First published in March 2020 and updated in 2023.
Amanda has always had a passion for crochet, but life got in the way and prevented her from giving it much attention. Finding a way to switch off from life stresses she turned to crochet and realised that she was really rather good it.
Having completed both of our crochet Skill Stage 2 and Skill Stage 3 courses she reflects on what she’s learned and provides some good advice for new students. This is her #MyStitchJourney
“I was becoming frustrated that I couldn’t quite grasp what was needed to create complex and unique crocheted items that my followers would love to make. I had forgotten how to unleash my creativity and didn’t quite understand the rules of design, so I was searching for a way of learning and growing in both these areas.”
Amanda Jones
I learnt to crochet as a little girl and was taught by my grandmother. Crochet fell out of fashion in the 80s and as a teenager I lost interest in the craft.
I picked up crocheting after a considerable break back in 2015, as my children were getting older I found I had more free time to pursue my own interests. At the time my job was very stressful so I was looking for something to help me cut off from work and relax a bit more. I’ve always been creative, drawing, painting, sewing, and crafting so picking up a crochet hook was just the right thing to do. I remember buying a simple crochet kit for Christmas decorations, quickly followed by more hooks and yarn to make crochet items that I was hungry to try. Crochet took on a life of it’s own after that, the stitches and the concentration where a welcome mediation to switch my brain off after busy working days. I gradually learned new stitches and techniques progressing to more and more complex patterns.
I lost my Dad to brain cancer in 2018. Such a life changing event made me think about there being more to life than the 9 – 5 rat race and all the stress of the job I was doing at the time. I began to think about life beyond work. I’ve worked for the same company for 27 years, I have a healthy pension pot so early retirement became my aim.
Why Crochet?
A day out to the Knitting and Stitching show at Alexandra palace in 2018 helped me choose my path.
I was admiring some hand spun natural sheep’s wool yarn. I happened to be wearing a delicate lace shawl I had crocheted in a silk alpaca mix. The small business owner asked if I had made it, when I said “yes” she asked if I realised how talented I was? I was a bit confused so said I just followed the pattern to make it, I just liked it but didn’t think it was anything special. She persisted and said that few people could crochet to that level to that level of quality of finish. Before this a career in creative crochet would never have occurred to me. I knew at that point that any career change would have to wait for an early retirement date but I could use the following 5 or 6 years to become more established.
On my return I did some research into whether crochet could be turned into something that I could earn me some money in the future. My research proved fruitful, so I decided to plan for my early retirement and use the time in between to develop my skills and grow a much broader range of knowledge and experience to help me design my own designs and to be able to teach others to crochet. The level 2 Crochet course is my first step towards this goal.
I started a simple blog to begin to record my journey and test out the appetite of fellow crocheters for what I wanted to make and create. I was building a following designing a few items that I could give away for free. It was all moving in the right direction.
I was becoming frustrated that I couldn’t quite grasp what was needed to create complex and unique crocheted items that my followers would love to make. I had forgotten how to unleash my creativity and didn’t quite understand the rules of design, so I was searching for a way of learning and growing in both these areas.
Why the School of Stitched Textiles?
Both my children have chosen vocational courses rather than university to start their careers so I am well read on accredited courses and awarding bodies. I had researched a number of crochet courses. Some were very expensive and didn’t appear to have accreditation from an awarding body or if they did the awarding body, I felt, didn’t have the right reputation for a long standing, valid qualification. I came across the School of Stitched Textiles and was pleased to see that they are accredited through City & Guilds a really well-known and respected awarding body of vocational courses. So my choice was easy, it was the School of Stitched Textiles!
For me, the design process has been the most helpful part of the course. From inspiration to research, to developing design ideas through to the finished piece. It has given me the confidence to continue that design process since I’ve finished the course.
Studying Crochet
I started with Crochet skills level 2 a short year-long course that didn’t seem too overwhelming to sign up to. I am pleased to say that I completed the course and graduated back in 2019.
I took a break in learning before signing up for Skill Stage 3 the course has not disappointed me. The design stage at the start of the course taught me so much about the intellectual property that you can create from just a few well-chosen pictures. I loved some of the techniques that I learned to use to create unique designs that I could then apply to crocheted items. I so enjoyed immersing myself in a theme to produce really different designs and items. Now everywhere I go I’m taking pictures ready to use for a future project to produce a series of themed designs.
What’s next?
The end of the course focuses on what you will do next, it was a thought provoking and challenged what I had assumed I would do. Such a valuable exercise.
I am currently finishing a whole series of projects that I started during the last two years or that I put on hold. Commissions and items for me or my family. My next steps are to revamp my blog to be a platform where I can sell my crochet designs. I have another two years before I retire so I’m taking my time with getting this right before I jump into social media marketing and designing and releasing new collections.
What would your advice be to new students?
The end of the course focuses on what you will do next, it was a thought provoking and challenged what I had assumed I would do. Such a valuable exercise.
I am currently finishing a whole series of projects that I started during the last two years or that I put on hold. Commissions and items for me or my family. My next steps are to revamp my blog to be a platform where I can sell my crochet designs. I have another two years before I retire so I’m taking my time with getting this right before I jump into social media marketing and designing and releasing new collections.
Plan, plan and plan! Make sure you set aside a few hours every week to do some work on your module. This will keep you on track to successfully completing the course.
We’d like to thank our Crochet Graduate, Amanda, for taking the time to talk to us about her experience of the crochet courses. We’re looking forward to following her journey as she pursues her new career.
