Why I Returned to Crocheting
When I was in middle school, my mom, my sister and I took How to Crochet classes at Joann Fabrics. I wasn’t sure what I enjoyed more at the time, learning how to crochet - turning strands of yarn into something pretty - or the abundance of soft peppermints the teacher always gave us. 😂 Following those classes, I crocheted a little bit, but ultimately sought after other things that I enjoyed. After all, I was an emerging teenager and friends were life back then! I didn’t want to be stuck inside with some yarn.
Many years later, after graduating high school and college, I started working at an elementary school as a secretary. This job was so fun, working with extraordinary people and kids every day, and I think being in this environment reopened my creative side! So, reinvigorated with a need to make fun things, I picked up my crochet hook, clicked on a video of how to crochet a duck, and made my first ever plushie! He turned out very wonky and had a lot of faults, but I still keep him and he is near and dear to my heart! I love keeping him on my desk as a reminder of how far I’ve come.
After this little duck was made, I was determined to make better plushies and try a lot of different things (including learning how to read patterns!) At the school, I worked with a wonderful woman who enjoyed all the things cute, pink, and cuddly. While working together, we created a great bond and I really wanted to make a unicorn plushie as an end of the year gift. I stumbled a lot along the way and spent many hours tackling this huge project, but she turned out so adorable, my coworker loved it, and affectionately named her Pickles. 🦄
Pickles was proudly displayed on my coworkers desk, and as I created more gifts for coworkers and family, I received so much support and encouragement to start selling my items. It’s taken some time to find the courage to put myself out there and conquer the inferiority complex. But, I really just want to share my cute creations with others and share the joy of being creative! So I will keep picking up my hooks and yarn and make plushies, and I hope to bring the joy of handmade items into people’s homes!
