Spring has arrived in Athens! As the weather turns warmer and the flowers start to bloom on campus (along with the pollen), I have begun hanging up my coats and sweaters for the season and excitedly adding new spring outfits to my Pinterest board.
For the past few springs, one textile has repeatedly made its way onto my board for outfit inspiration, and it does not seem to be going anywhere any time soon: crochet.
Not only is crochet a cute textile to have in your closet, but it is also a fun and personalized way to participate in sustainability! Because of its popularity in recent years, fast fashion companies have continued to pump out crochet items. Many have pointed out, however, that this is especially exploitative because crochet cannot be produced by a machine due to its incapability to create the transverse chains definitive to crochet. This means that the labor must be done by hand, often by people overworked and underpaid by these massive manufacturers.
If you want crochet in your closet, one of the best ways is to do it yourself! Crocheting yourself not only gives you the outlet to participate in sustainability, but it also gives you the ability to personalize your clothing while also being beneficial to your health. Studies show that activities like crocheting lower your stress levels, and people “who knitted or crocheted three times a week were calmer, happier, less anxious, and more self-confident.” Another great thing about crochet is that there are thousands of tutorials across social media like YouTube and TikTok, allowing the craft to be accessible to all who are interested.
Here are just a few crocheters on TikTok that you should check out if you are interested in starting!
@_itskenken_
This creator posts crochet tutorials beyond just clothes, such as purses, storage jars, and lamps. She often crochets flowers, strawberries, mushrooms or other projects of that variety. Also, the link in her bio has 100+ free crochet patterns that you can choose from!
@emmamastone
Emma posts tutorials and patterns ranging from beginner to advanced, so she has options for every level of crocheter on her account. She also designs these patterns herself and sells her finished products on her Depop, which is linked in her bio!
@madeleinegolding
Although she might be catered toward a more intermediate audience, Madeleine Golding is a crochet designer that posts herself making her designs. She has a website linked on her account where she sells custom garments, ready-to-wear, and patterns so that you can recreate her designs yourself.
Happy stitching!
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