Who Taught You to Crochet?
Initially my great grandmother, who also taught my mom. I stopped crocheting when I was around 14 to pursue other interests like dancing and playing music. When I started up again, I watched a lot of YouTube and tutorials.
How Long Have You Been Crocheting?
I’ve been crocheting at least 10 years, but much more the last 5 years.
Title: Giraffe Hat!
Description: This was the very first hat I sold to a stranger, instead of giving them as gifts or having friends who bought to support my new endeavor. This customer liked a picture I posted in a local Facebook group, and paid me for a hat! I felt amazing that day, and she ended up a repeat customer!
Now Tell Us What Crocheting Means to You and Why It’s Not Just a Hobby.
I always took for granted that I would be able to work and keep up my hobbies dancing walks through the woods. Then I got sick. Very sick. Everything that made “me” me was taken from me. I had a surgery and complications which caused me to be pretty much home-bound, isolated, and unable to do any of the hobbies that used to bring me joy. There was a dark time when I didn’t want to keep fighting the pain every day. Feeling worthless and physically betrayed by my body, I couldn’t see how I could still be of any use anymore.
I found a ball of yarn, and the only hook I owned; an “H” hook. I saw a hat on Pinterest, and after just finding out I was going to be an Aunt, I gave it a try. I was so happy that if I messed up, I could just pull the stitches until I could fix it. I didn’t have to be afraid of failing.
I thought about how the hat I was making was a series of knots and twists and turns. I thought about how it was like my life, challenges making me who I am. I thought about how without those twists and turns I just had a pile of yarn, nothing beautiful could be made of it without those twists.
I gained a pinch of pride and accomplishment with every hat I made, which was quite a few since I was physically unable to do much more than lay in a Recliner most of the days. I kept stitching. I kept living. I am still worth something. I can bring joy to my favorite people, children, with fun hats that make them smile.
Crochet is not just a hobby to me. It keeps me going. It’s therapy. It blocks the thoughts that tell me I lost my whole life plan. Its my reason to keep going, and any time I crochet, it has become a tangible symbol that I will be okay. That I will keep going and one day, see the big picture of my life filled with all the twists and turns that make my life beautiful, just like the hat.
~Kasey