Today I'm actually use my blog as a blog and write a story about my crochet journey! Someone recently asked me what the easiest project is to start learning amigurumi, and after answering them, it sent me down memory lane. I started thinking about all the projects (and mistakes!) I made along the way, I even dug up some old photos!! so I thought I’d share a bit of my journey here, too. It’s been a long one, but hopefully it’ll help you out!
How It All Started
I actually learned to crochet from my mom… and a knitting kit. Yeah, a knitting kit taught me how to crochet 😅 I found one I loved at the toy store and gave knitting a try, my first project was a tiny skirt for my teddy bear. When my mom saw how interested I was, she taught me how to crochet. I made a few chains, and that was it for a while. Fast forward to 2014, my sister asked Mom to teach her crochet, and I started watching. Almost immediately, I decided to join in too. I started chaining again, and it all came back to me like muscle memory.
The First Project
My first project was a heart bracelet, I loved it so much, I made another one in pink. Then came a flower bracelet, then one with beads... I just went a little wild! And I made all of that using thread, by the way. I remember going to the local yarn store and picking up a bunch of colorful threads for just $1 each. After that, I started making bookmarks, just simple single crochet rows with a flower, a strawberry, or whatever I felt like adding at the end. Once I discovered the magic circle, I fell in love with amigurumi instantly! My first makes were an owl, a cupcake, and a strawberry keychain.
I made a few projects back then, some wearables like scarves, gloves, and baby booties. I crocheted for a couple of months, then took a long break. Fast forward to 2020, I walked into Michaels, grabbed a couple of skeins of yarn, ordered a crochet hook set from Amazon, and decided to make a bunny. I followed a tutorial from Leelee Knits, definitely an ambitious project after years of not crocheting 😅. After a few attempts (and some frogging), I finally finished it! It had plenty of flaws, but it looked pretty good, and I was so proud of it. That bunny kicked off the dozens of projects I’ve made since!
What Went Wrong (and Right!)
Mistakes happened, and that’s totally okay! They’re just opportunities to learn. I’m also very stubborn, once I set my mind on something, there’s no turning back. The first thing that went wrong? I used the wrong hook and yarn for the pattern. Gauge swatch, kids! Don’t be like me, especially when it’s a wearable project. The first baby shoes I made? I just jumped right in. No gauge, no plan. I grabbed some yarn and a hook, and... whoops. They came out so tiny, I turned one into a keychain! No idea how that happened 😅 I tried again and got it right (ish), but it still cracks me up. And yes, I have the pictures to prove it!
I don’t know if you noticed, but my bunny was so understuffed it should be a crime! The limbs were wobbly and floppy, and there was absolutely no squish. If your amigurumi is turning out wobbly too, check out my TikTok, I share a bunch of tips there, and I just posted one about this! TLDR: you need to knot the yarn tail securely into the amigurumi.
Over time, I learned how important it is to find the right balance with stuffing. Too little, and the body or head gets deformed. Too much, and it turns rock hard, who wants that?!
Anyway, just keep practicing until you find that sweet spot. I believe in you!
What I Learned
- Don’t compare yourself or your projects to others—just have fun and enjoy the moment. We’re all on our own timeline.
- Crochet takes patience, and it’s totally okay to take breaks or switch to a smaller project when a big one gets frustrating.
- Every mistake is a chance to learn. Wobbly limbs? Look it up—and now you know how to fix it! Want to add a smile or a frown but it keeps shifting? Look it up! The answers are out there.
- Never give up. Give yourself grace and space to grow.
Looking Back
It has been a long journey that got me here writing this blog at night, and I wouldn't change anything. My love for crochet, being an educator, and web developer led me to make my own blog to share my free crochet patterns. When I started, I couldn't afford a paid pattern, so I depended entirely on free patterns and YouTube tutorials, and that is why I'm doing this. I'm paying back to the community!
Your Turn!
If you're new to crochet, you're not alone. Keep stitching, it gets better. 💕
🍬 Candy Corn Keychain
❤️ Heart Granny Square Pouch
🐝 Tiny Bumble Bee
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