Crochet takes a lot of time, I’ll admit that. You have to think a lot at first, but after a while it comes naturally.
Books at the local library can show you how to do it, but as one student told me, “They don’t show you how to bend your fingers right!” The terms are foreign to most beginners. These books also don’t show or teach you the most common abbreviations in the crochet world.
For example, what is a chain? What is a single crochet, double crochet, half double crochet stitch or, therefore, triple stitch? You get to a point where you think you’re hopeless, but to be honest, you’re not. I remember those frustrating days very well and I can relate.
I finally got so desperate that someone would show me and while he was moving his hands I did the same thing! That’s how I finally found out! (I even learned how to “bend my fingers right”!)
Another thing I can relate to is this: When you finish the first project, you are simultaneously frightened and eager to move on, but fear gets you in the way. What are those stitches they’re talking about? I have no idea! Now it’s time to research again, and it’s an ongoing thing for some people (like me at the beginning).
Depending on what you’re crocheting, some of these will need to be sewn together. (Why didn’t they tell me that??) Most teachers have them sewed by hand, but now I use my sewing machine.
But I didn’t know that when I started. The concept is basically simple and then you think why didn’t I think of this before. Don’t feel bad, instructors tend to want you to know everything there is to know, even if part of that project scares you. No shortcuts from the instructor’s point of view!
Now, there’s nothing I haven’t knitted. Crochet stitches and/or abbreviations no longer scare me.
Crochet has become one of my passions. I have such a tremendous sense of accomplishment and pride in the finished product that I can’t wait to start another project.
I’m at the point where I won’t need it for myself but I’m confused who to give it to! Now, I play around and create my own patterns. This is even more rewarding than crocheting from a pattern book or whatever. I learned the shortcuts and all the stitches plus all the abbreviations.
Loretta Crowder
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