I’ve been on an ongoing journey to reduce my screen time (it was shockingly high, as per my weekly iPhone report). With all the extra time I had over the summer, I knew it was the perfect time to pick up a screen-free hobby. I desperately needed something to relieve stress instead of the mindless doom scrolling I habitually resorted to.
Somehow, through my routine TikTok browsing (ironic, I know), I discovered the large community of women in their 20s who crochet. Up until then, crocheting – in my mind – was just something my grandma did (usually with the end result being a blanket). These girls, on the other hand, used pastel yarns to create tote bags, little plushies and all sorts of cute things. Since this discovery, I have very quickly spiralled into the world of crocheting.
I love using crocheting to unwind because it gives me something to focus my mind on. For me to feel truly de-stressed, I need to be doing something dynamic. The repetitive process of alternating different types of stitches allows me to move my hands while still clearing my thoughts. I guess you could say that at the age of 20, I’ve entered my grandma era. The ultimate form of relaxation for me right now is working on a new crochet project while Gilmore Girls plays in the background.
How Do I Start Crocheting?
You’ll first want to pick up some yarn and hooks, which come in varying sizes. Check the label on the ball of yarn; it’ll tell you what size hook works best with it. For beginners, I recommend starting with acrylic yarn as it’s the cheapest and easiest to work with.
YouTube has always been my biggest resource. To make any project, it’s important to get the basic stitches down. There’s a ton of tutorials out there, so make sure to watch videos about the following:
- slip knot
- chain
- single crochet
- double crochet
- half double crochet
- magic ring
With just these few simple stitches (I promise, they are quick to learn), there are endless possibilities for projects. Personally, I started with small things like a heart or this star. Tiny projects like this will help you get the hang of the stitches and reading patterns (these are usually listed in the captions or comments).
Once you get into the groove, you can make literally anything you want. I’m constantly saving YouTube videos to my “future projects” list. I find myself turning to @mahumcrochets since she has tutorials for the cutest stuff. If you want more ideas, here are some other quick projects I’ve made:
Proceed with caution when showing other people your projects. I’ve ended up having to make four plushie ghosts, four headphone sprouts and too many star keychains to count. Nonetheless, I love having the ability to make whatever I want. Crocheting really is easier than it looks, so give it a try!