My First Crocheting Experience

Hello, needlework community, it's good to be here again. I hope you are all doing well. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to experience my first crocheting project. I have always loved creating my wear from my head to my toe; it gives me great joy to wear what I've made myself.

In my country, there's a mandatory one year service for university graduates called the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), where we are posted far from home to serve the nation. After graduating last year, I was mobilized in April for my service. I attended a compulsory 3week camp, where we were introduced to NYSC and how to make the most of it. The camp included fun activities and skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development programs (SAED), which took place from the second week to the last week before moving to our primary place of assignments.

SAED offered many skills including tailoring, bag making, soap making, catering, crocheting, computing, tie and dye, and more. At first, I was unsure of what skill to choose, but I decided on crocheting. Our tutor provided yarns and hooks for purchase during the learning period. Some fellow Corp members who knew how to crochet started their project, while I felt confused thinking it would be a beginner's friendly class ( Making straight chains, round chains,).

I played with my yarn making straight chains, the only crochet technique I learned back then in primary school at least I knew how to handle a hook. After much thought, I decided to follow the trend and make a ruffle cap for my project. It was difficult reaching my tutor because she was always crowded so I decided to seek opinions from my fellow corper on how to start the stitches for a cap. I successfully started and kept unraveling my work due to the different opinions I sorted, as everyone has a pattern they follow while crocheting. I couldn't get the flat circle it was always curvy for me. I was frustrated and nearly gave up.

I decided to consult my tutor, and she helped me out with her pattern and finally, I got it correctly this time. By the time of the showcase, I had managed to show progress but hadn't yet added the ruffle. After camping, I went home and saw a matching yarn which I used to complete ruffles. I was so happy to complete my project, so I eagerly posted it in the group and was commended by my tutor.

I also got a message from a Corp member, asking how I achieved the full ruffles. Her 3 layer ruffles were still looking scanty. I had made this mistake on the first ruffle layer, but once I started making the stitches looser it came out beautifully. I hope to participate in the post camp training soon, so I can get more knowledge on crocheting💃.

All images are mine
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