I am a 73-year-old stage 4 breast cancer survivor, and I have set a goal of making an Afghan for everyone in my family. i have a huge family I have 4 grown children, 3 in-law children 34 grandchildren (we have 19 adopted grand children_ and 8 great grandchildren. I have told myself I will get these done before I go. It is so good for me to do this because it sets a goal for me to work toward. I am crocheting every day and hopefully I will get this accomplished before my cancer takes me. It gives me something to look forward to and keeps me from worry. You are an inspiration. I have crocheted nearly all my life, so I am so grateful I don't have to learn to do this. If I get this goal accomplished, then I will set myself another one.
You are so inspirational ❤️ you can do it! Wanted to let you know that many people have reported putting their cancer in remission by following a carnivore diet. Please look up Dr. Baker and Dr. Berry here on TH-cam. Prayers for your healing. You are a fighter.❤❤❤
OMGosh Elise! This episode truly was inspiring! My mom, whom I recently lost to cancer, is who taught me to crochet at about 9-10 years old, and I’m now 58yrs. I’d crochet off and on through the years but never consistently. And then the world stopped! In 2020 we all found ourselves locked inside afraid to go out. This is the time that I rediscovered my love of crochet. I started watching videos on TH-cam and was AMAZED at how much had changed in the crochet world. Some of the first things I made were simple cotton dishcloths and washcloths. I didn’t even know they were a “thing”. LOL! Needless to say I have amassed a pretty good collection of yarn and hooks, dare I say, lol. As I was taking care of my mom, before and up to her being admitted to hospice and then passing, my crochet was really my go-to, to keep me stress free. I tried to get her to crochet with me but she never wanted to. Now my goal is to pass on the much needed and cherished skills I was taught by my mom, to my grandkids. 3 of our 8, have an interest and want to learn, one of them is a lefty, lol, and that’s challenging for me as a righty, but he’s learning. Thank you so much for sharing your life, videos, and talent with us. I think sometime soon I’m going to try my hand at some amigurumi. Let the fun begin. 😊🎉
@@kathybee801 Praying cancer will not have its’ way, that you will find healing instead. I too have been working on blankets for many in my family. It brings joy and is my way to show my love and bless them. God bless you!🙏
My husband left and wanted a divorce after 48 years of being married. Plus during COVID! Taught myself to crochet watching you tube. I’ve been crocheting since then. Love it!
Can we all give a hands up 🙌🏻 to those grandmas out there who kept her hands busy and passed on that love to their grands? Such a blessing so many miss out on. Thanks for the video. I’m a long time crocheter but loved the abrupt interruption to my phone scrolling!
Yes! I am fortunate to have one too that taught me to crochet around 5-6 years old. She always has something on the go - crochet, cross stitch, quilting!
Yes!!🙋🏻♀️ this is me!! I’m 55 and I’ve been crocheting since the age of 4….. once I was old enough to hold a hook, my gran was bound and determined to make me her crochet buddy!! (I was the first female grandchild) Well….. it worked!! I had my precious Gran by my side for 35 precious years!! I miss her so very badly 💔💔💔 I grew up on my grandparents farm, she was a keeper of the olde ways, and now I am too!! I remember watching HeeHaw with my grandparents…. Or Mutual Of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, with the wood stove burning, the yummy smells of grans amazing food cooking… (everything tastes better cooked on a wood stove!!) and my grandpa sitting in his old rickety rocking chair…. Likely getting annoyed by me and Grans constant chatter 😂❤ Our little farm house was a literal Norman Rockwell scene (ironically, they had quite a few Norman Rockwell framed pictures on the wall!! ) My grans rule was “if I buy the yarn for your project, you have to make it!!”…. This helped push me to get my projects done…. I will say tho, 50 years later… I have terrible A.D.D with my projects. I can’t just do one at a time now… no clue why that is…. Maybe it’s because at this point in my life, I can buy whatever yarn I want pretty much? Not sure… But, I have multiple projects going and often get overwhelmed… so I’ve started putting them in ziplock bags, I write down the yarn name, crochet hook number used AND the idea I had (what I want it to look like) OR the pattern used on the paper, I then put this paper in the ziplock bag with my project…this has helped incredibly! Crochet is such a huge part of my life. It’s literally in my blood! I’m making all of our Christmas gifts this year!! And I just finished a huge blanket for my brother in law that has Cancer, it’s very warm and cuddly… I just Love crochet so much and I love all of the lovely people that make it their hobby too 💕❤️🙏🏼💕❤️🙏🏼💕
One of oir daughters nearly died of a hemmorhage in her brainstem. She was hospitalized for 6 weeks and I was so distraut i could hardly eat, much less crochet.
I started crocheting in January this year to fight the onset of parkinsons. I found that using my arms kept the tremors at bay without having to take medicine right now and allows me to do normal things that a 44yo man should be able to do. I'm currently completing the 8th blanket of the year and am often donating those blankets to foster kids in a local shelter
That is awesome! From someone with lots of foster then adopted children in my family & extended family, I'm sure they all loved the blankets they were gifted from you☺
I am from Asheville NC, and I want to say that in the wake of Hurricane Helene , which tore through WNC, crochet has been my lifeline to normalcy. Between the power outage, no water and so much destruction , every night I pull out my neck light and I just crochet. Sometimes when life is just hard it's good to be able to just sit still and keep your mind occupied and rest your heart. I love your videos and just enjoy listening to your videos!
Just wanted to say I hope things are going ok for you there and that you can get back to normal soon. We were in the 1977 flood in Johnstown, PA and even though were lived up high enough that we didn't get any damage, many of our family and friends were impacted with losing their homes, jobs or loved ones. It is devastating, but eventually, things do get back to some sort of normal. I am glad you have crocheting to help you through this.
@@cackleberrycottage2340 Thank you for your kind words. Our kids will be going back to school soon. We can flush our toilets now, so that is big! It could be up to a year before we can drink our water.( in context, our water is so pure that it is bottled and sold). We just keep moving forward ❤️
@@lorriehutson5258 That is great news. Yes, flushing the toilet is huge. I live in an area with all septic tanks and it would not be pleasant if we got flooded and they couldn't work properly. Plus, we get all of our water from wells and mountain streams so that would pollute our water supply as well. Not good. So many things are affected in a flood. I now live in CA, so we have now been through a flood back east, a rain storm that took out all 3 roads that go in and out of here, earthquakes and many forest fires. We even got a bit of a hurricane last year. These disasters are not fun and very stressful. I am glad things are moving forward. It is hard, but life does go on and I guess all a person can do is breath deep, take it one day at a time and keep putting one foot in front of the other. Praying that things get back to normal soon and that people can put their lives back together. Maybe instead of temperature blankets, we should start making natural disaster blankets!!! Blues and greens for floods, reds and oranges and black for fires, varigated yarns for earthquakes, whites and creams for blizzards, etc. LOL!!!!!
@@cackleberrycottage2340 I'm going to forever remember this one I am working on "The Helene" blanket😅. Thank you for all your encouraging words . One prayer, one stitch at a time, we will keep going!
I'm a teenager who just started crocheting a few months ago and it has honestly saved my life. As a queer person [specifically as a trans person] who lives in a not so supportive area, in a not so supportive household having a hobby like crochet that makes me feel fulfilled and gives me a sense of purpose and control when all seems rather bleak and hopeless has been invaluable. I have a way to escape, a way to calm down and express myself creatively in a very tangible way and best of all as someone who's main love language is gift giving i have a way of expressing my love and care for my friends and chosen family. Showing my love and care for those who keep me grounded and who are beacons of light in difficult times is such a wonderful valuable thing. Seeing my best friend wearing the garments I've made for them is such a strange feeling. I made something that's actually being used and appreciated, something i made, something i created with my own hands is now an everyday part of someone i care about's wardrobe. Anyway, great video Elise! I always love tuning in to every new video you've cooked up and you've been a lovely addition to my crafty fyp!
I heard there were such things as Pride themed yarns, based on the colours of some of the flags. I hope they're still around!!! I'm currently making a Halloween costume for my Blahaj, & she & I send sharky snuggles xxx
This trans-parent sends you all the love your own family and community ought to. Being a trans person is hard enough without people supporting you. I am proud of my kid and I am proud of you for being you, despite everyone else. xx
Just want to send hugs your way (if you like). I feel your pain, as a sister of someone who had to struggle with her own acceptance as well as the acceptance by her family and community around her. I am so happy that it has gotten easier for my sister. She is now leading a beautiful life full of love and acceptance around her. I hope, and wishing for you, that in time if will get easier for you as well.
I am a 72 year old disabled American war veteran. I have a Bachelor's in mathematics. I have been crocheting on and off since 1965 when I bought a booklet with drawings that taught me how to crochet. I used to only do thread crochet and was making edgings on pillow cases. I had a long off period from crochet and mainly did counted cross stitch and knitting (which I taught myself in 1962). I have also had a lot of confidence issue just like you and still do. However, once I got back into crocheting I found a purpose for me again. I am pretty much a shut in due to my PTSD and some health issues. Then one day at my church I found out about Prayer Shawl ministries. My church has one and I go as often as I can. Then I came up with my own mini ministry...I decided that I would try to make a throw or blanket for every family in my church. I even made one the Bishop of our Diocese. He wraps up with his daughter in the throw and reads stories to her. And I have just finished making a blanket for our new Archbishop. Doing this has given real purpose in my life for once. And every day I can actually see the actual progress I make with each project. I am still working on becoming a Certified Crochet Instructor Level I. It is so nice to know that there are others who have had similar stories and hardships and that many of us have found a constructive outlet and a sense of purpose. Much love to you dear Elise.
I have ADHD, and I find knitting and crochet to be very helpful for focus. Whenever someone else with ADHD tells me "I don't think I could sit still/focus on something like crochet for that long," I tell them to try it. Crochet seems to access the same part of the brain that lets ADHD people hyperfocus on things like video games, but the end result is so much better. And I've had this TH-cam account for close to 20 years now, and I've only ever been early enough to a video to get a "first ___ people to click the link" discount once before. (Snagged my first month of Skillshare from an artist I follow when Skillshare was new and it was her first sponsor.) It could not have come at a better time for me financially. Thank you, Elise!
I have ADHD, and I completely understand what you mean. Crochet, cross stitch, reading and video games can access that hyperfocus part of my brain if they're complicated enough. (My video games tend to be "building" games like city builders where you can create stuff.) Simple crochet and knitting, on the other hand, for me are a good "second activity" to make sure I can focus on a podcast or lecture or anything like that. It's like if half my brain is busy with guiding my hands, I have just enough "side-activity" going to be able to focus on what a lecturer is saying. If I have nothing else to do except listen, my brain starts searching for distractions to keep it busy enough - watching the people around me, insects on the ceiling, counting the bricks in the wall behind the person, etc. Unfortunately not many people understand this, and I've had more than one comment about how "rude" it is for me to be knitting while I should be paying attention, while all I'm trying to do is keep from being too distracted.
15 years ago I had a spinal operation that ended with me not being able to walk and I now use a wheelchair. Crochet has literally saved my life! It helps me with the pain I'm in as I focus on the stitches. It helped my initial depression as I could create amazing things with my hands even if I couldn't do the things I used to. Thank you for your videos. I've enjoyed watching you since you started 😊
I am 77 years old, & also wheelchair bound. I taught myself to crochet when in my 20's. Have picked up & put it down on & off for years. Now that I'm disabled, it's a life saver mentally. It gives me something to look forward to & have a purpose since I donate all my work.
