Detours from home: I became a hooker…of yarns

[Editor’s note: Detours from home is a Rappler column where readers can share about the new things they have been doing while in quarantine. In this essay, a marketing consultant talks about learning how to hook yarns to make beautiful things. You, too, can share your own Detours from home story.]

I became a hooker… anything to survive the pandemic. 

So, yes, I started hooking – yarns, that is. There’s no real term to call someone who does crochet, and since you hook yarns to make stitches, I say close enough. Kidding aside, I learned to crochet over the quarantine to survive the boredom of the pandemic.

At the start of the quarantine, I went through what everyone was doing – cook, clean, and binge on as much content as I can take in a day. It was fun for a while, but anxiety and boredom soon came back. Constantly being at home, walking back and forth within the confines of four walls also constantly reminds us that we’re living through a pandemic. Yet, if we’re staying at home for more weeks to come, I had to find something to keep me busy and distracted.

I’m not new to the yarn world. Pre-quarantine, I was already a knitter. Yes, they’re different things. In knitting, you use two knitting needles to create stitches that resemble loops; while in crochet, you use a hook to make stitches that resemble knots. 

Since 2018, I’ve knitted shawls, scarves, and baby booties among other things. Knitting is very therapeutic. You can easily work through projects while watching TV, while on road trips, basically anywhere you need to kill time. Crochet takes a bit more focus, counting and strategizing; but there’s something about crochet projects that pull you into the craft. They’re just so three-dimensional and imaginative. 

With time in my hands during the quarantine, I decided to give crocheting a try again. Next thing I knew, I was ordering yarns in every possible color, because I was hooked (pun intended). My first project was ear-savers for frontliners who need to wear surgical masks for hours on end, with the garter ear strap hurting the back of the ears from prolonged chaffing.

On Mother’s Day, out of the blue, my mom insinuated she wanted beverage coasters and in an hour and a half, I have a coaster set crafted. A rush of excitement came over me, and I just couldn’t stop. I started going through my Pinterest boards, browsing through the amigurumi projects I have saved and yearned to learn over the years.

Amigurumi is the Japanese art of crocheting stuffed yarn creatures. Yes, expect it to be kawaii~. For a beginner, amigurumi could be a little bit intimidating because of the nature of the project. It’s usually more intricate, having to create animal ears, arms, and accessories. There’s also learning how to read a pattern. As with writing, different pattern authors have different styles; but once you have the stitches down, you’ll be able to go through them without a hitch.

My first project was of course my favorite animal, the pig! I made a small stuffed pig and made two more of it, so I can stack them up. I’ve also made a hedgehog, which can double as a pincushion. I’ve also gotten my first commissioned project: a BTS BT21 keychain featuring Tata. 

With the enhanced community quarantine over, I’m back to working 6 days a week, but I’m definitely setting aside time before bed and over the weekends to continue working on my craft. – Rappler.com

Ryanna Tee is a twenty-something based in Manila, doing business development, and marketing consulting on the side. With her career so business-oriented, she constantly finds new things to learn like knitting, playing the ukulele, and doing yoga to keep herself diverse. You can find more of her yarn creations on Instagram @theyarnpile.