Ever since I was little, I’ve been someone that loved to do arts and crafts of any kind. Throughout my childhood I had a dedicated “craft cabinet” filled with all of my favorite materials and tools to get artsy and crafty! Well, in 2023 I’m trying to channel little me and indulge in some serious crafting. Included in that is something I’ve been doing for about 2 years now: crochet!
I love the versatility of learning just the basics in crochet, with just 3 stitches and a basic understanding of the craft you can truly get so creative. I’ve made tons of sweaters, bags, leg warmers, hats, tank tops, etc. and this year I’m trying to expand my skill set and make new things.
In general, I find crafting to be soothing and rewarding. In the new year I’m trying to spend less time on my phone (words that have come out of my mouth many times) and part of that is keeping my hands busy with a craft! I love sitting down and watching my favorite show or a good movie and watching my project come to life as the day goes on.
If you’re intimidated by starting a new craft or hobby, remind yourself that it takes time! Hobbies are skills, you start simple first and build your way up- and this can take years to make the types of projects you see online. If you’re looking to start crochet, some examples of some easy beginner projects include:
- Legwarmers
- Handwarmers
- Beanies
- Tote bags
- Book cover/ Laptop cover
Once you get a handle on the basics, you can go anywhere from there. And there’s nothing like showing off something you made yourself and being able to brag when someone gives you a compliment. I love this idea of justified bragging. Working hard for something, utilizing skills, and being proud of how far you’ve come is one of the awesome things about being human. It doesn’t even have to be crochet, it can be knit, macrame, jewelry making, etc. It’s just fun to get back in touch with the version of yourself that got to do art in school and was excited about seeing a final result. Crafts take us into the present and allow us to express ourselves in very unique ways. You may not even know your creative potential because you’ve put art into a box. Quite frankly, I’m awful at drawing so I avoid it. But that’s not the only way to get those creative juices flowing. Dedicating time for crafts is dedicating time for yourself, and when you exercise your creativity you open up a part of yourself that you may have kept in a box!