I had almost decided I just could not crochet—but then I tried one more time
For a long time, crocheting felt too difficult for me. But then something happened, and my fingers found their rhythm, writes content producer Annette Saksman.
Knitting has been part of my life since childhood, and I’ve become quite skilled at it. I could knit a sock with my eyes closed, but crocheting has always felt like an unattainable skill. I’ve admired so many impressive crocheted bags and summer clothes on social media, saving the images and thinking maybe I’d try them someday.
I have tried, and sometimes I’ve even succeeded. The small rug and basket I crocheted using basic single crochet stitches have been in use for years. But the summer bags I dreamed of always ended up abandoned, time after time. One was too stiff because of my material choice, another warped to one side, and a third began to look like a tub due to some mysterious extra stitches. Granny square instructions looked simple—surely I could manage one small piece. Halfway through, I got stuck because I could no longer follow the directions.
So I’ve focused on what I already know—knitting. Still, I never truly gave up on the idea of a blue-and-white granny square bag or a crocheted floral top. It just started to seem increasingly unlikely.
This spring, I revisited the granny square instructions and decided on a whim to try them one more time. I wasn’t expecting much, certain I’d get stuck at the same point again. I crocheted one row of double crochet, then another—and suddenly, I was holding a completed square. After finishing the first one, I wasn’t sure I’d succeed a second time, but somehow more squares came together. Eventually, I had enough for a bag, and my dream summer tote became a reality.
Sometimes learning a new skill doesn’t happen right away. It can take several failed attempts and a lot of frustration, or even a break of a few years. I had nearly decided I’d never learn to crochet. But after all those unsuccessful tries, everything finally clicked, and my fingers found their rhythm. My enthusiasm for crocheting may be short-lived or last much longer, but the skill is here to stay. That feeling of success carries well beyond crafting—into life in general.