Awesome. My mom quit smoking the day I was born. That was 1980 so it was not as frowned upon. I kept her hands busy. So when I became more independent, she started to get antsy because her hands were not busy, just when she was about to pick up a cigarette, she decided to pick up a crochet hook. I am so blessed to have her blankets, stuffed animals, and doilies that she made with her hands. I will cherish them as she has passed about 19 years ago. And I am so thankful that my grandma and her taught me when I was 3 because I kept getting into their yarn. They saw potential in me.
Congrats! I still smoke 3-5 a day. I keep asking myself, "This is crazy! I should be able to quit!" Crocheting really does help. But, wow, it's hard to quit smoking! I've tried w/assistance many times! I'm working harder and I will get there! I'm so proud of you!!!
@@debraallender7444 I quit smoking a month ago after many many years. I know exactly what you are going through. The mental battle of knowing you should quit vs. the yabut I want to smoke. For me a very serious illness is what finally put me in the I will quit frame of mind. Good luck to you and to me too!
27 year old male here. the irony of scrolling and finding this video as a pair of fingerless gloves lay unfinished next to me 😂. but preach. there is a unique joy in the patient progress of crocheting that supersedes the endless shortlived dopamine hits of digital media consumption
I started crocheting when my dad's health started to decline back in 2018. I would take him to his surgeries and while I was in the waiting room I would crochet. I was a total beginner watching youtube videos to learn. 2020 was the hardest when my family and I couldn't visit him at the nursing home. I would crochet to calm my nerves. But when my dad would call and would ask how I was doing with my crafting he was so supportive. He passed in june of 2020. I wish I could show him all the projects I finished and all the progress I made. Crochet helped me immensely through hard times.
My husband and I were dating at the time he told me then I needed a hobby, that’s when I went to my local Michael’s and took a beginning class on crochet. Crocheted a blanket that I put in a local county fair and won first place. That was almost 20 years ago and I haven’t stopped. Love crochet so much. Love your channel. And all the other great youtube channels on crochet. ❤😊
As I am now 61 and have been crocheting since I was around the age of 10, the one thing I can recommed is that it keeps your fingers active, and there is nothing more heart warming then seeing the look on a loved ones face or even a friend when they see what I have made them....whether its a lace shawl, jumper, pair of socks or even a simple dish cloth ❤
Crochet absolutely saved my mental health. It also did great things for my creativity and sense of purpose. I also do adult coloring and I have really enjoyed that too but crochet will always be my first love.
Hi Elise! Long story...sorry. I started crocheting in the 70's when I was about 12. Life happens and I put crochet aside to have a school life and friends. Fast forward to 2019...my husband was diagnosed with cancer for the third time and it didn't look good. I had so much fear and anxiety while trying to be strong for him. I found a TH-cam video (Crystal at Bag O Day Crochet) and immediately went out and bought some cheap hooks and yarn and started my new crochet journey. I can't tell you how therapeutic it was and is. My husband came through the treatment in 2019 and did well until spring of this year. He's now on hospice but is still doing very well. Crochet allows me to turn things off and be present. His vocal chords are paralyzed on the left so talking is a challenge. But I sit and crochet while he watches TV and it's quality time that I love spending with him. I've made a ton of beanies and blankets that I donate to cancer patients and the homeless. I loved this video. Thanks for all you do. You always make me smile.🤗🧶
I turned to crochet when my daughter died. The last Christmas gift she gave me was some yarn. I used that yarn and a lot more to get through the grief. Crochet has been a lifeline to me. ❤
You nailed it about wasting time on the phone! I am so guilty when I have knitting to start and 2 quilts to work on. My mother started teaching me crafts such as cross stitch, crochet, knitting, needlepoint, and quilting when I was in elementary school, and I have kept it up into my 60s. My daughter is a knitter and knits something every day. More young women need to be taught needle crafts as it calms and boosts your self-confidence that you have accomplished something productive.
I have been crocheting for almost 4 years now. I technically learned when I was a child, but I don’t remember any of it. I started crocheting when I was trying to have a baby, I struggle with reoccurring pregnancy losses. To try to give me hope and distract me, I decided to start crocheting baby hats and baby socks. It sparked my love for crochet and it really did give me hope thqt I’d have my rainbow baby one day. I birthed my daughter in 2022, & I continued to make clothes and toys for her. I crochet a lot more than that now, I really expanded my abilities and I am very proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m so grateful for crochet and what it’s done to change my life. I am also now back to crocheting baby clothes for my soon to be baby boy❤️
I moved in 2008 and found myself hating winter. I used to love going out in any weather. So I started to look around my house for something interesting to do. I found a tub of yarn and a little instruction book. Then I went to JoAnns and bought a book of scarf patterns and a set of hooks. (Previously I had learned to knit from this same booklet-so why not crochet?!) That was the beginning of my love affair with yarn and crochet! Between books, TH-cam videos, and Pinterest, I am self taught and intend to keep learning all that I can. Nothing makes me happier than sitting with crochet and yarn!!! Some days I just sort, squish and dream with my yarn. Great stress reliever! ❤❤❤😊 You (Elise) also hit other points of importance, like ancestors. Women are deeply connected over the centuries through fiber arts. You will experience art and practicality. Beyond what crochet does for you, there is need out in the world for yarny love. Happy hooking!!!
I've crocheted on & off since age 5, I'm now 60. Crocheting is excellent for stress relief & mental health. It's also one of those rare hobbies that is Productive. I learned all the basic stitches from a 104 yr old woman with the patience of Job who my mom used to care for in the nursing home. In my early 20s I taught myself to follow written patterns. (long before youtube existed) When I think about people starting out in this hobby now.......they are so fortunate to have youtube as a source for knowledge & other online sources. 100 percent agree with you about phone / social media addiction.
No kidding! I saw the dress with boots and thought, "Yes!" I wear compression socks and, while they really help with my feet and ankles, they've kind of stolen my ability to comfortably wear dresses. Boots with longer, flowy dresses totally change that equation. Now if I can just find a good summer solution... LOL!
I really needed to hear this today. I’m a lefty so my Nan never taught me, she didn’t know how. But I loved all of her afghans and kept the baby blankets she made my children in a box refusing to use them so I could preserve her final gifts before passing. YT suddenly made it accessible and many left handed tutorials were available but then, like you, I thought it was easier than it turned out to be. I became sooooo discouraged and thought I was stupid for thinking I could do it. I still haven’t made a granny square but I’ve complete a few blankets for my granddaughter. With each completion I feel a little more confident even though I ripped out my current project 4 or 5 times last night. Thank you for your back story and for you channel. It’s been a life line! ❤
Each project helps give us just a little more confidence to try the next one! It's amazing how one day you look up and can't believe you can make things with your own two hands! 🧶🧶🧶
Crochet saved me as well. In 2017 I lost my mom. Biggest loss in my life. I was down for several years then I picked up my hook again and found crochet channels. This has saved my sanity.
"Its just a granny square" As someone who has been crocheting her whole life, I hate to hear anyone say "it's just/only" I think it's wonderful when someone can make ANYTHING. Whether it's a chain, grannysquare, or a full afghan - it's a masterpiece!! Love your videos!!❤
A blanket can be "just" a massive granny rectangle, so there's that. I often avoid saying it's "just" or "only" something. Neil Armstrong didn't say "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" for nothing
I apply the same rules to my weight loss journey. I'm often grateful that I've ONLY/JUST gained a small amount, but I normally don't use those terms at all 🤷♀️🙂
♥ I love that you shared your story of getting into crochet, and it really shows as a great reminder of what crochet can do for us and the meaning it can have behind it. Don't fall into "doom scrolling" on social media and just pick up a hobby! Be creative, we all have that little creative bug somewhere in the brain! 😂 Crocheting helps settle my anxiety time to time and gets my mind off things. It's also fun making gifts for certain people that I know would truly appreciate them. Been at it for 10 years now I believe, it's kind of hard to believe I have held onto a hobby for this long!
Wonderful video! First, please allow me to say how beautiful your home is -- comfy and stunning! You are right -- creative outlets calm the mind, whether it's crochet, knitting, quilting, beading, journaling, painting, playing an instrument, even walking and sports. For those of faith reading the Bible is a wonderful way to start and end the day. When my husband would ask if I really needed more beads I would tell him that I don't smoke or drink or do drugs or partake in criminal activities and when I am done I have created something beautiful.
Wrote a whole history of my crochet metamorphosis but it is lost in cyberspace before I could forward it to you but I already sent you my bio in a previous reply .you can probably find it if you save previous replies. 0:00
This is so me! Thank you. I have returned to crochet to keep my hands productive instead of constant scrolling. Have found a very supportive community.
It was because of you that I started amigurumi. I found one of your videos. I am so happy you and your family were ok and I am praying much for the people that experienced the hurricanes
OMG!!! in 15 mins!!! Ok.. so now I'm crocheting a granny square tote bag!!! I'm listening to this to inspire me to finish this bag! SO thank you soooooo much!! LOVE THIS CHANNEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, from a wonky granny square to an expert crochet crafter with a very popular you tube channel in that short amount of time- so impressive! You are an inspiration, love your videos- I've been crocheting/ knitting (sporadically 😉) for 40 years and am still learning, thank you
I just learned crocheting a month ago after being diagnosed with breast cancer. I cannot go to work because I will need to go to hospital for chemo and other scannings. For other times I am totally free that crocheting is occupying my time and stopping me from thinking negatively. I just learn crocheting via TH-cam videos. I like crocheting my projects while listening to your videos. You have a nice voice and I can listen to your English clearly for me to learn English as well. Thank you for your lovely videos, they are informative while funny. Take care.
I'm a young crocheter and since 3 months knitter from Germany. I learned crocheting at my school in 4th grade. Now six years later I love this hobby and don't want to miss it in my life. I like it very much to hear Podcasts or watch your Videos while doing it. Every free time I spend on crafting and doing some new projects (at the moments where I don't have to learn). And I buy more and more wool at my favourite local yarn store 😂. Thank you Elise for sharing your videos with us, I love them all❤ I would be very happy if you saw my little message because you are such a very nicely person 😊 Sorry for my not so good English😅 but because of you and your videos I'm very much better now in the subject English at school❤
I was taught to crochet by my dad when I was a child. He learned from his mom and aunts when he was a kid. He was left handed but broke his hand, so to help him use his right hand they taught him how to crochet. (In the 1950s) So I’m at least 3rd generation crocheter. I love the history of that. I too am grateful for the calming and creativity that crocheting gives me. Thank you for sharing your story!
My gran was also a crocheter. She made these delicate doilies & like you & never fully appreciated it until I started crocheting myself. Also want to congratulate you for how far you've come from starting off on granny squares to designing your own toys. It's awesome! 🎉
I am returning to crochet after 50 years break. My Granny taught me the basics. You are not wrong, I have a similar story with my kids. Crochet has brought me peace and joy and relaxation. Prayers for your son and your family❤❤❤
Me too! I just feel so relaxed when I crochet. Usually, scroll to find new patterns! Just started teaching a friend , she's a new mom of a special needs baby girl. She's hoping to get some time to learn and make blanket for her precious girl. ❤
Without going into the 'why', I started to crochet 2 years ago as I needed something I could do from my bed, and I couldn't trust myself not to spill my diamond painting stuff all over the place 😂 Everything I know about crochet I have learned from TH-cam. I do not consider this as teaching myself, as they were tutorials carefully explained and demonstrated by people kind enough to take the time to do so, sharing their knowledge and patterns for free. I can't imagine life without crochet now, and I'm truly grateful to people like you who make video tutorials for people like me who wouldn't have been able to learn without them 🥰🧶 Thank you 😊 (As an aside, those title slides flashed away a bit too quickly to read 👍🏽)
I have been crocheting for 1.5 years. I started crocheting after I had surgery where I was just stuck in bed. And I immediately feel in love! Since then, I’ve really honed in my craft, from making amigurumi, blankets, clothing, and purses. It truly brings me joy. I agree with the things you said in this video. It has become my “me time”, my stress reliever, and made me more confident. Thank you for another amazing video!
