It’s almost been a year since I’ve picked up a crochet hook and attempted my first project that was completely handmade by moi! It’s rewarding to see all the projects I’ve accomplished and the work I’ve put in over the past year.

When I was much younger, I remember seeing my older sister tackle a crochet scarf and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. See how she worked up projects from nothing but a single hook and acrylic yarn. To me, it was like watching a wizard cast a spell and I wanted to try my luck at it. But, it became evident very quickly that crochet was NOT my forte. So, I stuck to the same scarf pattern that looked botched and eventually, shoved my blue unravelled scarf and hook under my bed for what seemed to be years.

Early project inspiration! 🪡

Last summer, whilst working blue collar, we were given the greenlight by our supervisors that any items we found in abandoned rooms of apartments were fair game to claim. One day, my supervisor came in holding a ton of black cotton yarn and asked if anyone knew how to knit or crochet and wanted to claim the yarn before he threw it out. I don’t know why, but I couldn’t bear to see the gorgeous yarn go to waste; so, I told him I’d take it.

Days later when I was done with my summer job and visiting my childhood home, I asked my father to come to the craft store with me so I could relearn the same craft that once defeated me as a little girl. But this time, something had changed within me. I felt more drive and passion to learn… not just to create. I watched countless videos on basic stitches, and fundamental crochet pieces that would help me build my first project.

I’ve always been a bit ambitious and stubborn, so this time, I knew I was going to finish a project. It was also a great time to learn, as my sister and father’s birthday was coming up and I had just enough money for yarn, but not a gift. So, I had made up my mind to make a gift. Looking back, my first attempts were exactly what you’d think they would look and feel like. I was proud. It wasn’t much outside of an effort, but I knew this time was going to be different. With my focus on learning the patience required to master this skill, crocheting felt like swimming to a fish. I learned quickly and soon enough I began taking on more ambitious projects.

Planning out the perfect autumn aesthetic 🍂

My first completed project took me 3-4 months, and it was a sweater inspired by autumnal aesthetics. (Check out the pics!) The only knowledge I had on making this was a very basic “picture pattern” I found on Pinterest and a youtube tutorial on how to make a granny square. Seemed simple enough - WRONG! I spent 2 of those months just learning how to make a granny square, as I had been making them wrong each time, and trying to understand sizing, weights, and gauges. Who knew crocheting was this complicated and mathematical.

But alas! I had finally finished my first project and it was the most rewarding feeling ever. I’ll never forget finishing the last stitch and crying a bit because of how proud I was.

The final result! So glad I kept going ✨

It’s almost been a year now and seeing my progress has been the greatest feeling in the world. I went from crocheting stiff and itchy hand warmers and scarves, to creating a mock up of my future wedding dress. Funny how much time and patience can instill passion and drive when you’re willing to take a moment to learn.