Crochet & Community

As Christmas approaches, I am reminded that last year, I rehabilitated a granny-square blanket my mother made in 1988. Some of the squares had developed foot-sized holes. It’s been decades since my mother passed, but it felt as though we were working together on a common project. Crochet is about connection, creativity, and the joy of making something with your own hands. It’s for that reason that I love teaching crochet. 

Through learning crochet, young people gain an authentic sense of accomplishment, develop their fine motor skills, and form meaningful connections with a like-minded community.

I have a teenage student named Emma. A few years ago she expressed an interest in learning to crochet. I was thrilled and worried. We meet online so I was wondering how I would be able to teach such a hands-on skill through the screen. It turned into an opportunity, because Emma made a lot of mistakes. Since I wasn’t right next to her, she had to listen carefully and figure things out on her own. Even though I tried to convince her to tackle something easy, like a scarf, or a potholder, she insisted on making an amigurumi animal. After a few weeks and quite a bit of complaining, Emma held up her first project. I’ll never be sure if she crocheted a chicken or an egg. Whatever it was, her mother loved it. 

After a year, Emma became an amigurumi champion. These days, she crochets like a grandma: barely looking at her hands, quickly tugging the yarn, and sharing High School gossip. This process has helped Emma develop authentic self-esteem, which my colleague Kareen Kakouris explains grows only from accomplishment. Crafts, like crochet, are perfect engines to help children and young adults build self-esteem. 

In addition to self-esteem, crochet hones fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination and the dexterity of fingers and hands. I love watching the eyes of my colleagues glance over at my hands as a gorgeous granny-square spills off the crochet hook. My uncle’s rheumatologist urged him to keep crocheting, even as his hands became twisted with arthritis. Even on days when his hands ached, George would persevere, knowing that even though his stitches were a little messier than they once were, his hands joints were looser and more nimble for the effort. 

I am grateful to my mother, grandmother and uncle for teaching me to crochet. Through them, I learned that crochet is more than just a craft—it's a way to carry forward memories, pass down traditions, and create something meaningful. I hope that Emma’s crochet journey brings her as much joy and connection as mine has over the years.