When giving presents these days, consumerism rules.
Most people tend to find “the perfect item” by either picking them off store shelves or clicking a few buttons online. But when the process of gift-giving revolves around money or convenience in a mass-produced item, the gifts often lose what makes them so personal and memorable.
If you’re looking for a way to bring back a more meaningful way of gift-giving, try giving crochet gifts.
Crochet dates back as far as the 15th to 17th century, with roots in many different nations and cultures, such as China, Turkey, France, North Africa, Persia and more. The craft itself refers to the process of creating textiles by using a crochet hook to interlock loops of yarn or thread. Starting during the pandemic, crochet surged in popularity, with social media apps like YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram becoming overrun with crochet, knitting, and other craft-related content.
I started to crochet during COVID, as I was searching for a new hobby while stuck at home. My first exposure to crochet came from Pinterest, where crochet plush toys called amigurumi began to pop up on my feed. Inspired, I bought my first crochet hook and have been crafting handmade gifts for friends and family ever since.
Handmade crochet gifts are much more meaningful than store-bought items. Each gift reflects the time and effort I put into creating it. Additionally, what makes crocheting particularly special is that it can’t be mass-produced. Unlike other textile-making methods such as knitting, crochet can only be handmade, making each piece one-of-a-kind. When my friends and family hold the gifts I created, they know each stitch was done by my hands, and not a factory machine.
Crochet also reduces the time I waste searching on the internet for the perfect gift. With crochet, you can personalize the gift to the recipient and create something custom to their interests. It doesn’t have to be overly complex — for example, you can make their favorite animal with a little help from a quick YouTube tutorial.
Admittedly, the learning curve can be a bit steep at first, but once you master the fundamental stitches and techniques, a whole world of creative possibilities opens up. There are plenty of tutorials available on YouTube to guide you through the process, making it easy to get started and build your skills at your own pace.
Some beginners’ YouTube tutorials I used included videos on creating a slip knot and magic ring: two common ways to start a crochet project. Afterward, you can begin learning some basic stitches, or even try a beginner-friendly project like a keychain or small plush.
Project-oriented tutorials will teach you the basic stitches you need to make the item along the way. I personally use this approach because I find it helpful to learn the stitches in the context of creating something, making the techniques easier to understand and apply.
If you’re looking for a new hobby that can also improve your gift-giving skills, crochet is definitely worth exploring — and maybe it’ll save you some cash along the way.