I’ve been asked many times where I learnt to crochet. The answer is, a bit here and a bit there – from friends, family and books. I also went to a Tea and Crafting amigurumi workshop, run by the fantastic Jane Gois, who taught me how to crochet in a circle. I’d recommend her workshops to anyone looking to learn crochet, knitting or quilting in London.
So many friends asked me to teach them crochet that I decided to share the knowledge and set up a workshop. A group of seven of us got together at Art Matters, with our crochet hooks and our wool, and set out to make some whales.
First things first – what is amigurumi? Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed creatures. The word is derived from a combination of the Japanese words ami, meaning crocheted or knitted, and nuigurumi, meaning stuffed doll. Most amigurumi patterns are based on continuous spirals.
We ate cupcakes and drank tea. Whilst learning to crochet everyone feels all fingers and thumbs, but as soon as you’ve got the hang of holding the hook and the wool, you’re away. Practice makes perfect and there are loads of simple patterns for free out there, so have fun!
The simplest pattern I’ve found is here: http://www.planetjune.com/blog/free-crochet-patterns/tiny-whale/
