheapest and also easy to work with, compared to other types.
What are the first basic crochet stitches to start with?
The first thing you learn is lean how to create a slip knot. Then from there, learn yarn over and how to progress to a chain stitch, which is used for foundation chains. Then you learn single crochet (sc), double crochet (dc) and treble crochet (tr). You'll then learn increases and decreases, so that you can create all the other stitches. You'll learn a lot of patterns along the way, but these are the basics that will help you to make most anything.
Here are some free resources to start off with, specifically covering all the basic crochet stitches I mentioned above.
Check out the most basic crochet stitches here.
If you need a little more hand holding on how to start off, with some videos and step-by-step pictorial tutorials, join me in this free Crochet Basics Mini Course, which covers how to hold the hook and yarn, single crochet, working in rows and rounds and starting off with a magic ring for amigurumis!
Check out the free Crochet Basics Mini Course here or below.
Here’s a summary infographic that will hopefully help you on your journey:
Hope this whole blog article has managed to convince you to start trying now!
