May
Okay So Here’s What I Actually Make When I’m Bored of Regular Stuff
The thing nobody tells you about crochet is that granny squares get old really fast and then you’re just sitting there wondering what else exists. I went through this phase last summer where I made like three market bags in a row and honestly by the third one I wanted to throw my hook out the window but anyway here’s what actually kept me interested.
Amigurumi But Make It Weird
Everyone does the cute animals right but I started making random objects instead and it’s way more fun. Made a whole crocheted avocado in July 2024 when my sister kept making jokes about millennials and avocado toast and I was like you know what, I’m gonna make this happen. Used Red Heart Super Saver in that medium green color and some chocolate brown for the pit. The annoying part was stuffing it because you need it firm enough to hold the shape but not so firm that it looks like a rock.
You can make pretty much anything if you think about it as basic shapes. Like that avocado was just an oval cut in half basically. I’ve seen people make crocheted food, office supplies, even tiny crocheted versions of like household cleaners which is weird but also kind of hilarious? The pattern writing for amigurumi is pretty straightforward once you get that it’s all just increases and decreases in rounds.
Pro tip though – invest in actual safety eyes if you’re making things with faces. I tried using buttons for the longest time and they just look sad and homemade in a bad way. The plastic safety eyes from like any craft store make everything look 500% more professional even if your tension is garbage.
Wall Hangings That Aren’t Basic
So in spring 2022 I was going through this whole thing where I needed to redecorate but had no money and I started making these textured wall hangings. Not the macrame looking ones everyone does – I’m talking about using like five different stitches in one piece to create actual dimension. Bobble stitches, popcorn stitches, loop stitches all in one thing.
I used Wool-Ease from Lion Brand for one of them, the really chunky kind, and it worked up so fast. The texture shows up better with chunkier yarn anyway. You don’t even need a pattern really, just make a rectangle and go wild with different stitch combinations. I did rows of each stitch type and it looked intentional even though I was totally making it up as I went.
What annoyed me about this project was hanging it properly because crochet has weight and regular command strips don’t cut it. Had to actually put a dowel rod through the top and figure out the whole situation with string and it was way more complicated than the actual crocheting part.
Wearables That Actually Get Worn
Okay unpopular opinion but most crochet clothing looks like crochet clothing in a bad way. But there are some things that actually work. Bucket hats are having a moment and they’re actually pretty quick. Made one during a really bad breakup in winter 2023 and just worked on it while watching true crime documentaries which probably says something about my mental state but whatever.
The trick with hats is getting the crown shaping right. You start with a magic ring and increase evenly – usually you do 6 increases per round until it measures the right diameter for a head, then you work even for the sides. I always measure against my own head as I go which probably looks ridiculous but it works.
Fingerless gloves are another thing that people actually wear. They work up fast, you only need one skein usually, and they’re useful for people who type a lot or are cold in offices. I like making them with a simple half-double crochet because it has some stretch but isn’t too loose. Caron Simply Soft works great for these because it’s soft enough to not irritate your hands but has enough structure.
Home Stuff That’s Not Blankets
Listen blankets are fine but they take forever and I have the attention span of – oh yeah my cat just knocked over my water bottle hold on – anyway blankets take too long for me usually.
Basket are where it’s at though. You can make them any size, they’re actually useful, and you can use up weird yarn stash. I make mine with two strands held together usually to make them sturdy. The pattern is literally just a circle for the base and then working even for the sides. You can make them tall, short, wide, narrow, whatever.
T-shirt yarn or that Bernat Blanket yarn in the big skeins works really well for baskets. They need to be stiff enough to hold their shape. Regular worsted weight yarn is gonna make a floppy sad basket unless you use like three strands together.
Coasters are another easy one but here’s the thing – make them thick. A single layer crocheted coaster doesn’t do anything. I either make them really dense with tight stitches or I make two layers and sew them together. Used some random cotton yarn from Lily Sugar’n Cream for a set and they actually absorb condensation unlike those sad thin ones.
The Weird Experimental Stuff
Sometimes you just gotta try something different even if it doesn’t make sense. I went through a phase where I was making these like sculptural pieces that had no function. Just shapes and textures combined in weird ways. Wire crochet is a thing too – you can crochet with actual thin wire and make jewelry or decorative objects that hold their shape.
Made this whole thing with wire and beads last fall that was supposed to be a decoration but honestly I’m still not sure what it is. It’s just sitting on my shelf looking interesting. Used 24-gauge wire from the hardware store and a smaller hook than you’d think – like a 2.5mm because the wire is thin but not that thin.
