For many teens, crocheting can be considered as an “out-dated” and “old fashioned” hobby. However, many students have learned the art of crochet, and it has sparked into a creative outlet for them.  

   Each stumbled upon the hobby of crochet through different means. For senior Dailee Estis and  freshman Liliana Fresolone, their families introduced them to crochet. Seeing the creations made by family members ignited an interest in crochet for them both. 

 “When I was in sixth grade my friend had made me a bag and I thought it was really cool so I asked my parents to teach me and it turns out that they both learned how, and they made us baby blankets and they taught me and I’ve just learned since then”, Estis said.  The doors to the world of crochet were opened to them from that point on.

 For Fresolone, her grandmother taught her how to crochet and for the last six years she has  found it highly interesting. She especially enjoys crocheting stuffed animals. According to Fresolone, crocheting makes her feel extremely calm and has less anxiety. 

   During the pandemic senior Keely Havard decided to learn how to crochet through a series of Youtube videos. Havard is not the only one to start a new crochet adventure in the midst of a pandemic. According to Forbes Magazine, We Are Knitters Crochet, from 2020 to 2022 sales increased an overall  75 percent,  and results from their survey concluded that more than 45 million Americans crochet or knit. During the pandemic, the art of crochet created a passtime through the boredom quarantine brought.  

   Over the course of the pandemic social media became a highly used outlet that helped others connect and share their creations online. Many crocheters use Youtube videos or apps to help them create their pieces.

   “ I follow patterns by a certain person that my mom found, and they are very easy to follow,” Fresolone said. 

   Along with those outlets, Pinterest also helps inspire those in the crochet community.

 While there are a wide variety of different patterns that one can follow many people use their creativeness and just create their own as they go. 

   “ I don’t follow the patterns, I make them up as I go and just see if it works out,” Estis said. 

   Some prefer to go with the flow of not following patterns, others like Havard see crochet like a puzzle with many ways to solve it.

   “ I enjoy crocheting because it’s kinda like a puzzle, but not really. It’s just a bunch of math really and it lets you be creative at the same time,” Havard said.

   Last year Estis and Havard decided to try their hand at entrepreneurship and set up a booth at the local Gingham Tree Arts and Craft Festival. At their booth they sold items such as bucket hats, stuffed animals, key chains and book markers. Havard’s creativity shines through the most when creating her favorite piece, bucket hats.

   “ Is probably making bucket hats because you can design and make them really fun to wear,” Havard said. 

   Opening a booth and selling crochet pieces is a way to generate funds; however, most of the time they just give away their creations. Most commonly they will give them away for birthdays, baby showers and other events.

   “ If there is an occasion, like say there is a birthday coming up, I’ll make something around that person, “ Estis said. 

  The hobby of crochet is extremely unique on its own but considering the percentage of 18-34 year olds that crochet is 15 percent it makes it that much more unique (craftyarncouncil.com).

   The “out-dated” hobby of crocheting has become a special part of their lives, setting them apart from others.