I first found crochet when I was going through a hard time. I’d always knitted and found that to be very relaxing. Somehow the craft of crochet kept eluding me. One particularly rough day, in need of distraction, and what I now understand to be a desire for mindfulness, I went to pick out my knitting needles from my hobby box (pictured below) when I spied my Nan’s old crochet hook. It was the metal type and I thought go on, have a go at crochet again. I sat with a crochet book for many hours until eventually, I’d got the hang of it. (These days I’d recommend beginners use the many tutorials available on You Tube. Find the right tutorial for you, because we are all different, and learn in different ways. Or maybe do as I did and grab a good book). I’ve never looked back since, and my poor knitting needles sit neglected.
To say I fell in love with crochet would be an understatement. I’m passionate about crochet and the wonderful community the craft inspires.
Struggling with physical and mental health for a number of years, crochet has been a lifeline at times. I find it therapeutic, wonderfully mindful, relaxing, creative, and productive. I could go on…. Mindfulness and wellbeing are very important to me and I will be incorporating my thoughts on this often.
This humble but astounding and ever inspiring craft has been experiencing a renaissance of late. It has been a bucket list dream of mine to design a pattern.
I started to think, you know what, I think I have something to add to the crochet world. We all have our own unique perspectives and why don’t I add mine?
To be completely open and honest with you, I’d started to feel like a bit of a write off. Because of my health issues I would struggle to gain employment, especially in my previous sector (my previous career was primarily in the field of homelessness). I’m 60 next year and I want to reach that milestone feeling proud of myself, and give my boys and my grandkids someone to be proud of. Although they’d probably say they’re proud of me already because they are fabulous like that!
Starting a crochet business is a wonderfully creative and fulfilling path. For me, crochet isn’t just a hobby; it’s a way to bring warmth, joy, and unique handmade items into the world. It allows for endless possibilities, from cozy blankets and intricate garments to adorable amigurumi and stylish accessories. The satisfaction of turning a simple ball of yarn into something beautiful and tangible is immense, and sharing that with others, through a business, feels like a natural extension of that passion. That said, you won’t see any amigarumi from me, too fiddly for my arthritic fingers! Which reminds me, I will write a post on self-care, avoiding RSI and listening to your body, lessons I’ve learned the hard way!