I’ve been crocheting since I was 12 years old (55 years). It was tough learning, but one of my little brother’s friends was watching and cheering me on as I learned ( who knows why). Crocheting as been a wonderful hobby for me over the years. A stress reliever, a comfort, and at times, a chore, but I will never give it up.
I am disabled and can't work. For a long time, I struggled with my mental health as I felt I lacked purpose in my day. Crochet has made my days feel so much more meaningful, and given me a sense of purpose again. I love looking for new patterns, and planning out projects I want to make. Your channel has been a massive inspiration in my crochet journey, and I am really grateful for your content.
What a beautiful, heartfelt video - you are such a treasure. I'm a guy, but way back in the day my grandmother taught me how to knit and crochet, but after that for 40 plus years I never touched a knitting needle or a crochet hook ever again. But recently, I've picked them up again, making garments for my nephews, both crochet and knitting. I love both crafts, but crochet is the one that always fascinates me more. I recently found out that my grandmother made really avant-garde crochet dresses and coats for my mother in the 60's and 70's, sadly now all lost - the sort of things that Taylor Swift is now prancing around in , trying to pretend its the newest thing - it just isn't! Thank you Grandma for teaching me the pleasure of crochet and thank you Elise Rose for continuing to teach me and others - God bless.
You're my Saturday-morning cartoon--adult version--I get my coffee and watch. This episode was very sweet, and I watched even though I'm already on board with the benefits of crochet, and of crafting in general. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself!
My grandmother was a crocheter, knitter, and sewer. She taught my mom the basics, but she didn’t retain very much. My mom then taught me what she remembered of crochet, the chain and single crochet stitch, when I was 7. I took off with it and experimented with crocheting in the round before I even knew that was a thing. I never saw a pattern until I was probably a teenager. Realizing there was a lot more to learn, I taught myself how to read a pattern, and learned other stitches as I needed them by watching TH-cam tutorials. Now, I can make most anything. Last year, I gifted my cousin’s baby a set of Winnie the Pooh amigurumi toys. My entire family was so proud and told me my grandmother had to be smiling in heaven. It’s so heartwarming to know that I can be close to her in this way. Now I’m 32 and have been crocheting for 25 years.
Stitching (crochet, knitting, & embroidery) is my “comfort zone” from the stresses of my job & fighting depression. It puts me in mind of Colonel Brandon in “Sense & Sensibility” as all were waiting for their dear one to pull out of their fever: “Give me an occupation, lest I run mad.” Thank you for all you do to inspire others to embrace their creativity ❤
There is a fiber group that meets at a local cidery where I live, and it has helped me so much with my depression. I'm so happy I got back into fiber arts.
Thank you for this video, Elise. Our circumstances are very different, but I came back to crochet around 2017. It was to help me get through a difficult transition, which turned into profound, unbearable grief. I have always been a creative person, but crochet helped me stretch that creativity and skill, which gave me a lot of stress relief. I will never forget giving a simple gift of cotton dishclothes to a friend. It brought her to tears because it reminded her of the ones her Gramma made for her. There is joy in nostalgia. I just love your channel.❤
My brother was having an 8 hour triple bypass surgery this summer and I brought a crochet amigurumi project to pass time - and to have something to distract my mom with, because I knew she'd talk to me about it, enjoy watching it progress, etc.... What I didn't anticipate was the number of people in the waiting room that were so drawn to that distraction. I had conversations about loved ones obsessed with elephants and people just watching as the working yarn got smaller and turned into something else. It really was something that everyone in that room benefitted from in some way or another.
My great grandmother gave us many crocheted and knitted items over the years before she passed. I’ve had an amigurumi doll that she made for me when I was around 3 years old. I used to always consider it the “inferior doll” and would just toss it up on the shelf and not care about it. I knew that someone had made it, but it wasn’t until I started crocheting and making toys myself that I realized how valuable that doll is. Now it’s one of my most valued toys that sit nicely on the shelf away from harm. 💙
Been crocheting for a year or two now. Crocheting absolutely helps me not doom-scroll so much, and to be honest I started it to give me something else to do other than smoke w**d. I used to wake up and smoke because my smoking things were right next to my bed and I wanted to disconnect from reality. Now I keep my hooks and a current project by my bed and it’s the first thing I see in the morning. While I still struggle with substance use, it’s no longer the only thing I have to turn to when I need a distraction. Plus, being h*gh makes it harder to crochet and follow a pattern, count stitches etc, so now sometimes my choice not to smoke is directly related to my motivation to finish a project I’m excited about. It’s also a great thing to do on a plane when there’s no wifi and I need something to focus on. People are always interested in what I’m making and sometimes it even gives them a nudge to start learning if they’ve been thinking about it, which always feels good and is a way to connect with strangers! 10/10 would recommend. I’m actually crocheting right now while watching this video (because my adhd brain still needs multiple things to focus on) and waiting for my car to get its oil changed. So much better than scrolling for an hour 🙌
I started crocheting when I got sober 2 years ago, at 49 years old. It has been a way to keep the stress and anxiety at bay. I am now an official yarn hoarder and very happy!! Thank you for sharing your story.
I was literally sitting with a WIP in my lap when I saw the title “Stop scrolling and start crocheting!”. I might have eye rolled for just a second. 😂 But I appreciated your encouragement. 30+ year crochet veteran! I thought your testimony was so inspiring.
This video resonated so much! I started getting back into knitting and crochet back in January and so when my 10yo daughter spent almost two weeks in the hospital, crocheting a corner to corner afghan absolutely helped me to stay sane! All of my daughters started taking notice, so now we are able to spend time together working on our crochet and knitting projects together ❤
My great grandmother started me on my crochet journey when I was 8. Her hands were so twisted with arthritis that she couldn’t hold the hook correctly, so my tension was too tight. But I love that she taught me first! A few years later my pastor’s wife gave me a few lessons on correctly holding the hook, how to read a pattern, etc. From there I taught myself the different stitches. I love crochet!
Yes I have done that too. But I love to crochet. I have done all of your free patterns. Going to move on to some of your other patterns. I just did the AI dog basket
I’ve been crocheting off and on for about 50 years. It is a very relaxing craft and I encourage everyone to give it a try! I also knit as well, but don’t do it as often now. At 61 years old I was diagnosed with epilepsy and I sometimes have issues with concentration and fatigue. I still work full time so crochet is easier for me to pick up and put down. I’m thankful to be seizure free for 2 years with medication. And I have plenty of yarn to use once I retire! I can also say I enjoy the Craftsy platform. I joined years ago and have kept my membership. They add new classes all the time.
Love your story! My back gave out on me when I was 60 ( I was a visual manager for a store so a lot of activity). I was sitting around one day and said “Lord, please don’t let me sit on my hiney for the next 20 years doing nothing” . I had crocheted scarves YEARS before and so started again. One thing led to another and 10 years later I crochet for different charities plus sell my amigurumi throughout the year and donate back into the community. It has been so fulfilling and gives me a purpose each day. I also love our history. I have pot holders that my grandmother made60 or 70 years ago and I STILL use them❤️❤️❤️❤️.
yes! when i start getting depressed, a new project just completely reorders my mind. it’s so calming and the sense of accomplishment is so great for self esteem
Crochet + Downton Abbey (I think that’s what I saw on your laptop!) is a delicious combination! I am grateful for crochet too. You’ve inspired me to try amigurumi and challenge my brain. I have the catster half finished and mine is way bigger than yours! I used the same wool and hook and my tension is pretty tight. Oh well I will keep at it! You also inspired me to read Story of a Soul by St. Therese too. I am only a few pages in but I love the idea of doing little things with great love. Keep up the great work. ❤❤❤
I've heard that from several people! The size really doesn't matter! And yes Downton Abbey and crochet is the best!!! ❤️❤️❤️ So glad you're loving Story of a Soul, it was a life changing book for me. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
My daughter has epilepsy. About 10 to 12 years ago she had brain surgery to remove a part of her brain. She is still on meds. But low dose & not as many meds as before. She will be 50 in December. And no more seizures. A blessing. I have been crocheting for about 8 years now. I have been in your shoes. My love & blessings to you & your whole family. ❤ I love making blankets. They are my favorite project to do. I'm in NJ & she's in FL now. I have sent her a few blankets..... ( My daughter) Mom why are you sending me blankets??? I live in Florida! Lol!! It's my way of wrapping my arms around her. ❤
Sorry, i should have waited til the end to comment. My therapist said i needed to make time just for myself and crichet has become that time. Ok, last comment❤ btw, one of your best videos ever!
Thanks for promoting crochet! I've been crocheting steadily for 26 years now. It connects me to my grandma and my husband's grandmother. Everyone of my children have crocheted baby blankets and some of my great nieces and nephews have some as well. It's apart of our family heritage. Also crocheting lowers your blood pressure.😊
I have nervous energy. So I bite my nails and pick a lot. Crochet has really helped me stop doing this. Also, crochet is a great post-apocalyptic skill. Hopefully I will never have to use it in this way but crochet and quilting, my other craft, my family will never be cold. 😅
You inspired me to start Amigurumi and get back to crochet! Thank you Elise for sharing your wisdom with us. Sending love and prayers to you and your family ❤
LOL, you are so right! I too started my crochet journey with a wonky granny square. 50 years later I have taught myself and use videos now to help out, to crochet everything. It is my meditation and I try to pick up the hook a minute after work everyday.
I am a 72 year old retiree and pretty much all I do is crochet! My Nana taught me to crochet back when I was 26. She couldn't read patterns, so I only learned what she knew until TH-cam. I've made blankets for everyone in my family (parents, 5 siblings, 23 nieces and nephews, husband, daughter, 2 granddaughters, 3 great grandchildren, and numerous friends). Mostly granny squares. Since retiring I've learned a lot from TH-cam. Now I'm making sweaters, bags, shawls, and other stuff. I don't know what I'd be doing if it wasn't for my yarn.. Crocheting keeps me busy and sane. Thank you Nana! 😊
Greetings from Ireland, I've been crocheting and knitting since I was 4, I turn 50 this year! Both crafts have saved my sanity many a time! I'm watching your video while crocheting a hexi cardigan. I still love learning new stitches and techniques. Never a dull moment!
I have always wanted to learn crochet but it wasn't until a couple of years ago that I realized I actually had the patience to learn....thank goodness for TH-cam! When my granddaughter was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2023, it became an escape for me to keep away all the negative energy around me. I made blankets for her to keep her warm during chemo and it made me feel helpful in a helpless situation. My edges are still wonky and C2C makes me frustrated but I refuse to quit.
Elise, I view/viewed myself the same as you viewed yourself. It's been a battle. I am teaching myself Tunisian crochet and have gotten pretty good with the simple stitch and full stitch. It's taken me several months. I'm also trying my hand at regular crochet but I find it more difficult. And, I'm trying to improve my knitting. I'm at the point I find myself happiest with a hook or needles in my hand. This was a great video and I can't thank you enough for sharing your story. Hugs from AZ
What an inspiring story! Thank you so much Elise. I have been crocheting for nearly 20 years now but still feel like a beginner. Every time I pick up my hook I feel a renewed sense of confidence and think of all the beautiful crocheted items I have been able to make. I am retired now with a disability and crocheting is my passion and fills my days.
I feel the same way. I feel so close to my mom when I see or crochet. I am so glad that I found your channel! I got so much inspiration to get started doing harder projects watching your channel! Thanks!
