My mum has crocheted the majority of my life; all of my scarves and hats in primary school were handmade by her, and if you happened to have had a baby in Warrington General Hospital 10 years ago, there’s a good chance that your baby came home wrapped in a blanket that my mum had made and donated. She even had an Etsy shop.
And time and time again, she would try to teach me. But I would always end up with my yarn in knots and what little work I’d managed completely lopsided, mumbling about how crochet is impossible- so I stayed away from trying at all costs.
But last year my best friend really got into it, and I mean really got into it… she got Carpel Tunnel once or twice. She consistently used a pink, blue, and white yarn that I always loved, seam-stressing hats and teddies for her younger siblings. I travelled down to London to visit her one week in summer, and upon my arrival she thrusted a ‘crochet starter kit’ in my hands that she’d put together for me, complete with hooks, yarn cutters, stitch markers, and a skein of the pink, blue, and white yarn.
By some wonder, she taught me how to crochet in two days. My mum was astounded, but it was even more astounding considering Abbey and I have opposite dominant hands, so she’d managed to teach me using a hand she didn’t even use. Starting with lines of single crochets, then to double crochets, onto granny squares- I was immediately hooked, no pun intended.
Crochet truly quietens my mind. It takes focus that isn’t draining, but manages to override any buzz in your brain. The stitches are consistent and easy to remember, and the sheer catalogue of tutorials for new stitches and crochet ideas online are endless. I usually crochet at home, but, like any fibre art, the pastime is light and portable; where I used to carry a book in my bag that I would never reach for because of public noise, I’ve replaced with a skein of yarn and occupy myself on trains, buses, and planes- sometimes even my work breaks!
But the best of all… crochet is extremely cheap, making it a hobby perfect for any student. A pack of £5 hooks will last you a lifetime, and skeins of yarn can start at £1.50 each. That’s all you need. As a student with a heavy workload, constantly having a project to work on outside of academia that I can start and finish within a week makes me feel fulfilled and keeps my creative juices flowing, and having a hobby I practice daily be so budget-friendly is a huge bonus.
And Mum, if you’re reading this, I apologise for all of the huffs and puffs when you’d try to teach me. I understand the obsession now.
