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There was a time when I was so inspired by my grandmother’s knitting that I decided to give it a shot and follow in her footsteps. I was going to become a crochet grandmaster and I’d never have to buy a scarf or a pair of socks ever again! After all, I’d make the coolest patterns this side of the Atlantic and everyone would be super jealous. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that I quickly gave up my lofty aspirations when I realized just how bad at everything I really was. And, sadly, I wasn’t willing to put in the time and effort to get better.

However, what stayed with me is my admiration for anyone who can crochet, knit, or sew something incredibly well. It’s not just the aesthetics but also the dedication to the craft that wins over my heart. Luckily for me (and for quite a few of you Pandas), there’s a lot of support online for anyone interested in learning how to make stunning designs. One of these online communities is r/crochet, a subreddit that’s home to nearly 257k people who love the art of crochet.

We’ve collected some of the finest projects featured by the r/crochet community for you to enjoy, dear Pandas, so go on, grab a piece of yarn and wind your way down into the magical realm of cat sofas, crochet animals and handmade clothes, and more. We know these photos will hook you right from the get-go.

One of the friendly moderators at r/crochet was kind enough to answer some of my questions about the community and the craft. "We pride ourselves on maintaining a kind and helpful sub that is welcoming to crocheters of all skill levels and experience," they told Bored Panda. You'll find the full interview about the pros and challenges of crochet below.

#1

My Wife Makes Lovely Crochet Animals. At The Moment She Is Not On A High With Self Confidence So I Want To Show Her That Her Work Is Not Only Liked By Our Kids And Myself

My Wife Makes Lovely Crochet Animals. At The Moment She Is Not On A High With Self Confidence So I Want To Show Her That Her Work Is Not Only Liked By Our Kids And Myself

Diaphor Report

#2

I'm Happy To Show You My New Sheep Design. I Don't Really Like To Make Clothes For Toys But This Fur Coat Had Been Made In One Breath, As The Sheep Itself

I'm Happy To Show You My New Sheep Design. I Don't Really Like To Make Clothes For Toys But This Fur Coat Had Been Made In One Breath, As The Sheep Itself

P.s. The coat hanger in the photo also deserves the attention, it made by my husband special for the sheep.

LoopyPattern Report

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Anita Pickle
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is so great! Sheared and fluffy! The hanger is awesome too!

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#3

Yaay I Finally Finished My Lockdown Project (Started May 2020!) Annoyingly I Can't Get It To Look As Good In Pictures As In Real Life (Any Tips Lol). It's Only My 3rd Ever Project So I Am Really Chuffed With How It Turned Out

Yaay I Finally Finished My Lockdown Project (Started May 2020!) Annoyingly I Can't Get It To Look As Good In Pictures As In Real Life (Any Tips Lol). It's Only My 3rd Ever Project So I Am Really Chuffed With How It Turned Out

star-pix Report

The moderator from r/crochet shared with Bored Panda that the story of how the subreddit was founded is actually shrouded in mystery. "No one currently on the moderation team knows how the sub began in 2008," they said.

I was curious to learn about the link between crochet, knitting, and sewing, as well as just how beginner-friendly the former really is, overall. "Crochet is definitely the most beginner-friendly between crochet, knitting, and sewing. This is because, in part, it’s the easiest to rip apart (called frogging) and go back to fix a mistake," the moderator told Bored Panda that one of the biggest upsides of crochet is the ability to start over if you feel like you've messed up a tad.

It's not without its challenges, however. "Most beginners often find difficulty in knowing where to place the hook in each stitch and figuring out how to coordinate holding the yarn, hook, and work all at the same time!"

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#4

My First [fo]. I Fell In Love With A Girl Who Loves Daisies. She Showed Me A Picture Of A Blanket Like This. I Had No Clue How To Crochet, But She Really Liked That Blanket, So I Knew What I Had To Do

My First [fo]. I Fell In Love With A Girl Who Loves Daisies. She Showed Me A Picture Of A Blanket Like This. I Had No Clue How To Crochet, But She Really Liked That Blanket, So I Knew What I Had To Do

RetfordOaks Report

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Nadine Bamberger
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope she appreciated your effort, if not at least you have a great new skill and a beautiful blanket.

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#5

Crocheted My Wedding Dress

Crocheted My Wedding Dress

Leggylett Report

As for how similar crochet, knitting, and sewing are, the mod noted that there's some crossover with knitting. "They’re both yarn crafts that create fabric. Other similarities include knowing how to count stitches and read written patterns. There is no real crossover with sewing, except perhaps that advanced sewers may have an advantage in understanding how garments drape and fit," they were kind enough to explain to me.

