When the pandemic began in 2020, leaving everyone with more free time, people filled it with new activities and hobbies. Some started exercising.  Some took up baking. And Bridget Neff (‘22), junior at the time, began crocheting. 

Crocheting involves a form of  needlework where a hooked needle and threads form  interlocking looped stitches. Though it’s similar to knitting, which also uses threads and hooked needles to make sheets of fabric, crocheting resonates more with Neff. To her, crocheting as a craft represents flexibility and overflowing creativity. 

“Crochet is a very fun activity you can do with your free time to make something you like. I’ve learned that I can express myself creatively in different ways and express myself in the way I want. I like being able to make clothing that I want instead of going out and finding it and buying it for a lot more money,” said Neff.

Some might say that crocheting is a boring hobby, and that only older generations bother doing it. Neff could not disagree more. She argues that although it’s stereotyped as boring, crocheting is extremely versatile. When time is put in, it can be customized to one’s own tastes, from sweaters to cardigans to stuffed animals–anything one desires.

 I enjoy crocheting cute animals and being able to add designs to different clothing I make, like using different colors and adding stripes and other accessories to fit my vision,” said Neff.

Before she started her new hobby, no one else in Neff’s family crocheted. Neff ultimately learned by herself through the internet using spare tools she found around the house. She first became interested in crocheting through accounts on instagram and youtube tutorials appearing on her feed. She had yarn in her closet and a crochet hook, and figured she could put them to use. 

Crocheting was difficult at the beginning, but Neff quickly learned through tutorials online, and as she got more confident, began looking for ways to implement different patterns and styles of crochet. While mistakes happen, like not doing the correct amount of stitches or the wrong kind of stitch, those are easily fixable by redoing the problem area. 

“For cases in which I make something like a hat or a sweater and it comes out too small or not how I imagined, I usually start over and correct what I did wrong or try making something else that’s similar,” said Neff.

The first thing Neff ever crocheted was a small gray snake with green eyes and a pink bow tie. Although not the grandest of her creations, the cute creature holds a special place in Neff’s heart, as it’s proudly placed on her nightstand as a reminder of her beginnings. 

Neff’s creative process starts once she’s inspired, whether it be by a youtube video, an instagram post, or by her own mind. She tries to be meticulous and work on one project at a time, but when she’s working on a bigger project, she’ll often indulge herself by working on a small one if time permits. 

Each of Neff’s projects takes quite some time, depending on the scale. She crochets about four hours a week during school and eight hours during breaks.  Her smaller projects, like a stuffed animal like a worm or frog, take a day or two to complete. However, if she’s crocheting an article of clothing, it takes her around two weeks of consistent time and effort on top of her regular schedule until it’s done.

“I’ve seen people pump out an entire sweater in a span of three days, but it takes me longer because it takes longer for me to focus on that kind of project,” said Neff.

She features all her projects, from colorful sweaters to cute animal toys, on her Instagram account, @crochetcreatures0. Neff had started her account to receive feedback on her work and see how she could improve her crocheting Now, she’s amassed an avid following of almost 70 followers. 

“I want to see what people make as well as sharing my work with other people. I want to get feedback and see what people like as well as see how I can improve my own art,” said Neff.

Using digital media has inspired many of Neff’s different projects. She doesn’t look up to a specific person or account, preferring instead to survey several crochet accounts for new ideas. 

Neff not only crochets for her own enjoyment, but also crochets for her friends. Katie Wiest (‘22), one of Neff’s best friends since kindergarten, deeply respects Neff’s perseverance towards her craft and loves getting new crocheted apparel. Crocheting is harder than it looks, so Wiest is grateful for the gifts she receives. 

“What Bridget makes takes a lot of time, even multiple weeks, so when I get them as gifts, I know she put a lot of time and effort into them, which makes it very special,” said Wiest.

As well as bringing her and her friends closer together, Neff’s crocheting has also helped her develop a stronger bond with her grandmother. Through their shared interest, she was able to see different projects other than her own, which helped them connect.

“She’s able to share the things she’s created and has supported me by giving me some of the yarn she has,” said Neff.

When Neff crochets, she’s able to breathe and unwind from the long day while doing something she enjoys. As a high school student, having time to relax is crucial, and working on one of her new projects does the job.

“Having something to crochet helps me focus on the present rather than the future, as well as doing something I enjoy and putting work into something for myself or others,” said Neff.

A black and red sweater is one of Neff’s favorite crochet projects. It took a lot of trial and error to make it fit correctly, as the measurements were incorrect the first time. However, through time and patience, she finished the piece. 

“The second time, I was able to get it right. Now I’m able to wear it whenever I want. I feel very accomplished because it was such a big project,” said Neff.

Neff learns how to be a better crocheter every day. She hopes to turn out future projects faster and translate crochet patterns at a quicker pace by not making the yarn too tight. She isn’t sure what the future holds, but one thing’s for sure: crocheting will continue being a part of her life.

“Crocheting has helped me understand my style better and well as giving me confidence in myself and my abilities,” said Neff.