Recently, I've been getting into crocheting through watching YouTube tutorials. Learning how to crochet has always been something I've wanted to do, because of how many items you can make: scarves, hats, sweaters, stuffed toys, and so much more! Outside of my online classes, I felt like I needed to pick up a new hobby, just to keep myself busy when my mind was idle. Crocheting has been the perfect activity to pick up, and here are some reasons why you should too!

green scissors besides knitting sticks Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

It's cost effective!

If you're wondering how expensive it is to start crocheting, it actually is not very costly. The two essential supplies you need to crochet are a crochet hook and yarn. Other supplies such as scissors, stitch markers, and measuring tape may be needed as well, depending on your project. A set of crochet hooks costs an average of $8. The price of yarn differs depending on the type of yarn you want to use. Smoother yarns provide a clean drape and are ideal for clothing projects. These blends—including bamboo, silk, or angora—are more on the expensive side, averaging about $9 a skein. The smoother yarns, although more expensive and difficult to care for, are smoother to work with due to their "slippery" texture. Cheaper options are cotton and wool yarns, which are about $4 a skein. Cotton yarn is lighter in weight and is easily washable in the washing machine. Wool yarn must be hand washed but is ideal for warmer projects such as gloves and scarves. Acrylic yarn, a multi-purpose yarn, is the cheapest option, averaging to about $2 a skein. Although not the softest, it is durable and easily washable, and it comes in a variety of different colors—from bright neons to muted neutrals. Additionally, there are hundreds of crocheting tutorials available online for free. I personally learned through watching YouTube videos, so as long as you have a device and internet (which I assume you have since you are reading this article), you will be able to learn easily!

stop-motion pig GIF by Philippa RiceGiphy

Make cozy gifts!

The holidays are coming up, and the best way to celebrate is to spend time with your family and friends. However, due to the pandemic, this option may not be available for many of us, and so the second best option is to send gifts to those we love! You can make a large variety of gift items simply with a crochet hook and yarn. My first crochet project was to make a scarf because they are essentially just very long rectangular pieces. This makes the pattern extremely easy and mindless. During lectures, I would work on crocheting the scarf, but because the process is so simple, I was still able to pay attention to the lecture while mindlessly crocheting away. If you have never crocheted before in your life, I highly recommend starting with a simple scarf to help your fingers get used to the movement. Soon enough, you will develop muscle memory for the crocheting pattern, which speeds up the process in general. The repetitive pattern also helped me improve the quality of my stitches; for example, after crocheting a few inches of scarf, I noticed how my stitches began to become more evenly spaced. Besides a scarf, you can crochet projects such as hats, gloves, tops, toys and decorations, coasters and placemats, pillow cases, and blankets—all of which make great gifts!

happy birthday GIF by PhoenixpenGiphy

The health benefits!

Those who have crocheted before can attest to this—crocheting definitely calms your nerves and betters your mental health. It's a relaxing craft, and the best part is that you know you are doing something productive. Aside from my first-hand experience, there has also been research done on the health benefits of yarn crafts such as crocheting and knitting. In a 2011 study at the Mayo Clinic, researchers found that in a test group of people aged 70 to 89 years, crocheting reduced the chance of developing mild cognitive impairment and memory loss by up to 50%. There has also been evidence that repetition of yarn crafts releases serotonin, relieving depressive symptoms; in a study published by The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 81% of respondents with depression reported feeling happy after knitting. While crocheting or knitting, it is common to count how many stitches and rounds you have completed. This counting is shown to be productive for those suffering from anxiety and eating disorders. In fact, a study from the Craft Yarn Council revealed that about 75% of women with anorexia found that knitting reduced their anxiety.

Those are my reasons for getting into crocheting! I hope this inspires you to try it out for yourself and make some cute and cozy projects!