Crochet: A Hobby of Mine

A crochet work in progress

Why do I crochet?

My name is Sydney Santacruz, and crocheting is a hobby of mine. Crocheting is probably the most relaxing activity I enjoy, aside from cross-stitching. I think crocheting might be the more satisfying activity, however, simply due to the fact that the final result is usually something useful. Aside from the relaxing aspect, I love planning projects and picking out yarn, I like curling up in new blankets that I spent my time creating, and I like feeling productive when I'm avoiding being productive in more important areas.

What is it used for?

Crochet can be used to create blankets, shirts, shawls, socks, hats, bags, and more. Some items are more suited to being knitted instead of crocheted - such as clothing items - but anything that one would want to be more lightweight may be made with crochet. I am partial to making blankets and bags, preferably with the cheapest materials I can find.

How is it done?

Simply put, crocheting is basically almost-knotting some thread or yarn over and over until you have a substantial piece of fabric. These "almost-knots" are formed by sticking your hook through a hole in your fabric, then wrapping and pulling some yarn through it. Variations of this process create different types of crochet stitches, which create fabrics with different textures, thicknesses, and patterns.
A step-by-step image of the basic single crochet stitch is shown below:
Step-by-step single crochet

What do you need to get started?

  1. A pattern (Decide on this first)
  2. A crochet hook
  3. Some yarn
  4. Scissors (or something similar)
  5. Time
That's it! Patterns can be found (free, rent, or purchase) by doing a quick Google search or by visiting www.ravelry.com and downloading patterns straight to a device. Some people might prefer to rent or buy pattern books, which is a good option for those who want to avoid keeping a device open while working on a project.

Visit the Patterns page to view some of my favorite patterns.

Visit the Inspiration page to check out some nice color combinations and beautiful works of (crocheted) art!