Happy early Valentine's Day! In case you were wondering if I'm single or not, today I'll be writing about how I like spending my evenings crocheting and watching Community.
In mid-2023, I bought a beginner's amigurumi crochet kit from The Woobles on a whim. Amigurumi is a Japanese crochet style that involves creating stuffed yarn figurines. As a picky shopper, I've always wanted to create my own clothing pieces, so I figured crochet would be a place to start. Now, half a year later, I still haven't crocheted any finished garments, but I have grown to love and cherish the craft. It's become a staple part of my evening unwinding routine.
Here are some projects I've worked on:
Penguin
Warawara from The Boy and the Heron
Oversized scarf (in progress)
I'm no virtuoso, but I have a lot of fun! As much as I love my fast-paced, chaotic life, I can get burned out if I don't take out intentional time to slow down and be alone. Crocheting inherently requires an eye for details, making sure a stitch isn't missed. Now that I've become comfortable with a few different types of stitches, counting those stitches has become a meditative process for me. Crocheting gets me out of my mind and into my body, specifically my fingers.
It also feels so exciting and rewarding to be a complete beginner at something again. Although I'm always trying to clean up my stitches and create a more polished piece, I don't worry much if I mess something up (see the wonky belly placement on my penguin). I have no desire to sell anything I create, so my usual perfectionist tendencies haven't infiltrated my crocheting hobby. I think it's important for people to have at least one hobby or passion that they have no intention of monetizing. Although I am still so energized by my writing and my music, I've shifted into considering them "careers" rather than "hobbies." So it's nice to have something tactile to return to when I get stressed out!
My favorite way to crochet is after dinner, at the end of a long day. I'll curl up in a blanket and turn on the TV, maybe heat up some tea if I want to embrace the cozy energy of winter. Lately I've been watching Community. I love the dry, crass humor and endearing characters. Troy and Abed's friendship especially is such a gem. It's the perfect sweet, wind-down show. I have been going to bed in a really great mood for the past few weeks.
Although I have a long way to go, I would one day love to crochet high-quality pieces that I could gift to my friends and loved ones. There's something so special about receiving a present that someone has poured so much time, energy, and love into. The first creation I ever gifted was the Woobles shark, which is also the first crochet piece I've ever made. It sucked. I told my friend he could use it as a dog toy if he wanted (although maybe that wouldn't be safe, with the safety eyes and all). I also gave away two of the Warawara to my work friends. I hope to create and give away many more!
Do you like to crochet? What are your favorite cozy hobbies? Let me know in the comments!
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