I learned to crochet from my mom when I was five years old. When I pick up a crochet hook, I think of her she was such an amazing woman. Crochet keeps me calm it helps me deal with stress. I would be the female version of an angry old man if it wasn't for crochet. I can definitely tell the difference in my attitude when I haven't crocheted for a while, and so can everyone else. I had a supervisor one time kindly tell me that I needed to crochet something because he saw that the stress on the job was getting to me and I wasn't my happy go lucky self. Elise, I know what you were through with your son. Mine was 2 years old when he was hospitalized and was first diagnosed with epilepsy. I felt like I was living a nightmare and powerless to do anything. Crochet helped it was something I could control.
Let me just say that I am so thankful for you and your channel. 🎉 I look forward to seeing your new videos every Saturday. I have been crocheting since I was 7. My grandmother sat me down and taught me how to crochet and embroider. When COVID hit i fell into a deep depression. All I did was work and play Facebook games and scroll through social media. I started watching TH-cam videos about gardening, another one of my favorite things, and I started an herb garden. That grew into gardening all over my yard, building a greenhouse out of old windows and of course crocheting again. It brought peace and joy back into my life. ❤ Now I crochet all the time. If I am not working or gardening or sleeping, I am crocheting. I have about i0 WIPs but I am happy, content and enjoy my life again. Nothing brings me more joy than finishing up a project and giving it as a gift.🎉
It is hard for me to crochet with my family around because I jump into the conversations and stop counting and then the project gets weird. When i need to focus on my crochet and not feel alone, i put on your videos and my some of my other favorite crocheters and I listen to your chat videos. It makes me feel in the company of someone who shares my craft and I learn and laugh at stuff that only a yarn lovers would get... Thanks for your channel! :)
Thank you for talking about how a hobby can be a survivor. I have rheumatoid arthritis and I started EPP in the lockdown. Then I started crocheting in June of this year. I have made three blankets and now crocheting a granny square blanket. I am calm,relaxed and focused while crocheting..with less aches and pains🎉
I am 24 years old and picked up crochet about a year ago. It's been a great way to be creative and helped me when my depression gets worse. It gives your mind something else to focus on and is a great outlet.
I taught myself to crochet (using a booklet) when I was in college (over 25 years ago) and crocheted off and on, mostly blankets for family members until 2019 when I decided to finally make a sweater for myself. My first craft was cross-stitching, which my Mom taught me, but we had a granny square afghan that my Grandma Tillie made for us in our living room and it was always treated with such reverence because my Grandma passed just days before my twin’s and my 7th birthday. I always wanted to learn how to crochet but I never had anyone else in my family who crocheted. The stress of my senior year in college, my drafty dorm room, and a still life painting I did which included my Grandma’s afghan, finally gave me the push to teach myself to crochet and it was such a comfort. Making things for others and seeing them enjoy and treasure them is so rewarding and making clothes for myself feels like I’m giving myself a big hug. I also love knowing that I’m wearing a one of a kind garment. After wearing uniforms (school and TSA) for many years, I love showing my individuality through the things I make and wear. ❤
I don't spend much time on social media to begin with, but I agree that crochet really helps with stress! I work from home for a call center and when clients start rambling I just grab a project and start stitching to keep my hands busy while listening. It really grounds me :)
I tried to learn to crochet off and on since I was a teenager. One winter as an adult I discovered TH-cam crochet tutorials. I could watch the whole tutorial, get the supplies play a step, pause, crochet, and continue. As a sleep deprived Mom I stick to easy patterns, so that even if I am foggy from sleep deprivation, I can crochet with hardly any "frogging." I love crocheting snuggle sized blankets and hot pads and loom knitting hats. With a life of things that don't stay done (cleaning and parenting), it is nice that a crochet project does.
I am crocheting a baby blanket as I watch you. My grandmother (Mimi) taught me to crochet when I was 12. I could pick up her project and continue with it seamlessly. We had the exact same tension! 🤯 She only knew few stitches, and couldn't read a pattern. A new world opened up to me when a lady named Kathy taught me how to read patterns. She and I worked together. She is a knitter and a crocheter. Now..... TH-cam has opened up an even bigger world for my hobby. I learn so much all of the time, and to be able to see the things and hear the way it's worked cuts out a lot of trial and error. I, too, believe everyone should learn how to crochet! I make beautiful things for my loved ones and myself all of the time. It does hurt my feelings when someone rejects or even donates the pieces I've made for them. I'd rather have them back if they don't want them. I also took classes to learn knitting. I think it's beautiful, but I'd much rather crochet. I guess it's because I learned that first. I thank all of you TH-cam creators for continuing to be my Mimi to me!! You and I are very close in age, and I find myself watching you quite often. Thank you for all that you do!! Have an awesome day!!! ❤
"fills our soul with the need to create". Well said!!! In fact, I bought my daughter a Woobles kit because I feel like crochet would enhance her life. She got it today and I am sending her this video. Perfect timing! Thank you!
Crocheting is definitely good for my mental health. I've realized I feel so much happier and... satisfied? When I have projects going where I'm making something. Crochet is my current thing, but I've found that same feeling from other hobbies too like legos and baking!
At 78, with osteoarthritis and less mobile, I find myself scrolling way too much. Your video caught my eye and though I haven’t done crochet for about 20 years but have decided I need to make a blanket, keep my hands and mind busy. Loved the yarn in the first part of this video 🥰. Hope things are improving for your son ❤️
Got into crochet a year before retiring from a very stressful job as supervisor of DCFS in Los Angeles. Since then I made hundreds of projects of amigurumi, sweaters, blankets and dresses, coats and hats for my granddaughter and grandson. It’s been a blessing to spend my days creating something to be proud of. My mother always told us: if you spend your day without producing something you waste your day in life! Since then productivity is my motto. Love your podcasts and always waiting for the next one 🥰🥰
Elise 1st, I love your channel. I 1000% agree on what you said about social media and what crochet does for us mentally. I recall learning to crochet after a traumatic time in my life and I needed something else to draw my mind away from the state I was in. Crochet has been a life saver for me.
As a teen I watched my great-grandmother crochet amazing things from pictures she saw in magazines, etc. I was fascinated and started down the road of crocheting. I've never delved into the variety of projects you have, but have enjoyed many hours of peace and contentment! Thanks for the great video! ❤
I love to crochet! I've been crocheting for over 30 years, and it brings me joy and peace. I use my craft as a ministry at my church and to bless family and friends through gifting. I have taught my daughters to crochet as well. I'm so grateful to have this craft in my life! ❤🧶
I am really loving the Granny Square story. I tried for 47 years to master a granny square. Even my Grama couldn't find out what I was doing wrong, and she was a MASTER of crochet. I did what you did and that really boosted my confidence. My grama would be proud at where I am today! Thank you Elise.
It’s wonderful to be able to create things from just a “string and a stick” as my husband used to say. I have done all kinds of needle crafts my whole life. It has provided me with a way to be creative. Thanks Elise for the wonderful videos you make!
Crochet has been a sanity saver for me. I have lived on the eastern coast of USA for the last 45 years and have had to deal with many hurricanes. As a health care/first responder I am not allowed to evacuate with my family to safer areas so have to hunker down and wait them out . When the power goes out and you can hear the wind blowing knitting and crocheting has allowed me to block out the storm for a while so I am ready when I am able.
Oh my goodness. Thank you so much for sharing about how these hurricanes affect first responders. I'm so glad you have a way to block out the noise just for a little while. Thank you for what you do for others. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I picked up crochet again when I broke my feet and had to elevate it for 6 months... I have been crocheting ever since. I found that it gives me the inner peace in me that bring out a calm feeling. When I finished a successful project for family, friends or charity a sense of comfort comes to me. Crocheting has keep my anxiety low during the stress of covid under control. Crocheting brings out the extra serotonin flooding into me that makes me happy. Picking up crocheting again has brought out youtube content crocheters like you - Elise Rose Crochet and others into my world. Thank you!
When I was a kid my step-mama taught me the basics of crochet, I didn't go very far with it. But in my early twenties I had a really weird commute schedule for work. I had to be an hour and a half early 😅 I had to do something with that time! I retaught myself crochet from blog posts! And I was poor. I started by buying a single skein of redheart supersaver yarn and one aluminum crochet hook. I spent $5 getting started. I made scarfs, hats, coffee cup cozies, and a bunny toy. I highly recommend trying crochet, and you don't need anything fancy to start.
Love watching hunger your videos. I have been crocheting since 2019. My grandmother tried to teach me as a child and I felt like I couldn't do it. My "square" pot holder became a diamond some how, so I never continued. I picked it up because I wanted to make my own grandchildren something for Easter. Easter eggs looked easy. I made probably 4 dozen of them and I was hooked. Now it's rare if a day goes by that I don't crochet. Even if I only have a few minutes, I utilize my time to get a few stitches in. It is definitely an addiction that produces beautiful projects and keeps the stress away!!! Thank you for putting this video out. Now I can show people in my family how beneficial it is with someone else's words!!!
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The first 1,000 people to click the link will get a full year of Premium membership to Craftsy for only $1.49: go.craftsy.com/elise4/ 🧶
I did not start crocheting until I had to retire due a disability. It was such a great thing to learn. It gave something to do and be creative. 😊❤
Thank you. I didn't know about craftsy until now. Good timing too as I was having trouble keeping clean and straight edges. All signed up 👍🙂
Did it :) Signed up today - Thank you for the inspiration every week!
Thank you for sharing your story
Thank you! I just signed up! So sorry you went through that with your son ❤
Also I love your fall dress! Where did you find it?
What is the name of the classes? I can't find it 😢
I am a 73-year-old stage 4 breast cancer survivor, and I have set a goal of making an Afghan for everyone in my family. i have a huge family I have 4 grown children, 3 in-law children 34 grandchildren (we have 19 adopted grand children_ and 8 great grandchildren. I have told myself I will get these done before I go. It is so good for me to do this because it sets a goal for me to work toward. I am crocheting every day and hopefully I will get this accomplished before my cancer takes me. It gives me something to look forward to and keeps me from worry.
You are an inspiration. I have crocheted nearly all my life, so I am so grateful I don't have to learn to do this. If I get this goal accomplished, then I will set myself another one.
Amen! I pray for healing over your entire body, in Jesus name! So you can live a longer life and achieve your goal. 😊🙏🏻💕
You are so inspirational ❤️ you can do it!
Wanted to let you know that many people have reported putting their cancer in remission by following a carnivore diet. Please look up Dr. Baker and Dr. Berry here on TH-cam.
Prayers for your healing. You are a fighter.❤❤❤
OMGosh Elise! This episode truly was inspiring! My mom, whom I recently lost to cancer, is who taught me to crochet at about 9-10 years old, and I’m now 58yrs. I’d crochet off and on through the years but never consistently. And then the world stopped! In 2020 we all found ourselves locked inside afraid to go out. This is the time that I rediscovered my love of crochet. I started watching videos on TH-cam and was AMAZED at how much had changed in the crochet world. Some of the first things I made were simple cotton dishcloths and washcloths. I didn’t even know they were a “thing”. LOL! Needless to say I have amassed a pretty good collection of yarn and hooks, dare I say, lol. As I was taking care of my mom, before and up to her being admitted to hospice and then passing, my crochet was really my go-to, to keep me stress free. I tried to get her to crochet with me but she never wanted to. Now my goal is to pass on the much needed and cherished skills I was taught by my mom, to my grandkids. 3 of our 8, have an interest and want to learn, one of them is a lefty, lol, and that’s challenging for me as a righty, but he’s learning. Thank you so much for sharing your life, videos, and talent with us. I think sometime soon I’m going to try my hand at some amigurumi. Let the fun begin. 😊🎉
@@kathybee801 Praying cancer will not have its’ way, that you will find healing instead. I too have been working on blankets for many in my family. It brings joy and is my way to show my love and bless them. God bless you!🙏
You've got this, @kathybee801! I've got your back with many prayers! I'm also a breast cancer survivor. Let's kick cancer's backside!!! 😊
I'm a 77 year old male that learned how to crochet and knit from my Grandma. Am still doing it today and also teaching some women at my seniors place.
