It’s just a simple fact: you’ll always be a beginner, no matter how many years you’ve been crocheting. You want to know why? It’s because there will always be something new to learn. There will always be something you haven’t tried or seen yet.
Look at me for example. I’ve been crocheting for 3 decades and yet I have never learned tapestry crochet. Haven’t tried Tunisian crochet. Never crocheted a blanket before. So even though I can make lovely dolls, I am a total beginner when it comes to certain things. So what am I? A beginner cause I’ve never made a blanket before or am I an expert because I design crochet patterns? I’m neither an expert or a beginner. I’m just a crochet fanatic. And if you are too, do not label yourself as a beginner or expert. You’ll will always be able to learn something new so you will always be a beginner and expert, no matter how many years you’ve been doing this. And since I really don’t like labeling people in any way, I most definitely will not call you or myself a beginner or expert.
Call someone an expert and it goes to their head. Then they’re surprised and upset when a doll goes wrong or when they don’t get a certain technique at first try.
Call someone a beginner and it lowers themself to a self pitying level where they believe they can’t do something because they’re a “beginner”. They end up with no confidence and aren’t willing to try more complicated patterns.
When it comes to me, I ALWAYS, really ALWAYS reply when a customer sends me a question about my pattern(s). It’s the least that I can do for someone who is willing to pay for my patterns. As soon as I see the message I reply. The only time people might have to wait a couple of hours for an answer is when I’m asleep, in church, driving, teaching crochet lessons in school or swimming. Any other time I always answer immediately. Well, almost any other time. I won’t reply when I’m the bathroom obviously 😂😂😂. Anyway, I reply fast. I hate waiting myself and so I don’t make others wait either.
I’m not gonna drag other designers through the mud. We know some designers won’t answer or answer very late. But we don’t know their circumstances. Some might be having a difficult time or are swamped in work trying to provide for their families making it impossible to answer questions constantly. So I am definitely not judging any of them.
As for myself, I just haaaaaate waiting. My kids tell me I must be allergic to waiting 😂😂😂. Making my customers wait makes me nervous. I always think what if this person is trying to get the doll done on time for a birthday or some other event. I don’t want to be the reason some kid out there didn’t get a doll on time because of me being slow with answering. So I answer fast.
Even if it takes 2 hours or 2 days to explain things, I don’t mind. I once spend days constantly replying to someone because she needed help. And guess what… It was so worth my time. This person was sooooooo happy with the result. That’s what matters the most! ☺☺☺
I see it over and over. People see a crochet project and reply things like “oh this is so pretty but I could never do that myself”. Why???? You haven’t tried yet and already lower yourself to such a level 😳😳😳 Don’t do that. You can do anything. Trust me, you can.
Read this carefully: YOU CAN MAKE IT IF YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO IT. CROCHET & AMIGURUMI IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE! You are far better than you think. Magic happens when you put your mind to something 😁❤❤❤❤❤
If from before you even start you say you can’t do it, well then you will fail miserably. It’s not your skills, it’s not the pattern, it’s not the hook. It’s your mindset.
If you tell yourself you can and will do this, then you will get there. So don’t give up before you’ve even started.
Then there’s those who claim they’re too much of a beginner to attempt a beautiful doll. That’s nonsense. Whoever convinced you beginners can’t make beautiful things is completely wrong. I’ve had several customers already who say they are total beginners, send me pictures of their very first amigurumi doll. They had made it with one of my patterns. Those dolls looked like they had been made by someone who had been crocheting for decades! I would post a picture of those here, but I’ll need to ask the owner’s permission first of course. If you are one of those customers, feel free to add your picture(s) in the comments section below. If you don’t know how to do that, you can also have me add it for you. You can send your picture (with text if you want that) to: [email protected]
It’s a fact that when you use the wrong hook size, things will go wrong. I have been crocheting for about 3 decades. But if I use the wrong hook, it’s gonna look UGLY. Ever tried to run in shoes that were too big? Doesn’t work does it? You’ll probably end up on your teeth. Crocheting with a hook size too big (or too small) is basically the same. I have a whole article about choosing the right hook size. Click here to read that article.
That happens to everyone. So don’t worry if you need to try 3 times or even more. There have been times where I had to start over 8 times. So yep, it really does happen to everyone. This is one of those times where you get to be as stubborn as a donkey. Don’t give up, try again! If necessary give it a break for a day and try again tomorrow. You’ll get there and when you do, it will be soooooo rewarding.
It’s a bit like learning to drive a car. Things usually don’t go well the first day or even the first week. But once you are used to driving a car, you’ll be so much better at it. You’ll still stall your car a couple of times in the beginning (or like me stall it 8 x in the first half an hour 😬😬😬) but soon you’ll be great at it. It will comes as second nature to you. It’s the same with crochet. You’re gonna mess up in the beginning but you will get there. Just keep trying.
Do you want to be able to make it? If so, go ahead. Prepare for battle with your mind and hook 😄
Now i’ll be serious for a moment. If you’ve been crocheting for only a while and get a pattern that says it’s for advanced, don’t let that scare you. It’s just an overused term for “you might struggle a bit but you can do this one”. As a designer I would never use that “advanced” term. Why scare away customers. Just make yourself available for when they are at war with a row from the pattern… Sure, some customers do need a bit more of my customer service time. Some need hours. And some are back the very next day with the same problem. And then I help them again. Sometimes I even make a very slow video of what it is that they need to try. Once in a while just a different way of explaining the row is enough.
My suggestion is, get that pattern you really want. Even if it says advanced. Try first and if that doesn’t work, ask the designer. Or look it up on YouTube. There’s an amazing amount of information about crochet terms and techniques on there. Or if the designer has a Facebook group, try there. You can bet other people in that group will have used that same “advanced” pattern and will know what to do. But don’t go posting a picture of that pattern there. That’s against copyright laws and it could get you in trouble. Just post only that row you have a problem with. It wouldn’t hurt to mention how many stitches the previous row has. And mention which pattern it is.
If you use one of my patterns and want to ask me about it in Facebook messenger, email, Whatsapp chat (click on the Whatsapp icon in the righthand corner of the screen of this website to reach me by Whatsapp), then please do send me a picture of what you have made so far. This helps me see where the problem lies.
Was born in Belgium but moved to Indonesia as a child. Have been living here ever since. I absolutely LOVE crochet and knitting. I made this blog to help others get to the same level as me. And to make sure people have a place to come to with questions. Even the very beginner questions. Go ahead and ask me!
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