I’m Hooked On Crochet: Here’s Why You Should Try It, Too
Although 99% of my time with yarn is spent knitting, crochet was the first yarn craft that I learned fairly well. My mother, a crocheter, taught me how to make simple granny squares. I never really progressed much beyond that, focusing my energy on knitting once local yarn shops started to pop up in my hometown of Pittsburgh, and later in D.C. For the last few years, I’ve attempted to complete a crochet project or two a year, but am rarely successful. It just hasn’t stuck the way knitting did. But in June, my manager and I hit the trade show in Chicago and were so excited to see soooo much crochet also in attendance. We fell for crochet hard in the TOFT booth, buying the most adorable amigurumi kits for animals, creatures, and even vegetables.
We had so much fun picking out “learn-to-crochet” kits in their booth; It doesn’t hurt that TOFT kits are incredibly well done. Each contains only the highest quality materials, even the stuffing is plant material in the plant kits! Every kit comes equipped with everything you need to make the little toy: luxury DK Merino wool, toy stuffing, crochet hook, wool needle to sew it up and the thread for eyes, as well as printed instructions. I’ll be honest, when I picked up the Baby Aubergine kit to make for a friend’s birthday, I couldn’t recall a lot of the crochet terms in the pattern. But TOFT saved the day, providing an amazing–and thorough glossary with full descriptions for each stitch. And if you’re more of a visual learner, they have help videos on their website. The pattern uses the same stitches over and over, so once I refreshed my memory, this eggplant took shape very quickly (only a couple of hours).
I have enough of the beautiful merino yarn leftover to make a second one. I’m now fully engaged and addicted, and will be making more little amigurumi toys for holiday gifting (my adult friends are more likely to love these than my kid!).
If you want to try your hand at crochet, grab one of these kits. They will definitely hook you in (pun intended).
About Toft
TOFT is a British craft company based in rural Warwickshire and home of the Edward's Menagerie and Alexandra's Garden collections of crochet animals and flowers by Kerry Lord. Bringing traditional crafts and contemporary designs together using luxury materials, they specialize in beginner knit and crochet kits and have a wide range of pattern books and British wool.
