Crochet culture can be dramatic. One minute you are happily chaining along and the next someone insists you must reach Advanced Level Wizard or your hook will self destruct. Honestly no. Your craft is not an exam, a competition or the Yarn Olympics. It is your personal playground and you get to run it exactly how you want.
So let me open the doors to every crocheter and hand out some honorary reality checks complete with sparkles and a hint of sass.
The Beginner Camp Is Not A Temporary Residence
Some people love being beginners. Some set up a permanent home in Intermediate Land complete with indoor plants and a comfortable sofa. And here is the secret. They are thriving. The crochet universe is overflowing with patterns that never require dramatic stitch acrobatics. You can make breathtaking things without ever whispering the words complex shaping like a bouquet of Medousas made with single crochets.
Advanced skills are lovely but so is peace of mind. Stay where you enjoy it. Your transcript will not be checked.
The Sacred Right To Reject Weird Yarn Gifts
You know the moment. A well meaning friend hands you a ball of yarn that looks like it was designed during an emotional roller coaster. And suddenly you are expected to adore it.
You do not have to adore it. You do not even have to pretend. Your hands deserve yarn you actually love. That is not picky. That is protecting your creative joy.
If neon variegated eyelash yarn has never called your name then you owe it nothing. Rehome it, release it or let it return to the glittery parallel universe it crawled out of.
The WIP Graveyard Is A Place Of Honor
Abandoned projects are not failures. They are simply former ideas that decided to take a different career path. Maybe the color combination betrayed you or the pattern made no sense. Maybe you looked at it one day and thought absolutely not.
Your creativity shifts and so does your mood. Your projects are allowed to shift too. The WIP pile is simply a museum of things that helped you grow even if they never became the final masterpiece.
Ugly Work Deserves Its Own Trophy
There is something sacred about the awkward first attempts. The wobbly swatch, the misshapen granny square or the amigurumi that looks like it is plotting something.
These pieces are your milestones and prove you were brave enough to try. They also become your favorite little relics later because when you compare them with your new work, you suddenly realize oh look at me accidentally improving.
Joyful making is valuable even if the result belongs in a horror comedy. Joy is the value. The rest is decoration.
Acrylic Yarn Appreciation Club Forever
Let me say it loudly: acrylic is fabulous. It comes in more colors than my brain can process. It is soft, durable and machine washable which automatically makes it saintly.
There is zero shame in loving acrylic. Not everyone wants to hand wash their creations like Victorian laundry maids. Some of us simply want our blankets to survive both children and enthusiastic pets.
Not Everyone Will Clap And That Is Not Your Problem
Some people will admire your work. Some will glance at it and say oh nice did that take like an hour. These people mean well but also have no idea that each stitch contains emotional turbulence, minor triumphs, and at least one snack break.
Your pride is enough because only you know the journey behind the yarn. Applause from others is optional. Self celebration is mandatory.
Asking For Help Is A Superpower Not A Weakness
Yes, there are thousands of tutorials online and yes, you can theoretically learn everything from them. But sometimes the brain refuses to cooperate. Sometimes, a video glosses over the exact part you needed. Sometimes the hook magically appears in a different loop and the laws of physics collapse.
Asking another human to show you is perfectly normal. You are not less skilled. You are simply saving yourself from rewinding the same 10 seconds until you start questioning your entire existence.
Epilogue
You may…
Love velvet yarn
Love plush yarn
Love granny square blankets
Love wearables
Love doilies
Love weaving ends
Love your magic ring like the tiny sorcery it is
You also may…
Dislike blocking
Side eye temperature blankets
Run screaming from amigurumis
Groan at starting chains
All preferences are valid and all makers are welcome.
Your craft, your rules.
If your hook is itching for its next adventure, sign up for my newsletter and grab a mystery flower pattern for free. Consider it your bonus level.
Until next bloom,
❤️
Kootsiko
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