Crochet has recently made a big comeback in popularity. It can be seen all over social media and on the streets as people have started crocheting and buying crocheted clothing.
The technique of crochet has been around for a long time. Fran Schreindler is the President of The Crochet Club of London. The club has been crocheting blankets for those in need for 10 years and Schreindler finds the technique to be a lot easier than knitting.
“It’s faster, you complete the job quicker, and if you make a mistake, it’s easier to rip out,” says Schreindler. “There’s a technique we call frogging because when you rip out your mistakes, it kind of sounds like a frog croaking. Even the best crocheters do some frogging sometimes!”
The technique is fairly simple to master with the use of the internet as well.
“You use a single hook and it’s all a matter of manipulating the yarn around that hook in certain ways. There are just a few very basic stitches and once you’ve got those, the sky’s the limit. You can make almost anything.”
What is the attraction?
Schreindler thinks that the appeal of crochet comes from its history.
“For many people, it reminds them of grandma or someone in their family who always had crocheted doilies around.”
Arina Zelenskya is a college student who recently started crocheting herself.
“Online school is really boring and if I don’t keep my hands busy, then I’ll go on the phone and scroll Instagram and then won’t pay attention to my professor,” says Zelenskya. “So if I keep my hands busy, I can listen to my professor.”
Another reason she started was because she saw a balaclava that she really liked.
“They were handmade and that’s why they were like $300. I was not really ready to pay for that so I thought that I can do it myself.”
She finds that it’s a great way to make clothing that is the perfect fit for your body.
Crochet creations
Not only can you make clothing and accessories to wear, but you can make something a little more cuddly. Carla Gibson has a crochet business called,
Carla Gibson showing off one of her creations. (Kate Otterbein / XFN News)
“Black Sheep Creations”. She makes hats for the winter but also makes plushies to sell locally.
“This year I was selling some of my bees because, on Tiktok, everybody’s been selling these bees like crazy,” says Gibson. “These little eyes are glow in the dark.”
She also makes bunnies, giraffes, lambs, deer, and unicorns.
“You have to just take your time and if you start with cheaper yarn, then you’re not going to feel guilty if it doesn’t look just right. It’s just like muscle memory. You have to keep trying and trying and trying.”
For anyone wanting to start crocheting, Gibson suggests starting out with a scarf or dishcloth because those are the most straightforward.
Comments