It’s six-thirty in the evening, the sunlight which illuminates the grey concrete city you reside in is long gone, leaving behind only the stretch of shadows and the flickering warm glow of street-lamps outside of your bedroom window. By your side you feel the comforting and warm presence of a furry friend, perhaps a cat, as the aroma of your cinnamon candle fills the heavenly ecosystem that is your bed. You are about to press play once again on your annual rewatch of your favourite show when you realise… there's something missing. It’s too early to cement your body in the light caress of a half asleep and half ‘I’m definitely paying attention to this show’ state; yet too late to get any substantial work done (or at least, that's what you tell yourself). Well, I’ve got the perfect solution for you… crochet!

 

I was first introduced to this lovely craft during the heat of the covid pandemic. I saw some cool crochet plushies online and thought, ‘it can’t be that hard right?’; and surprisingly, I was right. Crochet is a hobby with a very low barrier of entry, so if you want to jump into making proper pieces like hats or sweaters, you totally can! That being said there are a few tips I have to pass on to those who wish to incorporate a little fibre arts into their cosy winter evenings:

 - I recommend buying good quality crochet hooks, and if you are not committed enough to buy a full set yet, invest in one or two proper hooks rather than the bendy and squeaky ones off amazon.

 - When it comes to yarn however, starting off with affordable materials is preferable as you want to be able to play around with different stitches and make a few small samples before jumping into a massive project like a sweater.

 - Yarn thickness and colour are also important. For an absolute beginner I would advise a medium or bulky weight yarn of a bright colour so that it is easier to see your stitches.

 - Follow youtube tutorials! As a beginner, finding and following a written pattern could feel a little like trying to read code (though it is incredibly simple when broken down). There are plenty of beginner accessible tutorials on the internet for free so why not make life easier for yourself?

 - And lastly, when picking your first few projects do not underestimate yourself! As long as you find a clear tutorial and you learn a few simple stitches you will be all set and the dopamine from finishing a project you actually like rather than just some coasters will give you the motivation to keep improving

 

For me, crochet has been like therapy. Once I got a handle on all the basic skills, I realised I actually could make anything I wanted, and so I started making myself adorable little floral friends. Inspiration stuck one day and I ended up crocheting an endearing humanoid rock with a flower on its head and two big black eyes. I’m typically a slow crocheter but I made this little friend in one day, without any pattern (sometimes called freeform crochet). A few months later when my skills improved I decided this little guy needed a friend, and so I just made him one. Simple as that, I had become omnipotent and had the power to manifest my thoughts into yarn. As someone who deals with a lot of stress, making these little creatures has acted as a form of art therapy for me, and I just might make a whole army of them with a village for them to live in. 

 

Whether it is the creativity that might draw you to crochet, or simply needing something to let yourself fidget, I strongly believe that if you enter the world of crocheting with an open mind you’ll end up getting sucked in, and those evenings spent rewatching old shows might one day manifest you a warm blanket to keep you and any furry companions warm for the upcoming winter weather.