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This Online Group Is Dedicated To The Art Of Crocheting, And Here Are 108 Of Their Best Projects

Jul 23, 2021 admin

There was a time when I was so inspired by my grandmother’s knitting that I decided to give it a shot and follow in her footsteps. I was going to become a crochet grandmaster and I’d never have to buy a scarf or a pair of socks ever again! After all, I’d make the coolest patterns this side of the Atlantic and everyone would be super jealous. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that I quickly gave up my lofty aspirations when I realized just how bad at everything I really was. And, sadly, I wasn’t willing to put in the time and effort to get better.

However, what stayed with me is my admiration for anyone who can crochet, knit, or sew something incredibly well. It’s not just the aesthetics but also the dedication to the craft that wins over my heart. Luckily for me (and for quite a few of you Pandas), there’s a lot of support online for anyone interested in learning how to make stunning designs. One of these online communities is r/crochet, a subreddit that’s home to nearly 257k people who love the art of crochet.

We’ve collected some of the finest projects featured by the r/crochet community for you to enjoy, dear Pandas, so go on, grab a piece of yarn and wind your way down into the magical realm of cat sofas, crochet animals and handmade clothes, and more. We know these photos will hook you right from the get-go.

One of the friendly moderators at r/crochet was kind enough to answer some of my questions about the community and the craft. "We pride ourselves on maintaining a kind and helpful sub that is welcoming to crocheters of all skill levels and experience," they told Bored Panda. You'll find the full interview about the pros and challenges of crochet below.

#1 Fiiiinally Finished This Sunset-Colored Cat Blanket!! Thank You So Much To This Community For Helping Me Along The Way!!

Image credits: savannahstitches

#2 An Artist Crochetted A Lady And Her Dog

Image credits: moneeo

#3 My Friend Loves Flowers And The Color Yellow So I Made This Hat. How’d I Do?

Image credits: blbrna

The moderator from r/crochet shared with Bored Panda that the story of how the subreddit was founded is actually shrouded in mystery. "No one currently on the moderation team knows how the sub began in 2008," they said.

I was curious to learn about the link between crochet, knitting, and sewing, as well as just how beginner-friendly the former really is, overall. "Crochet is definitely the most beginner-friendly between crochet, knitting, and sewing. This is because, in part, it’s the easiest to rip apart (called frogging) and go back to fix a mistake," the moderator told Bored Panda that one of the biggest upsides of crochet is the ability to start over if you feel like you've messed up a tad.

It's not without its challenges, however. "Most beginners often find difficulty in knowing where to place the hook in each stitch and figuring out how to coordinate holding the yarn, hook, and work all at the same time!"

#4 It Nearly Cost Me My Sanity, But My Scale Dress Is Finally Complete!

Image credits: Zahai

#5 Xenomorph Crochet Full Body Costume! My Son's Choice! He Glows! (Freehanded/No Pattern)

Image credits: Crochetverse

#6 This Blanket Pulled Me In Like Nothing Else - I Finished It In Just 8 Days And Can't Believe I Made It!

Image credits: koukkuunkoukussa

As for how similar crochet, knitting, and sewing are, the mod noted that there's some crossover with knitting. "They’re both yarn crafts that create fabric. Other similarities include knowing how to count stitches and read written patterns. There is no real crossover with sewing, except perhaps that advanced sewers may have an advantage in understanding how garments drape and fit," they were kind enough to explain to me.

Though you'll have to put in the time and effort to get good at crochet, it's actually a very easy activity to pick up and be on your merry way into the land of yarn. "Learning to crochet, like everything else, has a learning curve! Luckily, it’s pretty easy to get started—all you really need is a hook and a skein of yarn," the mod said.

Like with most things, the internet holds a wealth of information that's useful for anyone just starting out. "Most people find it easiest to learn from YouTube videos, and they are a fantastic resource for learning new stitches and patterns. There are also some wonderful books out there that can teach every conceivable stitch—you want to look for something called a 'crochet stitch dictionary' or similar. Other than that, have fun and don’t be afraid to experiment! And of course, visit the sub for help or advice!"

#7 Ladies In My Village In Southern Spain Crochet And Hang These Over This Street

Image credits: Sylocule

#8 I'm So Proud Of These But It's 100° Out

Image credits: bairose

#9 You Asked To See How It Looks On... This Is It... For Those Who Asked For The Patern, I Didn't Use One... I Made It By Looking At A Picture And Trying To Recreate It

Image credits: CoolingSun

The r/crochet subreddit was founded way back in the September of 2008. Since then, it has become an important part of Reddit’s social fabric. Here at Bored Panda, we’re big fans of people sharing their artistic skills with the world. And even though crochet and knitting might seem incredibly similar to one another from an outsider’s perspective, the fact is, they’re not exact synonyms for one another. (Though, of course, there is quite some overlap!)

Roxanna Coldiron explains in a piece on ‘Martha Stewart’ that crochet and knitting are both methods of stitching together yarn. However, the styles differ. “In knitting, the stitches form a ‘V’ shape. In crochet, the stitches are more like knots,” she writes.

#10 Finally Finished My Sunflower Blanket After About 3 Years... Simply Sunburst Granny Squares With A Flat Braid Join

Image credits: 1ppikiokami

#11 I Made My Dogs Broccoli Hats

Image credits: sookpit

#12 I Made A Giant Mushroom Pillow For My Apartment!

Image credits: lavendiere

The tools of the trade are also slightly different. “Knitting uses a pair of long needles to form the loops, moving a set of loops from one needle to another; the stitches are held on the needle. Crochet uses a single hook to hook the loops together directly on the piece. It is this major difference that makes crochet much easier to work with than knitting,” Coldiron points out.

It’s this fact that crochet is easier to work with that makes it perfect for someone who’s new to yarn-work (or rather yarn-art) as a whole.

#13 Finally Finished My First Ever Wearable, A Granny Square Cardigan!

Image credits: modorrito

#14 Finished This Bad Boy Tonight! Absolutely Adore How Gorgeous It Looks!

Image credits: topcatnikki

#15 Wanted To Challenge Myself And See If I Could Crochet A Dress. Here Is The Result

Image credits: Abigail_N

According to Coldiron, crochet is fairly straightforward, easy enough to pick up as a self-taught hobby, and doesn’t rely so much on a wide range of tools and techniques. The limits are then your imagination and patience. And with how imaginative you Pandas are, I don’t see you running out of inspiration any time soon.

#16 I Crocheted A Cheeseburger And My Cat Loves It So Much

Image credits: baistei

#17 Sometimes The Most Basic Pattern Can Be Surprisingly Effective

Image credits: yarn_over

#18 I Made My Old Girl A Sofa, To People Watch From

Image credits: CoughInNine

However, knitting appears to be a step up in terms of technique, at least according to Coldiron. “The great benefit of knitting is that, it supports sophisticated designs in intermediate to advanced stages. Some projects combine techniques—such as our shawl in stockinette stitch and embellished with a crochet trim. And you could always consider Tunisian crochet, which many consider to be the best of both techniques,” she points out that there really are no limits. So feel free to dip into crochet, knitting, sewing, and anything else for your next project!