Skip to main content

Online Crochet Communities

I am not a fan of groups for reasons I've mentioned in the past. Conforming to uniformity, obeying rules set by others and the whole topical clique experience is simply not my cup of tea. I also don't fare well in groups, so it's largely to do with me and not them.

I enjoy my account on Mastodon, as it's a 99% positive creative community, but it's not especially crochet-specific (I've yet to meet another crocheter over there.) I will not use Ravelry again after past problems plus my recent very negative customer experience there. I'm also not a fan of Facebook or Instagram, which are likewise problematic for me because of their terms and certain commercial aspects. I'm not going to sacrifice anything, especially my principles, in order to join and belong to a community.

Is there any place a crochet lover can go to hang out with other crocheters and not be pressured to conform, obey and purchase? Here are some places I've recently looked at:

"The Crochetville forum was founded in 2004 as an online place for crocheters to gather and encourage each other. Everyone is welcome, from the self-taught beginner to the experienced crocheter. Crochetville is woman-owned by two lifelong crocheters."

This looks like a pretty typical crochet community forum. I was not able to view some of the topics and posts because I'm not a member. It might be a good one-size-fits-all community.

I will admit upfront that anything to do with Reddit makes me nervous. The site doesn't have the best reputation, especially in regard to censorship and fake content. I have seen some examples of savage behavior from their users in other areas, too. That said, I don't see any obvious problems with their crochet community. Maybe crochet is too boring to attract the savages.

Yarn over Hook bills itself as "Your global, welcoming home for all things crochet. Ask questions, share WIPs, compare tools, learn new stitches, swap yarn, connect locally, and explore your creativity in a supportive, maker-first space."

If that's true it would be wonderful. I liked the look of this site and the posts I read seemed very encouraging. If I were going to try joining another community, this one would probably be my first choice.

Whenever you look at becoming a member of an online crochet community, you should feel comfortable with their membership and the requirements to contribute. No one should be selling you anything outside of a swap or buy forum. Also, be prepared for any kind of behavior, especially from makers in mixed forums. Some knitters look down on crochet, for example, and so do some yarn shops and sellers, so a knitting forum probably wouldn't be a good fit for a crocheter. Same goes for a knitter joining a crochet forum. Stick with like-minded folks, and you might find a nice place where you can share your work, get help, and see what other makers are doing. As for me . . . I think I'll stick to crocheting solo. :)

Image credit: top image in this post by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Future Me, Checking In

The new thrifting & crochet blog has been such a joy for me to write that I'm now more than a month ahead on pre-written posts. Because I would prefer to be only a week ahead, I'm going to be doubling up for the next few weeks so I can stop getting so far ahead of myself. I think the reason I'm all about crochet these days is that I have no real limitations in regard to it. That has not been the case with quilting and embroidery, so it's a lovely change. I'm still as fast as I used to be when I was younger, too, thank goodness. I began this Iris throw (more on that in a few days) on January 27th, and this is how much I had finished as of last night (2/10). I have two or three more days of work to do and it will be finished. I needed some joy in my life, and this blog and all things crochet are providing that for me. I really couldn't ask for more. Stay tuned to see what I'm getting myself into this year, and how happy it's making me -- a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bucket List

This year I'll turn 65, so I am starting to put together a crochet bucket list. It's not because I think I'll be kicking the bucket any time soon, but while I'm still around there are some projects I'd like to make. It's also fun to compile a list of dream projects. This crochet version of a double wedding ring quilt definitely tops my list. I have a nice little collection of these quilts, and it would be fun to crochet one. When I first saw the Aura Mosaic Crochet Blanket I knew I wanted to make it. It's not that I dislike all the brightly colored Persian tile type projects, I just gravitate more toward earthy and nature-inspired palettes. This one is simply stunning. I'd really like to crochet a light and lacy duster like this one from Red Heart to wear. Mine would likely end up being a mossy shade of green or off-white. Speaking of mossy greens, this Mirrored Leaves throw was on the cover of the catalog that Herrschners sent wit...
Post a Comment
Read more

Eight Plus Numbers

When I was looking up the retail on the small lot of yarn plus a tapestry kit I got a lot of surprises. This Red Heart Roll with It Sparkle skein in "Diamonds" was actually a cake that sells $10.99 on Yarnspirations. The lot included two Red Heart Super Saver Jumbo skeins, which retail for $8.99 each, and stuck in the center of the buff color I found a 5.5 mm crochet hook. This is a skein of 100% Icelandic wool, which can be really expensive. It's marked with a price tag of $7.00, and I found it selling for $8.00 online. The needlepoint kit is the biggest surprise of all. It makes a pillow, and hails from the UK, where it sells for £45.00 ($60.76 US). Since it's flamingos I definitely have to finish it if I can. Altogether my eight plus lot retails for $125.04; I paid $21.30 total for the lot with the buy-it-now option and one penny shipping. I indeed got a very nice bargain.
Post a Comment
Read more