Though you'll have to put in the time and effort to get good at crochet, it's actually a very easy activity to pick up and be on your merry way into the land of yarn. "Learning to crochet, like everything else, has a learning curve! Luckily, it’s pretty easy to get started—all you really need is a hook and a skein of yarn," the mod said.

Like with most things, the internet holds a wealth of information that's useful for anyone just starting out. "Most people find it easiest to learn from YouTube videos, and they are a fantastic resource for learning new stitches and patterns. There are also some wonderful books out there that can teach every conceivable stitch—you want to look for something called a 'crochet stitch dictionary' or similar. Other than that, have fun and don’t be afraid to experiment! And of course, visit the sub for help or advice!"

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#7

I Made A Shark Its Not The Best But Im 14 And I Tried

I Made A Shark Its Not The Best But Im 14 And I Tried

69_nice- Report

#8

Thought I Would Release My Own UFO Images Since The Pentagon Is Releasing Theirs

Thought I Would Release My Own UFO Images Since The Pentagon Is Releasing Theirs

Touwtjee Report

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#9

Ladies In My Village In Southern Spain Crochet And Hang These Over This Street

Ladies In My Village In Southern Spain Crochet And Hang These Over This Street

Sylocule Report

The r/crochet subreddit was founded way back in the September of 2008. Since then, it has become an important part of Reddit’s social fabric. Here at Bored Panda, we’re big fans of people sharing their artistic skills with the world. And even though crochet and knitting might seem incredibly similar to one another from an outsider’s perspective, the fact is, they’re not exact synonyms for one another. (Though, of course, there is quite some overlap!)

Roxanna Coldiron explains in a piece on ‘Martha Stewart’ that crochet and knitting are both methods of stitching together yarn. However, the styles differ. “In knitting, the stitches form a ‘V’ shape. In crochet, the stitches are more like knots,” she writes.

#10

An Artist Crochetted A Lady And Her Dog

An Artist Crochetted A Lady And Her Dog

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#12

Mom Doesn’t Have Reddit But I Think Her Work Is Pretty Awesome!

Mom Doesn’t Have Reddit But I Think Her Work Is Pretty Awesome!

parkbrat12 Report

The tools of the trade are also slightly different. “Knitting uses a pair of long needles to form the loops, moving a set of loops from one needle to another; the stitches are held on the needle. Crochet uses a single hook to hook the loops together directly on the piece. It is this major difference that makes crochet much easier to work with than knitting,” Coldiron points out.

It’s this fact that crochet is easier to work with that makes it perfect for someone who’s new to yarn-work (or rather yarn-art) as a whole.

#13

Xenomorph Crochet Full Body Costume! My Son's Choice! He Glows! (Freehanded/No Pattern)

Xenomorph Crochet Full Body Costume! My Son's Choice! He Glows! (Freehanded/No Pattern)

Crochetverse Report

#14

My Mom Crochets And Donated 31 Blankets To Sick Children This Year

My Mom Crochets And Donated 31 Blankets To Sick Children This Year

seacogen Report

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Nadine Bamberger
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bless her, that's a kind thing to do and a cozy blanket made with love always helps.

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#15

Hoth: I Am Working On A Series Of Feminist Icons For My Brownie Unit. Here Is The First, Marie Curie

Hoth: I Am Working On A Series Of Feminist Icons For My Brownie Unit. Here Is The First, Marie Curie

Wolf_Mommy Report

According to Coldiron, crochet is fairly straightforward, easy enough to pick up as a self-taught hobby, and doesn’t rely so much on a wide range of tools and techniques. The limits are then your imagination and patience. And with how imaginative you Pandas are, I don’t see you running out of inspiration any time soon.

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#16

Made An Octopus Friend For My Son. Son Included For Scale

Made An Octopus Friend For My Son. Son Included For Scale

nericksx Report

#17

It Nearly Cost Me My Sanity, But My Scale Dress Is Finally Complete!

It Nearly Cost Me My Sanity, But My Scale Dress Is Finally Complete!

Zahai Report

#18

My Sil Loves Jeff Goldblum So I Crocheted Her A Blanket As A Surprise

My Sil Loves Jeff Goldblum So I Crocheted Her A Blanket As A Surprise

redlorelei Report

However, knitting appears to be a step up in terms of technique, at least according to Coldiron. “The great benefit of knitting is that, it supports sophisticated designs in intermediate to advanced stages. Some projects combine techniques—such as our shawl in stockinette stitch and embellished with a crochet trim. And you could always consider Tunisian crochet, which many consider to be the best of both techniques,” she points out that there really are no limits. So feel free to dip into crochet, knitting, sewing, and anything else for your next project!

