Hello everyone and welcome back!
Let’s get real today!
I am a self taught crocheted.
My grandmother tried to teach me when I was younger but it never stuck and honestly thought it was a hobby for older people.
What I wouldn’t give to actually go back and learn from her like how she made her amazingly detailed doilies!!
Anyways
A few years ago 2015 to be exact I decided to pick up my hook again and some yarn and bam! Instantly addicted! If you would have told me that I would now have been on business for two years and making OK income from it and now blogging I would’ve laughed!
But it is true and here I am!!
Being self taught there is a lot I learned along the way that I Wish I could’ve told myself when I was just starting out!
So if you are by and new to crochet or thinking of learning how don’t worry and keep reading, I am going to give you a few pointers and boost your confidence!
So here we go!
1. You can make money crocheting!!
Being honest I cannot at this point only rely on my crocheting to pay the bills but it did allow for me to give up my second job and still be Ok!
If I would’ve known sooner that with some hard work I could be making money doing something I love I would’ve! Instead it took a lot of trial and error to get to this point and I’m slowly still learning (especially blogging lol )
2. Listen to your yarn!
I’m still extremely guilty of this but I remember going to the yarn section of my local craft store and picking my yarn based on the simple fact I thought it was pretty or soft!
From there it was mistake after mistake, the label itself tells you so much information that you should listen to!
For example what hook size is best for that yarn. When I started out I thought I could just use whichever size hook I wanted (mostly my H hook was used) but the end result of the product definitely shows if you use the wrong hook!
Another thing that a lot of the labels have are free patterns or websites that you get get free patterns from and a list of all the supplies you need!
Also care instructions are located on the label which help when you want to wash the finished product!
PS: don’t forget you can also order your yarn online you are not limited to the stores you have around you. There are a lot of different styles of yarn out there that a lot of chain stores don’t carry so hit the web and do some searching (I suggest Amazon or Etsy)
3. That’s not right!
Ok so you go onto YouTube to learn to crochet and you try to hold the hook the same way because that’s the “right” way! STOP right there, it is not, hold your hook whichever way is comfortable for You!
I personally hold my hook very weird but it works for me especially since I like to crochet kinda fast especially with blankets.
4. Embrace your inner grandma!
From the beginning I started “collecting” yarn. It was a lot of thinking of things to make and 90% of the time never getting around to doing it!
I ended up with so many different styles, weights, textures, etc and tgen proceeded on to hooks! (I have to thank my boyfriend for a complete set of Clover hooks which I love!)
Anyways….
Once my friends found out I was crocheting the jokes started and my new nickname was grandma. At the beginning I hated it but not that I have a steady business I’m like so what I’m an awesome grandma who makes awesome things!!!
Lastly…..
5. Crochet Everywhere!
Make sure you get yourself a tote, big bag, or make one of my market bags.
The reason for this is so you can bring you WIP with you where ever you go.
Unfortunately for me I cannot crochet while I’m in the car (horrible motion sickness) but there has been plenty of times I Wish I had my yarn with me because I ended up being stick in a waiting room or waiting for someone and I could’ve been getting one of my many WIPs done!
Also don’t be afraid to do it in public, embrace it, yes people may stare, but I find it is usually because they are amazed at how you do it or what to try to figure out what you are making.
Embrace your crochet!!!!!!
I hope these tips help and I plan on posting a few more like this, especially one on blogging since I’m still in the process of figuring it out myself!