The origin
It has proven difficult historically for my (at times chaotic) neurodivergent brain to hone in on a hobby and stick to it despite having multiple other responsibilities to prioritise. However, not long into my second term of first year, my creative mum had begun to try her hand at crocheting flowers in her free time, and wowed me enough to want to do the same. I started to notice a pattern of crochet inspiration appearing on my social media, and of course, my Pinterest feed. It wasn’t long before I was captivated. The intricacies of the art, the seemingly simple way of fashioning a ball of yarn into a wearable garment or practical accessory, made crochet an instant ‘must-do’ on my bucket list of things to try as a student at a creative university. And so, the fascination became a slow obsession.
The progress
My first few attempts at this new hobby were to crochet flowers with my mum. Although we are a hundred-or-so miles apart most of the time due to university, we both enjoyed the creative connections we fostered despite the distance. I managed to gain some sense of fulfilment and pride after each flower I completed, and thought of embellishing a rather boring cardigan with them at some point. But since I’m forever a leap-frogger, I ended up jumping to another fascinating project – something I knew would challenge and push me to learn the craft easier, without having to focus on the details of stitch abbreviations on patterns first. So, the first lace shell scarf began.
It must have taken me four or five days to complete, but I finally managed to use up an entire ball of yarn. For the first time in my life, it felt like I could genuinely achieve something and finish it, rather than simply pausing hobbies or other creative ventures halfway through and never touching them again. I was so proud of it, bashfully, that I showed my grandmothers and surprised my mum and dad with it by wearing it on the train home for Easter. I had spent a few hours every evening completing it in a cosy, warmly lit dorm room with my cousin on FaceTime, watching it grow from a few rows of fumbled crochet to a completed scarf. I improvised by giving it scalloped edges to make it feel more ‘me’, rather than simply having straight edges. And I couldn’t be happier with the end result!
Pushing myself even more
I then went on to discover a plethora of new and exciting projects online, eager to try more. There was a crochet pattern for almost every category. Bags. Hair accessories. Stationery. Clothing. Even seat covers. But focusing on just one to try next, without adding about 10 more projects to start at the same time, was like trying to grasp air. Desperate to keep this hobby alive as a calm and steady presence amongst my studies, I eventually found a simple YouTube tutorial for a summer sweater, open stitches and a tantalising combination of five repeated stitches refrained throughout the pattern. It consisted of four panels: two body and two arm. Visualising the stitches and the pattern formation helped so much. YouTube was, in essence, my crochet saviour. I am still completing this project as I write, but it is almost done. And I can guarantee it will feel so rewarding to wear, and to humbly share it was made by my hands.
I have also been working on a willow square jumper made entirely from lacy willow granny squares, which take me half an hour to make (now that I have made about five using the same tutorial on YouTube), and I will eventually sew them together to make an off-shoulder style jumper. I’d say this is a great way to start a first garment for anyone when crocheting. It is really quite simple when you get the hang of it, and can be made in days if you become fast at the craft. I’m doing sage green, blush pink, sorbet pink, cream and caramel colours (five squares per colour) for a soft, spring/summer vibe. It can be made to measure, which is perfect if you’re like me and can never find sweaters that have that ‘just-right’ fit and cut. And I promise, you don't have to be advanced at crochet to do these, especially amongst university demands – I’d still consider myself a beginner at the moment!
The near future
After this sweater, I have grand plans for my new hobby to expand. I have received requests from many members of my family since coming home, such as my dad, grandmother (who used to crochet herself many years ago), and my cousin (who watched me crochet over FaceTime), to make sweaters, hats and scarves for them in preparation for colder months later in the year. And I aim to please – especially this Mother’s Day, where I tried my hand at micro-crochet, a sub-category of the crochet world, to make sunflower earrings for my mum, as well as a rose hairband for when she needs a more practical hairstyle that still enhances how beautiful she is. I have many personal projects in the lineup too – amongst my interior design projects, I want to make more wearables, like sweaters, a cute cardigan to wear with dresses, and more. I utilise student discounts (a godsend to us student creatives) to purchase beautiful shades of yarn, knowing that I’m essentially making something for cheaper than simply buying it, whilst making something rich in personality and heart. I will have a one-of-a-kind collection of items that can’t be found anywhere else, and so will my loved ones.
I see crocheting as not just a hobby but more a devotion; from to disciplining myself to complete things I start with passion, to gifting my family things I made with my hands and poured love into with every chain, and to be able to own my work, wearing and using them not just for a season, but for a lifetime. I want to be able to quietly show it off, complete them with pride, and still be able to relax and be mindful and happy whilst making them. This is just the humble wish of any true creative soul – that someone will one day be inspired by them like I was by my mum, and begin something beautiful too, spreading creativity everywhere.
