How long did it take you to learn your crafting skills?

Dear users, dear authors,
Of course, I realize that you’re always learning. But still: How long did it take you until your crafting skills were good enough to complete at least smaller projects satisfactorily?

Do you ever really finish learning, Josefa? I go by the saying my grandma once told me:* “Even if you get as old as a cow, you’ll always keep learning.”* I think she was so right about that, because there are still things I can learn, whether it’s in crafts or just in life in general.

Best regards, Inge

When are crafting skills good enough to successfully complete small projects? That probably depends a lot on your own expectations. A 6-year-old will be happy with their very first necklace made of single crochet stitches. Beads strung, necklace done, child happy. A positive crafting experience that leaves them wanting more.

As our skills grow, so do our expectations of what we do or what we want to achieve. And so we work our way forward step by step, exploring the things we want to master. With that in mind, I’m going to get back to my sewing machine now.

Best regards, Ina

It was too long ago to pinpoint an exact time.

I learned to knit and crochet when I was about 10—
so almost 52 years ago.

Those famous crocheted pot holders or raffia coasters turned out pretty well even back in school—so after a really short time; I must have been about 8 or 9.
When I was about 12, we did sewing in school, including a summer dress. But when I wanted to sew things for myself again as an adult, I decided to take another class—I wanted them to look a bit more professional.
So, in theory, I could sew quite a few things for myself, but I just lack the practice; it would certainly take a very long time and might not turn out perfectly.
I’m much more confident and skilled at knitting and crocheting—I feel more capable with those. But I’m sure you never really stop learning.

I learned to crochet, knit, and sew back in elementary school. Embroidery was part of it, too. And with my mom’s help, I was soon able to make my first projects. One of the first was a crocheted needle cushion. Each side was a different color. The sides were then crocheted together.
And I sewed an apron by hand. I think that was in third or fourth grade in elementary school. I was 9 or 10 years old at the time. And since then, my skills and techniques have continued to improve. And I still enjoy learning new ones.

There are still quite a few things I haven’t tried yet: fork crocheting, bobbin lace-making, spinning, wood carving, etc.

I took weekend courses in bookbinding and cloth inlay at the adult education center.
And I’ve taken several sewing classes.

Right now, I’m trying my hand at sculpture.

But crocheting is simply my favorite.

I learned to crochet back in elementary school. At the same time, my mom—who has always loved crafts herself—helped me practice and master the basics. I quickly realized that I really enjoyed it and that it came easily to me. That’s how I made my first scarf, which I wore with pride. After that, though, I didn’t crochet for a very, very long time (I’d discovered drawing instead).

It wasn’t until my first child was 18 months old that my mom told me, all excited, how she’d seen online how easy it was to crochet fruits and vegetables for a play kitchen—and that these amigurumi were all the rage right then :-) That immediately got me hooked again. My first project for the play kitchen was a banana that you can take out of its peel. I realized then that crocheting is a bit like riding a bike for me—once you’ve learned it, it comes back quickly, even after a long break. The banana turned out really well and motivated me to keep going. Since then, crocheting has become an integral part of my life. However, it’s such a complex hobby that there’s a lot I haven’t tried yet—or areas that don’t come naturally to me—and I’m always learning new things :-)

Some people are just natural talents. A friend of mine asked me two years ago to teach her how to crochet while she was visiting us in Switzerland for a few days. She mastered the basics in no time and had already crocheted her first strawberry just one day later. Her stitch work was flawless, and you absolutely couldn’t tell that it was made by someone who had only started the day before :-)

Never 😂

I started as a child, at school (needlework lessons), but I learned most of it on my own. Back then it was needlework books, today it’s the internet 😊.
At home, we used to knit a lot in the evenings, and there was a game: needles. Whenever someone had knitted a needle’s worth, the counting continued (1, 2, 3...). Together, we reached quite an impressive number 😂

I’ve never finished learning; I’m always learning something new 😊

I learned to crochet when I was 6 years old. Back then, I only crocheted blankets and scarves for my dolls.
Then there was a veeeeeery long break, and at some point I started again.
You learn something new every day. I’m always trying out new things. It’s just an ongoing process. 

For me, too, it all started in elementary school with needlework classes—sometimes even in the afternoons. That’s where my teacher really put me off the whole thing. Her go-to line was, “You’ll never be able to finish a single straight pot holder in your entire life.”
Three years later, I crocheted my little sister’s first christening gown. With so many siblings, I gradually got more and more into crocheting and knitting. My grandma taught me a little bit of sewing.

Over time, I had a daughter of my own, and she, too, received a crocheted christening gown. It was fun when my niece and I were both baptized together in our christening gowns.

I’ve always been learning new things when it comes to crocheting and knitting, and there’s still quite a bit on my list that I’d like to learn.

That line about the cow has already come up, and I can only agree with it.

I’ve been crocheting since I was a kid—little skirts for my dolls, small table runners for the dollhouse. That joy was taken away from me when I had to crochet a never-ending pillow cover for my grandma for Christmas. Even the needlework classes at school didn’t make it any more fun.  It was a total disaster—the teacher couldn’t even do it right herself. Still, I kept trying, and today I just can’t stop.
When was I satisfied with my results? As a child, I was very satisfied. 😇It was always others who didn’t accept my work the way I liked it. 😂 
 My grandma taught me how to knit socks, just like so many other things.
 Today, I’m not always satisfied. So I just unravel it and start over. There’s still a lot I haven’t even tried yet. 
 And what strikes me about your stories is that the lessons at school don’t seem to be particularly conducive to sparking a love of crafts.
 Warm regards, Marita 

I learned to knit from my grandmother and my mom when I was still in preschool. Our dolls were delighted with their new clothes—knitted and sewn—and on rainy days during summer vacation, which we always spent in the mountains, we’d knit socks. In my later school years, I proudly wore the sweaters I’d knitted myself, and during high school, I ventured to make a crocheted ensemble consisting of a skirt and jacket. Even during my years in South America, I was a regular customer at the yarn shop. Embroidery is also one of my hobbies, especially cross-stitch. I really enjoy trying out new techniques, such as DF knitting. 

I also learned from my grandma. And I had success pretty quickly. I loved spending weekends with her (I had two brothers—it was awful; there were so many weekends and vacations), and she made a lot of time for me. That’s how I easily created projects for my doll with her help. I’d already started before I started school.

And since my mom also loved to do a lot of needlework and crafts, it just kept growing, and my interest was constantly encouraged and, above all, nurtured by my mom and grandma.

I still remember my grandma’s mustard-yellow jacket. She let me have the scraps.

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