Becoming a Self-Taught Crafter
About me:
Hi, my name is Leila and I have had the pleasure of doing some work experience at Lark. I am 16, about to start college in September and have always had a passion for all things crafty.
I first started doing a lot of drawing and illustration, I even got the opportunity to do a piece of street art in a lane of my local area! I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to try out the beautiful crafts of leatherwork, woodwork and metalwork at my school, which I enjoyed greatly, but what really inspired me was getting to learn sewing and silversmithing. I was able to create my very own pieces to fit me exactly and suit my very own sense of style; that’s the beauty of crafting, you get to make something utterly unique. I’m still able to carry on sewing at home and love making tops and trousers.
Although I had guidance here and there, what gave me confidence was working independently and solving problems on my feet. I then knew I could try new things knowing I was capable of them.
How to Start Crochet:
Starting a new craft on your own can seem daunting, but once you get over the initial hump of working out the basics, it can open you up to thousands of possibilities to make anything you would like.
What introduced me to crochet was seeing many videos of people’s creations on social media. Using stunning stitches and colours to create a garment. I started following crocheters, gaining more and more interest over time. I asked a friend to teach me a basic stitch (single crochet) and after that I have carried on independently ever since.
Here are a few things that helped me along the way and can help you become your very own self-taught crafter
YouTube Tutorials:
A prominent guide in this had been watching YouTube tutorials. I am a visual learner, so being able to watch someone demonstrate the steps along the way was extremely helpful. I highly recommend this to beginners; however, it can be tricky to know who is the most reliable. Here are some crochet tutorial accounts I recommend:
@simplydaisy
Daisy has a brilliant YouTube account for people looking to learn the basic stitches. She has a playlist in her account for absolute beginners and she shows you how to do a slipknot, hold the crochet hook, chain stitch, single crochet and weave in your ends. It is very clear and slow, meaning it is easy to follow. Here is the link to the playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAxGTnVNJiE&list=PLu8-BXDggCu8z0bJ1dBiEG5t5oLIJz6A3
@lilthing @craftingwithcaylene
These 2 accounts are perfect for approachable beginner projects that use less yarn. Their tutorials are easy to follow, and they show you how to make things like coasters, small drawstring bags, pouches and more!
@anna-greene
Anna Greene is a great crochet tutorial account for lots of summer tops. You may want to do a few small projects before making one of these tops, but once I had done some practice it is an account I enjoy using for my projects!
@LarkDesignMake
The official Lark Design Make YouTube account has many great craft videos to follow along to including macramé, sewing, craft kit tutorials (craft kits are available to buy from Lark), and CROCHET!! Gemma talks you through important skills of crochet including increasing or decreasing your stitch count, changing yarn mid row and treble and double treble crochet!
Finding Inspiration:
I love Pinterest because it shows you photos with a similar style to ones you have already saved, and you can make mood boards of crochet pieces you love!
I love Pinterest because it shows you photos with a similar style to ones you have already saved, and you can make mood boards of crochet pieces you love!
@kens.crochet
I like @kens.crochet’s account because I like the use of rich, jewel colours like dark red, dark purple and grey blue. Ranging from jumpers to soft toys to sweater vests.
@stufficrochet
@stufficrochet follows a similar style with her pieces, all of them fitting very well. She makes summer tops using mesh stitches and stitches to form the shape of flowers in the gaps.
@nightmoon.studio
@nightmoonstudio focuses mainly on jumpers (with and without sleeves) and cardigans. I love her use of intricate stitching.
@bybelina
I love Belina’s use of summery colours. She makes a lot of shrugs but with an original spin on them, inspiring me to make my very own following her tutorial on YouTube.
I hope this newsletter can inspire you to take up crocheting. It can seem intimidating but the most important part of starting is the confidence that you can do it. Once you have learned a few stitches and basic techniques, there is nothing stopping you from making whatever you would like!
Here at Lark Design studio there are crochet classes for you to come along to if you feel some guidance would help you along your journey. If you are looking for affordable yarns with a range of colours and fibers, Lark is the perfect place to get them from! . Happy crocheting!