❤❤❤
My husband left and wanted a divorce after 48 years of being married. Plus during COVID! Taught myself to crochet watching you tube. I’ve been crocheting since then. Love it!
Probably a blessing in disguise ❤
TH-cam has come such a long way! Now anyone can learn to do pretty much anything nowadays. Glad you were able to find love with crochet :)
Uhm I’m sorry he what 😭
Glad your happy now. 🫂
Can we all give a hands up 🙌🏻 to those grandmas out there who kept her hands busy and passed on that love to their grands? Such a blessing so many miss out on. Thanks for the video. I’m a long time crocheter but loved the abrupt interruption to my phone scrolling!
Yes! I am fortunate to have one too that taught me to crochet around 5-6 years old. She always has something on the go - crochet, cross stitch, quilting!
yes! My Nana taught me when I was 13 😊
Yes!!🙋🏻♀️ this is me!! I’m 55 and I’ve been crocheting since the age of 4….. once I was old enough to hold a hook, my gran was bound and determined to make me her crochet buddy!! (I was the first female grandchild) Well….. it worked!! I had my precious Gran by my side for 35 precious years!! I miss her so very badly 💔💔💔
I grew up on my grandparents farm, she was a keeper of the olde ways, and now I am too!!
I remember watching HeeHaw with my grandparents…. Or Mutual Of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, with the wood stove burning, the yummy smells of grans amazing food cooking… (everything tastes better cooked on a wood stove!!) and my grandpa sitting in his old rickety rocking chair…. Likely getting annoyed by me and Grans constant chatter 😂❤
Our little farm house was a literal Norman Rockwell scene (ironically, they had quite a few Norman Rockwell framed pictures on the wall!! )
My grans rule was “if I buy the yarn for your project, you have to make it!!”…. This helped push me to get my projects done….
I will say tho, 50 years later… I have terrible A.D.D with my projects. I can’t just do one at a time now… no clue why that is…. Maybe it’s because at this point in my life, I can buy whatever yarn I want pretty much? Not sure…
But, I have multiple projects going and often get overwhelmed… so I’ve started putting them in ziplock bags, I write down the yarn name, crochet hook number used AND the idea I had (what I want it to look like) OR the pattern used on the paper, I then put this paper in the ziplock bag with my project…this has helped incredibly!
Crochet is such a huge part of my life. It’s literally in my blood! I’m making all of our Christmas gifts this year!! And I just finished a huge blanket for my brother in law that has Cancer, it’s very warm and cuddly…
I just Love crochet so much and I love all of the lovely people that make it their hobby too 💕❤️🙏🏼💕❤️🙏🏼💕
One of oir daughters nearly died of a hemmorhage in her brainstem. She was hospitalized for 6 weeks and I was so distraut i could hardly eat, much less crochet.
I wished I’d grown up crocheting. I know people who can speed crochet w/o looking at their hands - amazing!
I started crocheting in January this year to fight the onset of parkinsons. I found that using my arms kept the tremors at bay without having to take medicine right now and allows me to do normal things that a 44yo man should be able to do. I'm currently completing the 8th blanket of the year and am often donating those blankets to foster kids in a local shelter
Such a beautiful sentiment. I'm sure those blankets provide some comfort and security to the children. God Bless you always.
That is awesome! From someone with lots of foster then adopted children in my family & extended family, I'm sure they all loved the blankets they were gifted from you☺
@@bethmorse2575 we had 29 foster, adopting 2 over the years.
Crochet and an audio book. The perfect pre-sleep prescription.
100% agree.
OMG me too.
I love that combination!
Yessss😍👏👏
I am from Asheville NC, and I want to say that in the wake of Hurricane Helene , which tore through WNC, crochet has been my lifeline to normalcy. Between the power outage, no water and so much destruction , every night I pull out my neck light and I just crochet. Sometimes when life is just hard it's good to be able to just sit still and keep your mind occupied and rest your heart.
I love your videos and just enjoy listening to your videos!
❤😊
Just wanted to say I hope things are going ok for you there and that you can get back to normal soon. We were in the 1977 flood in Johnstown, PA and even though were lived up high enough that we didn't get any damage, many of our family and friends were impacted with losing their homes, jobs or loved ones. It is devastating, but eventually, things do get back to some sort of normal. I am glad you have crocheting to help you through this.
@@cackleberrycottage2340 Thank you for your kind words. Our kids will be going back to school soon. We can flush our toilets now, so that is big! It could be up to a year before we can drink our water.( in context, our water is so pure that it is bottled and sold). We just keep moving forward ❤️
@@lorriehutson5258 That is great news. Yes, flushing the toilet is huge. I live in an area with all septic tanks and it would not be pleasant if we got flooded and they couldn't work properly. Plus, we get all of our water from wells and mountain streams so that would pollute our water supply as well. Not good. So many things are affected in a flood. I now live in CA, so we have now been through a flood back east, a rain storm that took out all 3 roads that go in and out of here, earthquakes and many forest fires. We even got a bit of a hurricane last year. These disasters are not fun and very stressful. I am glad things are moving forward. It is hard, but life does go on and I guess all a person can do is breath deep, take it one day at a time and keep putting one foot in front of the other. Praying that things get back to normal soon and that people can put their lives back together. Maybe instead of temperature blankets, we should start making natural disaster blankets!!! Blues and greens for floods, reds and oranges and black for fires, varigated yarns for earthquakes, whites and creams for blizzards, etc. LOL!!!!!
@@cackleberrycottage2340 I'm going to forever remember this one I am working on "The Helene" blanket😅.
Thank you for all your encouraging words . One prayer, one stitch at a time, we will keep going!
I'm a teenager who just started crocheting a few months ago and it has honestly saved my life. As a queer person [specifically as a trans person] who lives in a not so supportive area, in a not so supportive household having a hobby like crochet that makes me feel fulfilled and gives me a sense of purpose and control when all seems rather bleak and hopeless has been invaluable. I have a way to escape, a way to calm down and express myself creatively in a very tangible way and best of all as someone who's main love language is gift giving i have a way of expressing my love and care for my friends and chosen family. Showing my love and care for those who keep me grounded and who are beacons of light in difficult times is such a wonderful valuable thing. Seeing my best friend wearing the garments I've made for them is such a strange feeling. I made something that's actually being used and appreciated, something i made, something i created with my own hands is now an everyday part of someone i care about's wardrobe. Anyway, great video Elise! I always love tuning in to every new video you've cooked up and you've been a lovely addition to my crafty fyp!
I heard there were such things as Pride themed yarns, based on the colours of some of the flags. I hope they're still around!!! I'm currently making a Halloween costume for my Blahaj, & she & I send sharky snuggles xxx
@@elaineb7065 ty ive seen them and have even made a trans flag cat beanie! Sending lots of love to your blahaj
@@RomeoTheGnomeo
This trans-parent sends you all the love your own family and community ought to. Being a trans person is hard enough without people supporting you. I am proud of my kid and I am proud of you for being you, despite everyone else. xx
Just want to send hugs your way (if you like). I feel your pain, as a sister of someone who had to struggle with her own acceptance as well as the acceptance by her family and community around her. I am so happy that it has gotten easier for my sister. She is now leading a beautiful life full of love and acceptance around her. I hope, and wishing for you, that in time if will get easier for you as well.
I am a 72 year old disabled American war veteran. I have a Bachelor's in mathematics. I have been crocheting on and off since 1965 when I bought a booklet with drawings that taught me how to crochet. I used to only do thread crochet and was making edgings on pillow cases. I had a long off period from crochet and mainly did counted cross stitch and knitting (which I taught myself in 1962). I have also had a lot of confidence issue just like you and still do. However, once I got back into crocheting I found a purpose for me again. I am pretty much a shut in due to my PTSD and some health issues. Then one day at my church I found out about Prayer Shawl ministries. My church has one and I go as often as I can. Then I came up with my own mini ministry...I decided that I would try to make a throw or blanket for every family in my church. I even made one the Bishop of our Diocese. He wraps up with his daughter in the throw and reads stories to her. And I have just finished making a blanket for our new Archbishop. Doing this has given real purpose in my life for once. And every day I can actually see the actual progress I make with each project. I am still working on becoming a Certified Crochet Instructor Level I. It is so nice to know that there are others who have had similar stories and hardships and that many of us have found a constructive outlet and a sense of purpose. Much love to you dear Elise.
❤❤❤
@@patbenson2345 Love this for you. ❤️❤️❤️
Crochet is so good for our PTSD, mine is from a career in Emergency Services not Military like u but still PTSD. Crochet literally saved my life💗🧶🙏.
Thank you for your service!
I have ADHD, and I find knitting and crochet to be very helpful for focus. Whenever someone else with ADHD tells me "I don't think I could sit still/focus on something like crochet for that long," I tell them to try it. Crochet seems to access the same part of the brain that lets ADHD people hyperfocus on things like video games, but the end result is so much better.
And I've had this TH-cam account for close to 20 years now, and I've only ever been early enough to a video to get a "first ___ people to click the link" discount once before. (Snagged my first month of Skillshare from an artist I follow when Skillshare was new and it was her first sponsor.) It could not have come at a better time for me financially. Thank you, Elise!
I have ADHD, and I completely understand what you mean. Crochet, cross stitch, reading and video games can access that hyperfocus part of my brain if they're complicated enough. (My video games tend to be "building" games like city builders where you can create stuff.)
Simple crochet and knitting, on the other hand, for me are a good "second activity" to make sure I can focus on a podcast or lecture or anything like that. It's like if half my brain is busy with guiding my hands, I have just enough "side-activity" going to be able to focus on what a lecturer is saying. If I have nothing else to do except listen, my brain starts searching for distractions to keep it busy enough - watching the people around me, insects on the ceiling, counting the bricks in the wall behind the person, etc. Unfortunately not many people understand this, and I've had more than one comment about how "rude" it is for me to be knitting while I should be paying attention, while all I'm trying to do is keep from being too distracted.
I had no idea of that, really nice to know! Glad you were able to learn crochet
15 years ago I had a spinal operation that ended with me not being able to walk and I now use a wheelchair. Crochet has literally saved my life! It helps me with the pain I'm in as I focus on the stitches. It helped my initial depression as I could create amazing things with my hands even if I couldn't do the things I used to. Thank you for your videos. I've enjoyed watching you since you started 😊
I am 77 years old, & also wheelchair bound. I taught myself to crochet when in my 20's. Have picked up & put it down on & off for years. Now that I'm disabled, it's a life saver mentally. It gives me something to look forward to & have a purpose since I donate all my work.
I just recently quit smoking. I could not have done it without crochet. Now I have a lot of products for sale lol.
Congratulations 🎉 ❤️ way to go!
Wow!!!! That's amazing!!!!! 👏👏👏
Awesome. My mom quit smoking the day I was born. That was 1980 so it was not as frowned upon. I kept her hands busy. So when I became more independent, she started to get antsy because her hands were not busy, just when she was about to pick up a cigarette, she decided to pick up a crochet hook. I am so blessed to have her blankets, stuffed animals, and doilies that she made with her hands. I will cherish them as she has passed about 19 years ago. And I am so thankful that my grandma and her taught me when I was 3 because I kept getting into their yarn. They saw potential in me.
Congrats! I still smoke 3-5 a day. I keep asking myself, "This is crazy! I should be able to quit!" Crocheting really does help. But, wow, it's hard to quit smoking! I've tried w/assistance many times! I'm working harder and I will get there!
