I’m curious.

Have you tried learning to crochet, or maybe you have dipped in and out of the craft but never really got into it. You’ve either struggled to control the hook and yarn and feel like the instructions are all over the place or you simple just can’t ‘get it’.

You’re not alone.

There are many people that come into my world who feel exactly the same as you to begin with. There are some that have been really determined to learn and have tried over and over and have thought themselves unteachable. Like Debi, who never thought she would get the hang of crochet after years of trying. She gave my Square a Day Challenge a go and it finally sunk in and worked for her!

Crochet is a craft that has a lot to give. It can bring so much happiness to you and your family. You get the joy of making something and your family gets the joy of receiving something that you have made the time to make them. I still have blankets that my Granny made for me and for my children and I know that they will be cherised for generations to come.

It is also a craft that has some unexpected therapeutic benefits. You can ask anyone who has crocheted for years and I will guarantee that almost all of them will tell you that crochet is what keeps them sane. It is a wonderful stress reliever, and one that has you feeling productive at the same time.

So how do you feel the calm that crochet brings?

First step is to get the hang of some basic stitches. Don’t focus on making a project when you’re just starting out. Focus on feeling comfortable with making a chain and a basic stitch. When you can make these stitches, no matter how slowly, but without thinking too much about what you’re doing, then you’ll know that you’re ready to embark on a project that is designed to calm you.

The humble old granny square has been around for a really long time. And there is a reason for this. It is a simple stitch design that once you get familiar with it you’ll be able to do without too much thinking. It uses double crochet and chains, some of the simple basic stitches. And you’re always working into a chain space and not into a stitch. It is projects like the granny square that allow you to just let go and focus on the rhthym of your hook and your yarn that is what makes it calming. Not too much thinking, not too much focus. You can just let go.

Whenever someone starts the Square a Day Challenge we start with the traditional granny square. It reminds those with more experience that there is joy in the simple and it allows those with less experience to pick up crochet squares more quickly.

As you build more experience you can start to embark on some trickier projects that are still calming. For me, it is any project that does not require too much counting and does not require frequent colour changes. Special stitches are ok and combinations of stitches are ok. It comes down to having an easy pattern repeat that allows me to just focus on making. It is not calming if I need to continuously refer back to a pattern. That is ok to begin with, but after a few rows or rounds I prefer to just be able to make it without too much concentration.

If your current experience level is what is holding you back from feeling the calm then I encourage you to give my Square a Day Challenge a try. You can take it at your own pace and the dedicated hub has everything you need to ensure that you succeed. Plus you get access to me in a private facebook group so I can help you out with the squares that you’re making.

If you’re more experienced but not feeling the calm it can bring, then I encourage you to go back to basics. Give a traditional granny square a go or find a pattern with a simple pattern repeat that will take you back to some more basic crochet. All the patterns that I publish are ones that are calming to make. If I did not enjoy making them then I simply do not publish. There are plenty of washcloths that you can try that can help you figure out what stitches you enjoy most. There is also my Hooked on Crochet Club which gives you new projects and new things to try every single month. It helps you to discover more crochet projects that will become your new favourites!

And what ever your project, make sure that the yarn is one that is a pleasure to work with! You don’t want to be struggling with one that is stiff and scratchy or one that splits too easily. Play around with different ones and avoid the ones that cause you to get frustrated!

More than anything else. Experiment. Try new things. Figure out what you enjoy making and what you don’t. Make time for your craft as often as possible. The more that you practice the easier that everything crochet becomes. Find someone that can help you achieve that. The Hooked on Crochet Club is an excellent resource that is designed exactly for that. Everyone that has been a member and gave it at least a few months can tell you that it has helped them with all things crochet related.

What step will you take now to work towards feeling the calm that crochet brings?

Seona x