First 3 Months of Crochet - A Progress Update

How it all began: gifting turtles

My first-ever crochet project was two big amigurumi turtles, made as gifts for a close friend's baby sons. I matched the turtles' eyes to the babies’ so, like them, the turtles would be "brothers." I used a YouTube tutorial and some jumbo chenille yarn, which worked up quickly.

The process felt surprisingly soothing, and I got hooked (pun intended) pretty instantly. I was really happy with how the turtles turned out, although I did redo one head because I wasn’t satisfied with my first attempt. Both turtles, from finding the yarn and tutorial to wrapping them up, took about a week of on-and-off crochet.

Wearables: wins and fails

After that, I started looking into what else could be made with hooks and yarn. I experimented with different fibers and even attempted a freehand top. Big mistake - it looked like something a five-year-old would make and then cry about you not wearing to work. In hindsight, this was way too ambitious as a second-ever project, but it did teach me a lot.

For anyone curious about getting into crochet, I would recommend testing different yarns - you can find bundles on Vinted or at the thrift store for practically nothing. I would also focus on mastering single and double crochet stitches, increases, and decreases. With just those, you can already make a surprising number of projects, including some wearables.

I believe I attempted this top week 2 of starting crochet. A very bold move…

Why baby clothes & plushies are the best

When I learn a new skill, my main motivation is usually making gifts for the people I love. In this specific case, my timing was spot on as several of my close friends have recently announced pregnancies!

Let me tell you, so far nothing has brought me quite as much immediate (or almost immediate) satisfaction as baby clothes and soft toys. Here’s why:

• They work up fast since they’re small

• They’re adorable, and you can play with colors and textures

• Plushies and amigurumi feel personal and nostalgic (also, baby toys are so expensive - making them can actually be worth it)

• Sizing is forgiving - babies grow fast anyway

Finding good amigurumi patterns is easy, but baby clothing patterns that match my taste are a bit trickier. Many of the free ones I’ve found look a little too raw. I prefer a “vintage, handmade luxury” aesthetic - muted colors, interesting textures - not the "quirky, rainbow and butterflies, grandma-made-it" look (which I don’t mind in general, just not what I was going for here).

Buttons have since been added to the bottom. I am so happy with this romper, the bobbles are so cute.

This was such a fun and relaxing project, I definitely recommend amigurumis to start.

Experimenting: the good, the bad & the frogged

Projects #2 and #3 were:

• A bikini top that turned out indecent (we’re talking side, top, and bottom boob - basically a nipple cover at this point)

• A purple bag made with tulip granny squares for a friend’s 30th birthday (I think this granny square pattern is my favourite I have tried so far)

I plan to frog* the bikini top and try again because the yarn was too beautiful to waste.

*It's what you call admitting defeat and unraveling.

Next, I got overconfident (again) and attempted a raglan sweater for my partner. It worked for a bit, but something about the pattern didn’t sit right with me. It just didn’t make sense, so I frogged it (after a solid week of getting angry at it and jeopardising my relationship) and made beanies instead. Unfortunately, my first cream coloured beanie got carried away from me during a particularly painful commute when people flooded out of Farringdon. I immediately remade it, this time in pure wool, and it’s the best-fitting hat I’ve ever owned.

Wearables that actually worked

I finally made two tops that I genuinely love:

• A red reversible vest

• A very chunky teal sweater, which I freehanded - making it my pride and joy

The main reasons why the above were a success basically come down to better supplies, a more comfortable - practiced - technique, going slower and being patient (ugh).

Evidently not a great match with pj bottoms.

Top tips:

• get a row counter, it's like £6

• stitch markers are so useful

• don't rush it and count slowly, you will thank yourself later

• check the fit as you go

• make sure you use the correct yarn!!

• don't be too rigid with your crochet, move your wrist more

• tension is key, once you have practiced enough it will be even and feel more natural. Uneven tension sabotages you from the start.

Works in progress & future plans

Right now, I have a few projects on my hook:

• An interactive toy (first attempt!) for a special one-year-old

  • I need to finish this by end of this week so I am a bit frantic at the moment but super excited!

    • UPDATE: I made it on time, check out the result on my instagram.

• Some little beavers for Canadian babies (I know, but I couldn’t resist)

• A blue vest top for my partner

• Testing Tunisian crochet with Alpaca silk yarn - might turn it into a sweater

And beyond that? The list is endless. I want to make more baby clothes, another plushie, dresses, shorts, bikinis, bags, more technical sweaters - you name it. I’m also thinking of preparing a capsule wardrobe for a summer holiday and incorporating some crochet pieces into it.

I’ll likely do Instagram polls to help me choose designs and colors since I have tons of sketches and ideas pending. I also think I will write an article about my pattern shortlist and favourite designers.

Final thoughts

Crochet has been approachable, satisfying, and surprisingly versatile. I’ve absolutely fallen in love with the process, and I think it’s even teaching me patience - a virtue I’ve always struggled with.

So many cool things to make, and so little time…

Quick Links & Resources

Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. All recommendations are based on items I own, use, and have purchased myself.

• Hooks, stitch markers starter set (looks exactly like the one I got - very cheap but does the job)

• Tunisian crochet hooks (can be used as regular hooks too - my favourites!)

• Chenille yarn I used for the Turtles

• row counter

• Knitting bag my partner got me

• Book I used for the baby romper

• Book I used for the Monkey shape sorter

See how I’m applying my skills to create a full crochet summer capsule wardrobe!

Reflecting on my creative journey has helped me grow - check out how in my creative reflections article.