I'm so proud of you!!!
@@debraallender7444 I quit smoking a month ago after many many years. I know exactly what you are going through. The mental battle of knowing you should quit vs. the yabut I want to smoke. For me a very serious illness is what finally put me in the I will quit frame of mind. Good luck to you and to me too!
27 year old male here. the irony of scrolling and finding this video as a pair of fingerless gloves lay unfinished next to me 😂. but preach. there is a unique joy in the patient progress of crocheting that supersedes the endless shortlived dopamine hits of digital media consumption
I started crocheting when my dad's health started to decline back in 2018. I would take him to his surgeries and while I was in the waiting room I would crochet. I was a total beginner watching youtube videos to learn. 2020 was the hardest when my family and I couldn't visit him at the nursing home. I would crochet to calm my nerves. But when my dad would call and would ask how I was doing with my crafting he was so supportive. He passed in june of 2020. I wish I could show him all the projects I finished and all the progress I made. Crochet helped me immensely through hard times.
I loved your story. Thank you for sharing.
🤗🤗🤗
Awwww, bless your heart. How wonderful that your dad was so supportive!! ❤️❤️❤️
Crochet to me really is a way to stop doom-scrolling, I've been doing it for only a few months but I plan to do it until I can't
Wonderful!! ❤️❤️❤️
My husband and I were dating at the time he told me then I needed a hobby, that’s when I went to my local Michael’s and took a beginning class on crochet. Crocheted a blanket that I put in a local county fair and won first place. That was almost 20 years ago and I haven’t stopped. Love crochet so much. Love your channel. And all the other great youtube channels on crochet. ❤😊
Wow!!!! That's amazing! The first thing I ever made would not have even been allowed in a county fair!! 🤣🥇❤️🧶
😂
As I am now 61 and have been crocheting since I was around the age of 10, the one thing I can recommed is that it keeps your fingers active, and there is nothing more heart warming then seeing the look on a loved ones face or even a friend when they see what I have made them....whether its a lace shawl, jumper, pair of socks or even a simple dish cloth ❤
Crochet absolutely saved my mental health. It also did great things for my creativity and sense of purpose. I also do adult coloring and I have really enjoyed that too but crochet will always be my first love.
It's amazing how many benefits there are with crochet!! 🧶
Hi Elise! Long story...sorry. I started crocheting in the 70's when I was about 12. Life happens and I put crochet aside to have a school life and friends. Fast forward to 2019...my husband was diagnosed with cancer for the third time and it didn't look good. I had so much fear and anxiety while trying to be strong for him. I found a TH-cam video (Crystal at Bag O Day Crochet) and immediately went out and bought some cheap hooks and yarn and started my new crochet journey. I can't tell you how therapeutic it was and is. My husband came through the treatment in 2019 and did well until spring of this year. He's now on hospice but is still doing very well. Crochet allows me to turn things off and be present. His vocal chords are paralyzed on the left so talking is a challenge. But I sit and crochet while he watches TV and it's quality time that I love spending with him. I've made a ton of beanies and blankets that I donate to cancer patients and the homeless. I loved this video. Thanks for all you do. You always make me smile.🤗🧶
I turned to crochet when my daughter died. The last Christmas gift she gave me was some yarn. I used that yarn and a lot more to get through the grief.
Crochet has been a lifeline to me. ❤
@@missviic46 I'm so sorry for your loss.
You nailed it about wasting time on the phone! I am so guilty when I have knitting to start and 2 quilts to work on. My mother started teaching me crafts such as cross stitch, crochet, knitting, needlepoint, and quilting when I was in elementary school, and I have kept it up into my 60s. My daughter is a knitter and knits something every day. More young women need to be taught needle crafts as it calms and boosts your self-confidence that you have accomplished something productive.
I have been crocheting for almost 4 years now. I technically learned when I was a child, but I don’t remember any of it. I started crocheting when I was trying to have a baby, I struggle with reoccurring pregnancy losses. To try to give me hope and distract me, I decided to start crocheting baby hats and baby socks. It sparked my love for crochet and it really did give me hope thqt I’d have my rainbow baby one day. I birthed my daughter in 2022, & I continued to make clothes and toys for her. I crochet a lot more than that now, I really expanded my abilities and I am very proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m so grateful for crochet and what it’s done to change my life. I am also now back to crocheting baby clothes for my soon to be baby boy❤️
I moved in 2008 and found myself hating winter. I used to love going out in any weather. So I started to look around my house for something interesting to do. I found a tub of yarn and a little instruction book. Then I went to JoAnns and bought a book of scarf patterns and a set of hooks. (Previously I had learned to knit from this same booklet-so why not crochet?!) That was the beginning of my love affair with yarn and crochet! Between books, TH-cam videos, and Pinterest, I am self taught and intend to keep learning all that I can. Nothing makes me happier than sitting with crochet and yarn!!! Some days I just sort, squish and dream with my yarn. Great stress reliever! ❤❤❤😊 You (Elise) also hit other points of importance, like ancestors. Women are deeply connected over the centuries through fiber arts. You will experience art and practicality. Beyond what crochet does for you, there is need out in the world for yarny love. Happy hooking!!!
I've crocheted on & off since age 5, I'm now 60. Crocheting is excellent for stress relief & mental health. It's also one of those rare hobbies that is Productive.
I learned all the basic stitches from a 104 yr old woman with the patience of Job who my mom used to care for in the nursing home. In my early 20s I taught myself to follow written patterns. (long before youtube existed) When I think about people starting out in this hobby now.......they are so fortunate to have youtube as a source for knowledge & other online sources.
100 percent agree with you about phone / social media addiction.
Such an adorable dress you are wearing. ❤
Thank you! 😊 it's sooooo comfortable!! ❤️❤️❤️
No kidding! I saw the dress with boots and thought, "Yes!" I wear compression socks and, while they really help with my feet and ankles, they've kind of stolen my ability to comfortably wear dresses. Boots with longer, flowy dresses totally change that equation. Now if I can just find a good summer solution... LOL!
I really needed to hear this today. I’m a lefty so my Nan never taught me, she didn’t know how. But I loved all of her afghans and kept the baby blankets she made my children in a box refusing to use them so I could preserve her final gifts before passing. YT suddenly made it accessible and many left handed tutorials were available but then, like you, I thought it was easier than it turned out to be. I became sooooo discouraged and thought I was stupid for thinking I could do it. I still haven’t made a granny square but I’ve complete a few blankets for my granddaughter. With each completion I feel a little more confident even though I ripped out my current project 4 or 5 times last night. Thank you for your back story and for you channel. It’s been a life line! ❤
Each project helps give us just a little more confidence to try the next one! It's amazing how one day you look up and can't believe you can make things with your own two hands! 🧶🧶🧶
Crochet saved me as well. In 2017 I lost my mom. Biggest loss in my life. I was down for several years then I picked up my hook again and found crochet channels. This has saved my sanity.
"Its just a granny square" As someone who has been crocheting her whole life, I hate to hear anyone say "it's just/only"
I think it's wonderful when someone can make ANYTHING. Whether it's a chain, grannysquare, or a full afghan - it's a masterpiece!!
Love your videos!!❤
I love it. !
A blanket can be "just" a massive granny rectangle, so there's that. I often avoid saying it's "just" or "only" something. Neil Armstrong didn't say "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" for nothing
the funny thing is if you say about football or another trendy sport 'it's just a game' a lot of people wanna throw hands lol
I apply the same rules to my weight loss journey. I'm often grateful that I've ONLY/JUST gained a small amount, but I normally don't use those terms at all 🤷♀️🙂
♥ I love that you shared your story of getting into crochet, and it really shows as a great reminder of what crochet can do for us and the meaning it can have behind it.
Don't fall into "doom scrolling" on social media and just pick up a hobby! Be creative, we all have that little creative bug somewhere in the brain!
😂
Crocheting helps settle my anxiety time to time and gets my mind off things. It's also fun making gifts for certain people that I know would truly appreciate them. Been at it for 10 years now I believe, it's kind of hard to believe I have held onto a hobby for this long!
I'm still amazed at all the benefits of crochet and I'm like you, I still can't believe I'm still obsessed with crochet! 🤣🤣🤣
Wonderful video! First, please allow me to say how beautiful your home is -- comfy and stunning! You are right -- creative outlets calm the mind, whether it's crochet, knitting, quilting, beading, journaling, painting, playing an instrument, even walking and sports. For those of faith reading the Bible is a wonderful way to start and end the day. When my husband would ask if I really needed more beads I would tell him that I don't smoke or drink or do drugs or partake in criminal activities and when I am done I have created something beautiful.
Thank you!! Such a wonderful perspective! ❤️❤️❤️
My grandma taught me how to crochet when I was young .Now that I am almost 50years old I think about her every time I pick up my hook.
Wrote a whole history of my crochet metamorphosis but it is lost in cyberspace before I could forward it to you but I already sent you my bio in a previous reply .you can probably find it if you save previous replies. 0:00
This is so me! Thank you. I have returned to crochet to keep my hands productive instead of constant scrolling. Have found a very supportive community.
Crochet really is a wonderful community of creative people from around the world! 🧶🧶🧶
It was because of you that I started amigurumi. I found one of your videos. I am so happy you and your family were ok and I am praying much for the people that experienced the hurricanes
Theres something really special about making things with your own two hands!! ❤️❤️❤️
OMG!!! in 15 mins!!!
Ok.. so now I'm crocheting a granny square tote bag!!!
I'm listening to this to inspire me to finish this bag!
SO thank you soooooo much!!
LOVE THIS CHANNEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oooh!!! That's on my list of projects to make!! 🧶🧶🧶
@@EliseRoseCrochet Yep! got inspo from that!
LUV from india
Wow, from a wonky granny square to an expert crochet crafter with a very popular you tube channel in that short amount of time- so impressive! You are an inspiration, love your videos- I've been crocheting/ knitting (sporadically 😉) for 40 years and am still learning, thank you
I just learned crocheting a month ago after being diagnosed with breast cancer. I cannot go to work because I will need to go to hospital for chemo and other scannings. For other times I am totally free that crocheting is occupying my time and stopping me from thinking negatively. I just learn crocheting via TH-cam videos. I like crocheting my projects while listening to your videos. You have a nice voice and I can listen to your English clearly for me to learn English as well. Thank you for your lovely videos, they are informative while funny. Take care.
You inspire me. Thank you! 😊😊😊
Thank you so much! ❤️❤️❤️
I'm a young crocheter and since 3 months knitter from Germany. I learned crocheting at my school in 4th grade. Now six years later I love this hobby and don't want to miss it in my life. I like it very much to hear Podcasts or watch your Videos while doing it. Every free time I spend on crafting and doing some new projects (at the moments where I don't have to learn). And I buy more and more wool at my favourite local yarn store 😂. Thank you Elise for sharing your videos with us, I love them all❤ I would be very happy if you saw my little message because you are such a very nicely person 😊
Sorry for my not so good English😅 but because of you and your videos I'm very much better now in the subject English at school❤
I was taught to crochet by my dad when I was a child. He learned from his mom and aunts when he was a kid. He was left handed but broke his hand, so to help him use his right hand they taught him how to crochet. (In the 1950s) So I’m at least 3rd generation crocheter. I love the history of that. I too am grateful for the calming and creativity that crocheting gives me. Thank you for sharing your story!
How wonderful! Thank you for sharing!! 🧶🧶🧶
I love the history of that too! Back in the 50’s. I wonder if your Dad hid his talent from ‘outsiders’. Crochet wasn’t seen as a manly thing to do.