The most annoying thing about wire crochet is that it absolutely destroys your hands. Your fingers hurt, your tension is all over the place because you’re used to yarn having give to it, and if you mess up you can’t really pull it out cleanly because wire gets kinked. But the end result looks cool in a way that regular yarn can’t achieve.
Bags and Pouches With Actual Structure
Market bags are cool but they’re floppy. If you want a bag that actually holds its shape you need to think about construction differently. I make bags with a stiff base – usually a piece of cardboard or plastic canvas cut to size and covered with crochet, then build the sides up from there.
For a structured bag I did last summer I used two strands of worsted weight held together and worked in back loops only to create a ridged texture that naturally made it stiffer. Added a zipper which was annoying to hand-sew in but makes it actually functional as like a toiletry bag or whatever.
Zipper pouches are actually pretty easy once you get over the fear of installing zippers. You just crochet two rectangles, sew the zipper to the top edges, then sew the sides together. I watched some random YouTube video about it while eating dinner one night and was like oh that’s it? The sewing part takes longer than the crochet honestly.
Toys and Gifts That Aren’t Baby Stuff
Everyone makes baby blankets and rattles but there’s a whole world of things you can make for actual adults. Dice bags for people who play D&D are always appreciated. They’re just small drawstring bags but if you make them in cool colors people get excited about them.
I made a set of nesting bowls once using that stiffening spray stuff – you crochet them, spray them with fabric stiffener, and shape them over bowls while they dry. They end up hard and hold their shape. Used some random acrylic yarn because it doesn’t matter much when you’re gonna stiffen it anyway. The annoying part was waiting for them to dry and my dog kept trying to investigate what I was doing with all these bowls turned upside down on the table.
Coffee cup sleeves are quick gifts. Takes like 30 minutes max and people think you put in way more effort than you did. Just measure around a standard coffee cup, make a rectangle that size, and sew the ends together. Add a button if you’re feeling fancy.
Seasonal Stuff That’s Not Ornaments
Halloween decorations are fun because you can make them look intentionally wonky and it fits the aesthetic. Made a bunch of little pumpkins in fall 2023 using orange Red Heart and they came out cute even though my gauge was all over the place. Just stuff them and add a green stem made with a pipe cleaner or some brown yarn.
You can make garlands for any season – just crochet a long chain and add shapes to it. Hearts for Valentine’s, flowers for spring, whatever. They’re good for using up tiny amounts of leftover yarn too.
Wreaths are another option but you need a base form. I bought those foam wreath forms from the craft store and just wrapped them with single crochet stitches going around and around. Then you can add whatever decorations you want. Takes a while because you’re working with small stitches but it’s mindless TV watching crochet.
The Technical Challenge Stuff
If you want to actually improve your skills, try making something with colorwork. Tapestry crochet is where you carry yarn colors and create patterns or images. It’s like pixel art but with crochet. Way harder than it looks because you have to keep tension on both the working yarn and the carried yarn.
I attempted a tapestry crochet bag with a geometric pattern and honestly the back side was a mess of carried yarns but the front looked intentional so that’s what matters. Used two colors of Caron One Pound because I needed a lot and that’s the most economical option.
Tunisian crochet is basically a hybrid of knitting and crochet and opens up totally different possibilities. You need a special long hook with a stopper on the end. The fabric it creates is denser and has less stretch than regular crochet. Good for things like dishcloths or scarves where you want that structure.
I made a Tunisian crochet scarf in like 2021 or maybe early 2022, can’t remember exactly, and it took forever because the stitches are slower than regular crochet but it looked really professional when done. The fabric doesn’t curl as much as knitting does either which is nice.
Random Quick Projects For Instant Gratification
Sometimes you just need to finish something fast. Bookmarks take like 20 minutes. Just a long skinny rectangle with maybe a tassel on the end. Scrunchies are having a comeback and you can crochet them – just make a tube that fits around a hair elastic.
Plant hangers are cool if you have plants. Just chains and knots basically, similar to macrame but you can add some crochet elements. I made one for my pothos that was mostly chains with some shell stitches worked in and it looks way more complex than it actually was to make.
Headbands work up fast too. Just a long strip that you sew the ends together. You can make them plain or add texture or twists or whatever. They’re good for using up partial skeins that aren’t enough for anything else.
The thing about crochet is once you understand that everything is just combinations of basic stitches you can literally make anything. A sphere is just increases then working even then decreases. A rectangle is working even rows. A circle is increases worked in rounds. That’s basically it and you can combine those shapes into whatever weird thing you want to make.
Honestly the best projects are the ones where you’re just experimenting and seeing what happens. Following patterns is fine but making stuff up as you go teaches you way more about how stitches work together and what creates different effects. Plus if it turns out ugly you can just frog it and nobody has to know you tried.
