How I Became a Hooker

I am proudly a member of Etsy's CreateCrochet Team and we have started doing a weekly blog question. This week's question: How did you get started crocheting?

I'm going to make a confession. I haven't been hooking very long. You could actually say I'm rather new at it. My journey into needlecraft began around Christmas of 2008. I was working at a bazaar selling my photography and brought along a friend to keep me company. She in turn brought some crocheting to keep her busy. I was fascinated but I hated the idea of having to count stitches. Still, I wanted to buy pretty yarn and turn into something useable. I asked my mom for needles and a book on how to knit for Christmas. She got me several and I sat down and taught myself to knit.

I was instantly hooked on needlecraft. As the year progressed, so did my desire to learn to crochet. So this last Christmas, my sweet husband bought me a book on how to crochet. It was trying at first. I didn't think I was going to get it. I understood the concept but was having trouble translating that to the yarn. I couldn't get my fingers to work right. On top of it all, I was learning right-handed and I am left-handed.

I shared my frustrations with a friend who, lo and behold, crocheted! She quickly figured out my problem. I was usinga VERY small hook. She loaned me an array of bigger hooks and within the week I'd made two hats and a scarf. At that point, I was beyond hooked. I was addicted.

That was January. Now, in May, I have an Etsy Shop and have crocheted around forty purses, countless hats, scarves and other accessories. I have purses being sold in two boutiques in VA and have sent my products as far as Australia. What was just a desire to learn has turned into quite a nice little business. I even have dreams of replacing my husband's income.

While I don't have a sweet story about a grandmother lovingly teaching me stitches, one of my favorite things about crocheting is the connectedness I feel with history. Every time I pick up my hook and begin to stitch, I think of how many women through history have done just exactly that. It is akin to the feeling I get when kneading bread dough and planting corn. A piece of the past, alive in me. One I hope to pass on to each of my children.