By Becky Stahl
My crochet people are mostly online. I have a TikTok channel where I talk about crochet, and I've met some wonderful people through it. I always look forward to their comments about what they're doing and to hearing their advice for problems that we crocheters face.
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It's sad that we all live so far away from each other, but I think it's amazing that we can use technology to connect over a craft we love. The crochet community has been so kind to me.
I know I should do a better job of going to local crochet groups. I signed up for one last year on Facebook, and still haven't gone. It's hard for me to give up my precious Saturday off.
Craft Night With My Daughter-in-Law
I tend to shop at big-box stores like Michael's and Hobby Lobby, or at an online retailer. There are yarn shops here in the Phoenix area that I need to visit. I also need to save a lot of money before I go, because I know I want to spend every dime I have on yarn.
Just talking about it makes me want to grab my purse and run to one.
A few months ago, I went to a craft night at a local coffee shop with my daughter-in-law. People could bring whatever craft they were working on and socialize. Victoria brought her cross-stitch, and I brought my crochet.
We sat next to two very nice women, one who crocheted and one who made jewelry. We had a great time and stayed until the event was over.
Unfortunately, that coffee shop does not hold craft night very often, so we haven't gone back. I'm excited that I have my daughter-in-law in the family because she loves all things crafty, and she crochets. It makes my heart happy to see young people getting involved with crochet work.
The Quilt Tying Party I Never Went Back To
In the past, I've gone to meetups that haven't gone well. I've felt judged and looked down upon by other women, so I'm a little skittish about going sometimes.
I once went to a quilt tying party, and after some guests left, the people in charge ripped out their stitches and redid them because they didn't think they were good enough. That made me so sad; I never went back. I hate it when women aren't supportive of other women, or people in general.
We should all celebrate our differences and abilities, even if someone's stitches aren't exactly where we would've put them.
The Yarn Shop Worker Who Stopped Talking to Me
I have been on the wrong end of snobbery before. I went to a yarn shop once and was talking to the woman who worked there and when she found out I was a crocheter, she hardly talked to me anymore.
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I guess that shop was geared more toward knitters. It made me feel bad. It's so silly really.
Why judge someone based on the craft they do? How silly and petty is that?
Preemie Blankets and Two Tiny Grandchildren
I've made a few things for charity, including blankets for preemies in hospitals. That's so close to my heart. My son was a preemie, and my twin grandchildren were micrograms, weighing 1 pound each when they were born in 2020.
My son is 6'3 and 23 years old and doing great! The twins have had some health challenges, but are doing wonderfully well. They are in 1st grade.
I read about a group in Phoenix that turns plastic shopping bags into strips, and they crochet mats for people experiencing homelessness. I'd love to get involved with something like that.
I think community is so important to all of us, especially in this digital age. It's so easy to stay home, look online, and not interact with people in person. I speak from experience because I struggle with this.
I'm very shy in groups, and it's hard for me to put myself out there.
But I think I should keep trying; there are a lot of kind, wonderful people out there that we can learn from and be friends with. I might even make that crochet group one Saturday; I'll report back if I do.
A Coworker Who Gets My Love of Yarn
Crocheting alone is great, but it's so much better to have other people to talk to, share our ideas and thoughts, and talk about yarn. I have a coworker now who crochets. It's so nice to have someone to talk to who gets me!
She understands what it's like to want yarn & to love patterns!
Community is so important for crocheters. If I couldn't interact with other crocheters, I'd still crochet, but I'd be very sad.