@@dyanstoutenburg9974 I don’t know if he really crocheted much afterwards, but he did retain enough to teach me the basics🙂
My gran was also a crocheter. She made these delicate doilies & like you & never fully appreciated it until I started crocheting myself.
Also want to congratulate you for how far you've come from starting off on granny squares to designing your own toys. It's awesome! 🎉
Thank you so very much! ❤️❤️❤️
I am returning to crochet after 50 years break. My Granny taught me the basics. You are not wrong, I have a similar story with my kids. Crochet has brought me peace and joy and relaxation. Prayers for your son and your family❤❤❤
Thank you so much for sharing and I'm so glad that you have come back to crochet!! 🧶
Me too! I just feel so relaxed when I crochet. Usually, scroll to find new patterns! Just started teaching a friend , she's a new mom of a special needs baby girl. She's hoping to get some time to learn and make blanket for her precious girl. ❤
Without going into the 'why', I started to crochet 2 years ago as I needed something I could do from my bed, and I couldn't trust myself not to spill my diamond painting stuff all over the place 😂 Everything I know about crochet I have learned from TH-cam. I do not consider this as teaching myself, as they were tutorials carefully explained and demonstrated by people kind enough to take the time to do so, sharing their knowledge and patterns for free. I can't imagine life without crochet now, and I'm truly grateful to people like you who make video tutorials for people like me who wouldn't have been able to learn without them 🥰🧶 Thank you 😊
(As an aside, those title slides flashed away a bit too quickly to read 👍🏽)
I have been crocheting for 1.5 years. I started crocheting after I had surgery where I was just stuck in bed. And I immediately feel in love! Since then, I’ve really honed in my craft, from making amigurumi, blankets, clothing, and purses. It truly brings me joy.
I agree with the things you said in this video. It has become my “me time”, my stress reliever, and made me more confident. Thank you for another amazing video!
I’ve been crocheting since I was 12 years old (55 years). It was tough learning, but one of my little brother’s friends was watching and cheering me on as I learned ( who knows why). Crocheting as been a wonderful hobby for me over the years. A stress reliever, a comfort, and at times, a chore, but I will never give it up.
I am disabled and can't work. For a long time, I struggled with my mental health as I felt I lacked purpose in my day. Crochet has made my days feel so much more meaningful, and given me a sense of purpose again. I love looking for new patterns, and planning out projects I want to make. Your channel has been a massive inspiration in my crochet journey, and I am really grateful for your content.
That is so wonderful! I'm so glad it has helped you find meaning again! 🥹🥹🥹
What a beautiful, heartfelt video - you are such a treasure. I'm a guy, but way back in the day my grandmother taught me how to knit and crochet, but after that for 40 plus years I never touched a knitting needle or a crochet hook ever again. But recently, I've picked them up again, making garments for my nephews, both crochet and knitting. I love both crafts, but crochet is the one that always fascinates me more. I recently found out that my grandmother made really avant-garde crochet dresses and coats for my mother in the 60's and 70's, sadly now all lost - the sort of things that Taylor Swift is now prancing around in , trying to pretend its the newest thing - it just isn't! Thank you Grandma for teaching me the pleasure of crochet and thank you Elise Rose for continuing to teach me and others - God bless.
You're my Saturday-morning cartoon--adult version--I get my coffee and watch. This episode was very sweet, and I watched even though I'm already on board with the benefits of crochet, and of crafting in general. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself!
My grandmother was a crocheter, knitter, and sewer. She taught my mom the basics, but she didn’t retain very much. My mom then taught me what she remembered of crochet, the chain and single crochet stitch, when I was 7. I took off with it and experimented with crocheting in the round before I even knew that was a thing. I never saw a pattern until I was probably a teenager. Realizing there was a lot more to learn, I taught myself how to read a pattern, and learned other stitches as I needed them by watching TH-cam tutorials. Now, I can make most anything.
Last year, I gifted my cousin’s baby a set of Winnie the Pooh amigurumi toys. My entire family was so proud and told me my grandmother had to be smiling in heaven. It’s so heartwarming to know that I can be close to her in this way. Now I’m 32 and have been crocheting for 25 years.
Stitching (crochet, knitting, & embroidery) is my “comfort zone” from the stresses of my job & fighting depression.
It puts me in mind of Colonel Brandon in “Sense & Sensibility” as all were waiting for their dear one to pull out of their fever:
“Give me an occupation, lest I run mad.”
Thank you for all you do to inspire others to embrace their creativity ❤
There is a fiber group that meets at a local cidery where I live, and it has helped me so much with my depression. I'm so happy I got back into fiber arts.
Thank you for this video, Elise. Our circumstances are very different, but I came back to crochet around 2017. It was to help me get through a difficult transition, which turned into profound, unbearable grief. I have always been a creative person, but crochet helped me stretch that creativity and skill, which gave me a lot of stress relief. I will never forget giving a simple gift of cotton dishclothes to a friend. It brought her to tears because it reminded her of the ones her Gramma made for her. There is joy in nostalgia. I just love your channel.❤
There IS joy in nostalgia! My new favorite quote. Thank you 😊 Peace and Blessings 🧶
My brother was having an 8 hour triple bypass surgery this summer and I brought a crochet amigurumi project to pass time - and to have something to distract my mom with, because I knew she'd talk to me about it, enjoy watching it progress, etc.... What I didn't anticipate was the number of people in the waiting room that were so drawn to that distraction. I had conversations about loved ones obsessed with elephants and people just watching as the working yarn got smaller and turned into something else. It really was something that everyone in that room benefitted from in some way or another.
My great grandmother gave us many crocheted and knitted items over the years before she passed. I’ve had an amigurumi doll that she made for me when I was around 3 years old. I used to always consider it the “inferior doll” and would just toss it up on the shelf and not care about it. I knew that someone had made it, but it wasn’t until I started crocheting and making toys myself that I realized how valuable that doll is. Now it’s one of my most valued toys that sit nicely on the shelf away from harm. 💙
Been crocheting for a year or two now. Crocheting absolutely helps me not doom-scroll so much, and to be honest I started it to give me something else to do other than smoke w**d. I used to wake up and smoke because my smoking things were right next to my bed and I wanted to disconnect from reality. Now I keep my hooks and a current project by my bed and it’s the first thing I see in the morning. While I still struggle with substance use, it’s no longer the only thing I have to turn to when I need a distraction. Plus, being h*gh makes it harder to crochet and follow a pattern, count stitches etc, so now sometimes my choice not to smoke is directly related to my motivation to finish a project I’m excited about. It’s also a great thing to do on a plane when there’s no wifi and I need something to focus on. People are always interested in what I’m making and sometimes it even gives them a nudge to start learning if they’ve been thinking about it, which always feels good and is a way to connect with strangers! 10/10 would recommend. I’m actually crocheting right now while watching this video (because my adhd brain still needs multiple things to focus on) and waiting for my car to get its oil changed. So much better than scrolling for an hour 🙌
I started crocheting when I got sober 2 years ago, at 49 years old. It has been a way to keep the stress and anxiety at bay. I am now an official yarn hoarder and very happy!! Thank you for sharing your story.
That is amazing!!!! 🥹 That makes me feel so emotional, thank you for sharing! 👏👏👏
I was literally sitting with a WIP in my lap when I saw the title “Stop scrolling and start crocheting!”. I might have eye rolled for just a second. 😂 But I appreciated your encouragement. 30+ year crochet veteran! I thought your testimony was so inspiring.
This video resonated so much! I started getting back into knitting and crochet back in January and so when my 10yo daughter spent almost two weeks in the hospital, crocheting a corner to corner afghan absolutely helped me to stay sane! All of my daughters started taking notice, so now we are able to spend time together working on our crochet and knitting projects together ❤
My great grandmother started me on my crochet journey when I was 8. Her hands were so twisted with arthritis that she couldn’t hold the hook correctly, so my tension was too tight. But I love that she taught me first! A few years later my pastor’s wife gave me a few lessons on correctly holding the hook, how to read a pattern, etc. From there I taught myself the different stitches. I love crochet!
I love that you were able to learn from both your great grandmother and the pastor's wife! 🧶🧶🧶
Yes I have done that too. But I love to crochet. I have done all of your free patterns. Going to move on to some of your other patterns. I just did the AI dog basket
Wonderful!! ❤️❤️❤️
Thanks for this video. I'm hardly holding back my tears.😢
Awwww! I hope you enjoyed the video! ❤️
I’ve been crocheting off and on for about 50 years. It is a very relaxing craft and I encourage everyone to give it a try! I also knit as well, but don’t do it as often now. At 61 years old I was diagnosed with epilepsy and I sometimes have issues with concentration and fatigue. I still work full time so crochet is easier for me to pick up and put down. I’m thankful to be seizure free for 2 years with medication. And I have plenty of yarn to use once I retire! I can also say I enjoy the Craftsy platform. I joined years ago and have kept my membership. They add new classes all the time.
Crochet has 100% changed my life as well! I always feel like I sound dramatic when I say that to people but it’s the complete truth. 🖤
I totally believe you! It has for me too! ❤️❤️❤️
Love your story! My back gave out on me when I was 60 ( I was a visual manager for a store so a lot of activity). I was sitting around one day and said “Lord, please don’t let me sit on my hiney for the next 20 years doing nothing” . I had crocheted scarves YEARS before and so started again. One thing led to another and 10 years later I crochet for different charities plus sell my amigurumi throughout the year and donate back into the community. It has been so fulfilling and gives me a purpose each day.
I also love our history. I have pot holders that my grandmother made60 or 70 years ago and I STILL use them❤️❤️❤️❤️.
yes! when i start getting depressed, a new project just completely reorders my mind. it’s so calming and the sense of accomplishment is so great for self esteem
Crochet + Downton Abbey (I think that’s what I saw on your laptop!) is a delicious combination! I am grateful for crochet too. You’ve inspired me to try amigurumi and challenge my brain. I have the catster half finished and mine is way bigger than yours! I used the same wool and hook and my tension is pretty tight. Oh well I will keep at it! You also inspired me to read Story of a Soul by St. Therese too. I am only a few pages in but I love the idea of doing little things with great love. Keep up the great work. ❤❤❤
I've heard that from several people! The size really doesn't matter! And yes Downton Abbey and crochet is the best!!! ❤️❤️❤️ So glad you're loving Story of a Soul, it was a life changing book for me. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
My daughter has epilepsy. About 10 to 12 years ago she had brain surgery to remove a part of her brain. She is still on meds. But low dose & not as many meds as before. She will be 50 in December. And no more seizures. A blessing. I have been crocheting for about 8 years now. I have been in your shoes. My love & blessings to you & your whole family. ❤ I love making blankets. They are my favorite project to do. I'm in NJ & she's in FL now. I have sent her a few blankets..... ( My daughter) Mom why are you sending me blankets??? I live in Florida! Lol!! It's my way of wrapping my arms around her. ❤
Sorry, i should have waited til the end to comment. My therapist said i needed to make time just for myself and crichet has become that time. Ok, last comment❤ btw, one of your best videos ever!
Thank you so very much for sharing that!! 🧶🧶🧶
Thanks for promoting crochet! I've been crocheting steadily for 26 years now. It connects me to my grandma and my husband's grandmother. Everyone of my children have crocheted baby blankets and some of my great nieces and nephews have some as well. It's apart of our family heritage. Also crocheting lowers your blood pressure.😊
I have nervous energy. So I bite my nails and pick a lot. Crochet has really helped me stop doing this.
Also, crochet is a great post-apocalyptic skill. Hopefully I will never have to use it in this way but crochet and quilting, my other craft, my family will never be cold. 😅
You inspired me to start Amigurumi and get back to crochet! Thank you Elise for sharing your wisdom with us. Sending love and prayers to you and your family ❤
Thank you so much! ❤️🧶🐑
LOL, you are so right! I too started my crochet journey with a wonky granny square. 50 years later I have taught myself and use videos now to help out, to crochet everything. It is my meditation and I try to pick up the hook a minute after work everyday.
