How have you grown as a craftsperson?

Dear users, dear authors,
where do you currently stand as crafters? Beginner? Intermediate? Professional? How has your journey been? What challenges are you facing right now? What would you like to see?
Let me know.

Hi Josefa,

I’d describe myself as a crochet pro *blush*

I’ve been crocheting for exactly 6 years now.

I started with a bag—it was a crochet kit from Aldi.
And somehow I just kept getting more confident.
At first I only crocheted bags, then I moved on to amigurumi.
I gradually took on bigger and more elaborate projects.
By now, I’ve even ventured into vests, tunics, and so on, and the
results are really something to be proud of.

I’d love to try tapestry or Tunisian crochet, but with all
my projects, I just don’t have the time for it.

I wish I had more time to crochet.

Best wishes, Heike

@Heike,
the February project Learn Tunisian Crochet
Learn Tunisian crochet for free / it’s easy when we do it together (No advertising)
is going very well. So there’s no reason not to let it run longer. Maybe you’d like to join in sometime later?

I just had to chuckle a little.... I saw myself sitting in the living room a few years ago, angry and cursing loudly, my face red, trying for the millionth time to get a stupid magic ring right.
I think my husband got a little scared when I was cursing so aggressively to myself...
Today I can make one without even thinking about it.
At first, I couldn’t understand how an amigurumi is put together either, and I was always totally fascinated by how such great animals and other creations could come from simple stitches. Today I just start crocheting and equally great things come out of it.
You never stop learning, so it never gets boring :)

I’ve been crocheting for about half a year now. I’m past the true beginner stage—I’ve already crocheted some really beautiful and not-too-simple projects, and I’m starting to tackle a few more challenging ones, though I’m still far from being able to do everything :D

After a long break, I’ve also started knitting again. It’s fun again, but I actually prefer crocheting right now ;-)

When it comes to crocheting and knitting, I’d rate myself as 95% professional. There’s always something new I haven’t seen before that amazes me—and makes me want to try it right away.

When it comes to paper crafts, I’m a bit past the beginner stage. With all other materials, I’m a beginner. I just don’t have a knack for them. But I find it simply amazing what others can conjure up out of craft foam, natural materials, paper, and so much more.

I properly trained in sewing and even completed the training. But at some point, I completely lost interest in it. Right now, I can’t manage much more than mending pants and sewing on buttons.
Although, if I really need something nice in a hurry, I’ll sit down at the sewing machine and quickly make myself a skirt to go with a jacket or a dress for a baptism or wedding. Once you’ve learned something, you’ve learned it.

I can also embroider. I’d classify myself as intermediate there. I can embroider anything as long as I have a reference, but I can’t create something entirely from my own imagination.

When I think back to my early days, over 40 years ago… that’s when I started knitting and crocheting when my son was born. Back then, there was no internet yet. But I had a kind neighbor who taught me everything, and that’s how I became a knitting pro even back then. I knitted Norwegian sweaters for the whole family, and I especially loved working with patterns. My son got a turtle knitted into his sweater (he actually had a live one back then, too). And my husband got a seaplane.

I also sewed clothes for my son for many years back then—shirts, pants, jackets, you name it—and I taught myself how to do it. I apparently got that talent from my mother, who could do it, too.

Then came a long break of about 20 years. Until my granddaughter’s mother asked me if I could knit a pair of baby pants for the little one. If they were made of pure new wool, they’d be practically unaffordable. That actually reawakened my passion for crafts. So I looked for a suitable pattern. That’s how I came across Crazypatterns, by the way.

I spent hours and days watching videos to get back into knitting and crocheting. And in the process, I learned a lot of things I hadn’t known back then. I tried out some new techniques, and all my old skills came flooding back. The joy of knitting had completely swept me up again.

About a year ago, I started writing my own patterns and discovered the joy of experimenting and designing new projects. Now I can’t even imagine how I managed to live all those years without yarn and needles. It’s amazing what a grandchild can do. ;-)

I know I’ll still have a lot to learn in the coming years. I especially want to become even more of a pro at crocheting. My granddaughter gives me so many new ideas for things I could crochet for her. And of course, I’m eager to take on those challenges.

When I look back on the past year, I’m amazed myself at how everything has turned out.