Crochet Era, Day One: Just Chains

Want to hear something random?

I’m picking up a new hobby, and it’s… crocheting.

Last week, I bought some beginner crochet kits: two milk cotton yarns (5-ply) in sage and lilac, a crochet hook, thread scissors, a pack of locking stitch markers, and a set of tapestry needles. The package took around two days to ship, which gave me plenty of time to daydream about all the things I wanted to crochet.

(In my mind, I had already made hundreds of tote bags, thousands of amigurumi keychains, and dozens of pretty cardholders. My imaginary shop was thriving.)

But I knew my limits. I wasn’t even familiar with sewing, let alone crocheting. So I started simple: my first day was all about learning how to make a chain.

And honestly? This early stage almost stressed me out.

What I found difficult at first:

1. Keeping the yarn from slipping off the hook; and

2. Seamlessly pulling the yarn through the slip knot.

After a few failed attempts, I finally got the hang of it (well, a little) by wrapping the longer strand around my little and index fingers. After some hooking and pulling, I managed to make a few decent-looking chains—though the tension was still hilariously inconsistent. Some were tight enough to strum like a guitar string, while others were loose enough to make a tiny hula hoop for my hook.

I don’t think I’m ready for the next step just yet. My imaginary shop will have to stay imaginary for a little while longer. In the meantime, give me a few more days to practice. I promise my chains will come back stronger than—at least—a TikTok trend.

If you like this post, you might also enjoy For the Love of Plants and My Biggest Flex: Being an Active Member of a Library.

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