Wonderful! Thank you! ❤️
I am a 72 year old retiree and pretty much all I do is crochet! My Nana taught me to crochet back when I was 26. She couldn't read patterns, so I only learned what she knew until TH-cam. I've made blankets for everyone in my family (parents, 5 siblings, 23 nieces and nephews, husband, daughter, 2 granddaughters, 3 great grandchildren, and numerous friends). Mostly granny squares. Since retiring I've learned a lot from TH-cam. Now I'm making sweaters, bags, shawls, and other stuff. I don't know what I'd be doing if it wasn't for my yarn.. Crocheting keeps me busy and sane. Thank you Nana! 😊
Greetings from Ireland, I've been crocheting and knitting since I was 4, I turn 50 this year! Both crafts have saved my sanity many a time! I'm watching your video while crocheting a hexi cardigan. I still love learning new stitches and techniques. Never a dull moment!
I have always wanted to learn crochet but it wasn't until a couple of years ago that I realized I actually had the patience to learn....thank goodness for TH-cam! When my granddaughter was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2023, it became an escape for me to keep away all the negative energy around me. I made blankets for her to keep her warm during chemo and it made me feel helpful in a helpless situation. My edges are still wonky and C2C makes me frustrated but I refuse to quit.
Elise, I view/viewed myself the same as you viewed yourself. It's been a battle. I am teaching myself Tunisian crochet and have gotten pretty good with the simple stitch and full stitch. It's taken me several months. I'm also trying my hand at regular crochet but I find it more difficult. And, I'm trying to improve my knitting. I'm at the point I find myself happiest with a hook or needles in my hand. This was a great video and I can't thank you enough for sharing your story. Hugs from AZ
What an inspiring story! Thank you so much Elise. I have been crocheting for nearly 20 years now but still feel like a beginner. Every time I pick up my hook I feel a renewed sense of confidence and think of all the beautiful crocheted items I have been able to make. I am retired now with a disability and crocheting is my passion and fills my days.
I feel the same way. I feel so close to my mom when I see or crochet. I am so glad that I found your channel! I got so much inspiration to get started doing harder projects watching your channel! Thanks!
Thank you so much! ❤️
I learned to crochet from my mom when I was five years old. When I pick up a crochet hook, I think of her she was such an amazing woman. Crochet keeps me calm it helps me deal with stress. I would be the female version of an angry old man if it wasn't for crochet. I can definitely tell the difference in my attitude when I haven't crocheted for a while, and so can everyone else. I had a supervisor one time kindly tell me that I needed to crochet something because he saw that the stress on the job was getting to me and I wasn't my happy go lucky self. Elise, I know what you were through with your son. Mine was 2 years old when he was hospitalized and was first diagnosed with epilepsy. I felt like I was living a nightmare and powerless to do anything. Crochet helped it was something I could control.
Crochet HAS changed my life..I can remember years ago that Crochet would have rescued me! I'm so very happy to have come back after many years away!
Let me just say that I am so thankful for you and your channel. 🎉 I look forward to seeing your new videos every Saturday. I have been crocheting since I was 7. My grandmother sat me down and taught me how to crochet and embroider. When COVID hit i fell into a deep depression. All I did was work and play Facebook games and scroll through social media. I started watching TH-cam videos about gardening, another one of my favorite things, and I started an herb garden. That grew into gardening all over my yard, building a greenhouse out of old windows and of course crocheting again. It brought peace and joy back into my life. ❤ Now I crochet all the time. If I am not working or gardening or sleeping, I am crocheting. I have about i0 WIPs but I am happy, content and enjoy my life again. Nothing brings me more joy than finishing up a project and giving it as a gift.🎉
It is hard for me to crochet with my family around because I jump into the conversations and stop counting and then the project gets weird. When i need to focus on my crochet and not feel alone, i put on your videos and my some of my other favorite crocheters and I listen to your chat videos. It makes me feel in the company of someone who shares my craft and I learn and laugh at stuff that only a yarn lovers would get... Thanks for your channel! :)
Thank you so much! I'm glad we can keep you company! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for talking about how a hobby can be a survivor. I have rheumatoid arthritis and I started EPP in the lockdown. Then I started crocheting in June of this year. I have made three blankets and now crocheting a granny square blanket. I am calm,relaxed and focused while crocheting..with less aches and pains🎉
I am 24 years old and picked up crochet about a year ago. It's been a great way to be creative and helped me when my depression gets worse. It gives your mind something else to focus on and is a great outlet.
I taught myself to crochet (using a booklet) when I was in college (over 25 years ago) and crocheted off and on, mostly blankets for family members until 2019 when I decided to finally make a sweater for myself. My first craft was cross-stitching, which my Mom taught me, but we had a granny square afghan that my Grandma Tillie made for us in our living room and it was always treated with such reverence because my Grandma passed just days before my twin’s and my 7th birthday. I always wanted to learn how to crochet but I never had anyone else in my family who crocheted. The stress of my senior year in college, my drafty dorm room, and a still life painting I did which included my Grandma’s afghan, finally gave me the push to teach myself to crochet and it was such a comfort. Making things for others and seeing them enjoy and treasure them is so rewarding and making clothes for myself feels like I’m giving myself a big hug. I also love knowing that I’m wearing a one of a kind garment. After wearing uniforms (school and TSA) for many years, I love showing my individuality through the things I make and wear. ❤
I don't spend much time on social media to begin with, but I agree that crochet really helps with stress! I work from home for a call center and when clients start rambling I just grab a project and start stitching to keep my hands busy while listening. It really grounds me :)
I tried to learn to crochet off and on since I was a teenager. One winter as an adult I discovered TH-cam crochet tutorials. I could watch the whole tutorial, get the supplies play a step, pause, crochet, and continue. As a sleep deprived Mom I stick to easy patterns, so that even if I am foggy from sleep deprivation, I can crochet with hardly any "frogging." I love crocheting snuggle sized blankets and hot pads and loom knitting hats. With a life of things that don't stay done (cleaning and parenting), it is nice that a crochet project does.
I am crocheting a baby blanket as I watch you. My grandmother (Mimi) taught me to crochet when I was 12. I could pick up her project and continue with it seamlessly. We had the exact same tension! 🤯 She only knew few stitches, and couldn't read a pattern. A new world opened up to me when a lady named Kathy taught me how to read patterns. She and I worked together. She is a knitter and a crocheter. Now..... TH-cam has opened up an even bigger world for my hobby. I learn so much all of the time, and to be able to see the things and hear the way it's worked cuts out a lot of trial and error. I, too, believe everyone should learn how to crochet! I make beautiful things for my loved ones and myself all of the time. It does hurt my feelings when someone rejects or even donates the pieces I've made for them. I'd rather have them back if they don't want them. I also took classes to learn knitting. I think it's beautiful, but I'd much rather crochet. I guess it's because I learned that first. I thank all of you TH-cam creators for continuing to be my Mimi to me!! You and I are very close in age, and I find myself watching you quite often. Thank you for all that you do!! Have an awesome day!!! ❤
"fills our soul with the need to create". Well said!!! In fact, I bought my daughter a Woobles kit because I feel like crochet would enhance her life. She got it today and I am sending her this video. Perfect timing! Thank you!
Crocheting is definitely good for my mental health. I've realized I feel so much happier and... satisfied? When I have projects going where I'm making something. Crochet is my current thing, but I've found that same feeling from other hobbies too like legos and baking!
At 78, with osteoarthritis and less mobile, I find myself scrolling way too much. Your video caught my eye and though I haven’t done crochet for about 20 years but have decided I need to make a blanket, keep my hands and mind busy. Loved the yarn in the first part of this video 🥰. Hope things are improving for your son ❤️
Got into crochet a year before retiring from a very stressful job as supervisor of DCFS in Los Angeles. Since then I made hundreds of projects of amigurumi, sweaters, blankets and dresses, coats and hats for my granddaughter and grandson. It’s been a blessing to spend my days creating something to be proud of. My mother always told us: if you spend your day without producing something you waste your day in life! Since then productivity is my motto. Love your podcasts and always waiting for the next one 🥰🥰
Elise 1st, I love your channel. I 1000% agree on what you said about social media and what crochet does for us mentally. I recall learning to crochet after a traumatic time in my life and I needed something else to draw my mind away from the state I was in. Crochet has been a life saver for me.
Thank you so much for sharing!! Crochet is amazing and I read these stories so often! ❤️❤️❤️
As a teen I watched my great-grandmother crochet amazing things from pictures she saw in magazines, etc. I was fascinated and started down the road of crocheting. I've never delved into the variety of projects you have, but have enjoyed many hours of peace and contentment! Thanks for the great video! ❤
I love to crochet! I've been crocheting for over 30 years, and it brings me joy and peace. I use my craft as a ministry at my church and to bless family and friends through gifting. I have taught my daughters to crochet as well. I'm so grateful to have this craft in my life! ❤🧶
I am really loving the Granny Square story. I tried for 47 years to master a granny square. Even my Grama couldn't find out what I was doing wrong, and she was a MASTER of crochet. I did what you did and that really boosted my confidence. My grama would be proud at where I am today! Thank you Elise.
That's wonderful that you kept trying!!! 👏👏👏
It’s wonderful to be able to create things from just a “string and a stick” as my husband used to say. I have done all kinds of needle crafts my whole life. It has provided me with a way to be creative. Thanks Elise for the wonderful videos you make!
Crochet has been a sanity saver for me. I have lived on the eastern coast of USA for the last 45 years and have had to deal with many hurricanes. As a health care/first responder I am not allowed to evacuate with my family to safer areas so have to hunker down and wait them out . When the power goes out and you can hear the wind blowing knitting and crocheting has allowed me to block out the storm for a while so I am ready when I am able.
Oh my goodness. Thank you so much for sharing about how these hurricanes affect first responders. I'm so glad you have a way to block out the noise just for a little while. Thank you for what you do for others. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I picked up crochet again when I broke my feet and had to elevate it for 6 months... I have been crocheting ever since. I found that it gives me the inner peace in me that bring out a calm feeling. When I finished a successful project for family, friends or charity a sense of comfort comes to me. Crocheting has keep my anxiety low during the stress of covid under control. Crocheting brings out the extra serotonin flooding into me that makes me happy. Picking up crocheting again has brought out youtube content crocheters like you - Elise Rose Crochet and others into my world. Thank you!
When I was a kid my step-mama taught me the basics of crochet, I didn't go very far with it. But in my early twenties I had a really weird commute schedule for work. I had to be an hour and a half early 😅 I had to do something with that time!
I retaught myself crochet from blog posts! And I was poor. I started by buying a single skein of redheart supersaver yarn and one aluminum crochet hook. I spent $5 getting started. I made scarfs, hats, coffee cup cozies, and a bunny toy.
I highly recommend trying crochet, and you don't need anything fancy to start.
That is wonderful! Thank you for sharing your ingenuity! 🧶🧶🧶
Love watching hunger your videos. I have been crocheting since 2019. My grandmother tried to teach me as a child and I felt like I couldn't do it. My "square" pot holder became a diamond some how, so I never continued. I picked it up because I wanted to make my own grandchildren something for Easter. Easter eggs looked easy. I made probably 4 dozen of them and I was hooked. Now it's rare if a day goes by that I don't crochet. Even if I only have a few minutes, I utilize my time to get a few stitches in. It is definitely an addiction that produces beautiful projects and keeps the stress away!!! Thank you for putting this video out. Now I can show people in my family how beneficial it is with someone else's words!!!