#19

This Blanket Pulled Me In Like Nothing Else - I Finished It In Just 8 Days And Can't Believe I Made It!

This Blanket Pulled Me In Like Nothing Else - I Finished It In Just 8 Days And Can't Believe I Made It!

koukkuunkoukussa Report

#20

I Finished One More Skirt. The Most Beloved Skirt In My Studio And The Customers Love It. What Do You Think?

I Finished One More Skirt. The Most Beloved Skirt In My Studio And The Customers Love It. What Do You Think?

greenvulture_anna Report

#21

Only A Border Left To Make. And Maybe A Few Threads To Put Away With. But Happy Already. Stained Glass Wonder Blanket

Only A Border Left To Make. And Maybe A Few Threads To Put Away With. But Happy Already. Stained Glass Wonder Blanket

Wandel321 Report

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#23

I Made 20 Bees For An Order - A Company That Makes Honey. I’d Be Okay If I Never Make Another Bee Again

I Made 20 Bees For An Order - A Company That Makes Honey. I’d Be Okay If I Never Make Another Bee Again

felixhorse Report

#24

Fiiiinally Finished This Sunset-Colored Cat Blanket!

Fiiiinally Finished This Sunset-Colored Cat Blanket!

savannahstitches Report

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Mazer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What the heck!!?!? How long did it take you to make this masterpiece??

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#25

I Crocheted A Cheeseburger And My Cat Loves It So Much

I Crocheted A Cheeseburger And My Cat Loves It So Much

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#26

Sometimes The Most Basic Pattern Can Be Surprisingly Effective

Sometimes The Most Basic Pattern Can Be Surprisingly Effective

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#27

My Persian Tiles Blanket Won First Place In A Crochet Blanket Competition!

My Persian Tiles Blanket Won First Place In A Crochet Blanket Competition!

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#28

To Say I Am Proud Is The Understatement Of The Millenium

To Say I Am Proud Is The Understatement Of The Millenium

MamaPHooks Report

#30

A Little Bit Of Happiness On A Grey Saturday, One Of My Favourite Things I Had Done. Just Random Small Flower Patterns From All Over The Internet

A Little Bit Of Happiness On A Grey Saturday, One Of My Favourite Things I Had Done. Just Random Small Flower Patterns From All Over The Internet

CrochetLady071 Report

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#32

Finished My First Big Project! Ulita Doily Rug

Finished My First Big Project! Ulita Doily Rug

stitchin-away Report

#33

I Finished It!!!! So Proud Of This One

I Finished It!!!! So Proud Of This One

Rlysrh Report

#35

Wanted To Share These Friends I'm Proud Of!

Wanted To Share These Friends I'm Proud Of!

SpecificMirror9739 Report

#36

It Took Me Over A Month But I Finally Finished My Crochet Beaded Snake!

It Took Me Over A Month But I Finally Finished My Crochet Beaded Snake!

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#37

Fo: I Made My Very First Crochet Dress. At First I Was Making A Shirt, But I Tweaked The Pattern A Little And Ended Up With This. Hopefully The First Of Many

Fo: I Made My Very First Crochet Dress. At First I Was Making A Shirt, But I Tweaked The Pattern A Little And Ended Up With This. Hopefully The First Of Many

robbieleighjohnson Report

#39

My Friend Loves Flowers And The Color Yellow So I Made This Hat. How’d I Do?

My Friend Loves Flowers And The Color Yellow So I Made This Hat. How’d I Do?

blbrna Report

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#42

I Made My Dogs Broccoli Hats

I Made My Dogs Broccoli Hats

sookpit Report

#43

One Of My Projects I’ve Finished In Quarantine

One Of My Projects I’ve Finished In Quarantine

foreverjules Report

#44

Finally Finished My Sunflower Blanket After About 3 Years... Simply Sunburst Granny Squares With A Flat Braid Join

Finally Finished My Sunflower Blanket After About 3 Years... Simply Sunburst Granny Squares With A Flat Braid Join

1ppikiokami Report

#45

I Just Finished These As A Commission! I Think They're Adorable And Bring Me Joy

I Just Finished These As A Commission! I Think They're Adorable And Bring Me Joy

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#46

Got Inspired. A Few Hours Later And This Guy Showed Up!

Got Inspired. A Few Hours Later And This Guy Showed Up!

pleasemakemybread Report

#48

Rainbow Stegosaurus!! A Gift For A Kid Who Just Came Out As Lgbtq, And My Favorite Amigurumi I've Ever Made

Rainbow Stegosaurus!! A Gift For A Kid Who Just Came Out As Lgbtq, And My Favorite Amigurumi I've Ever Made

vegan-water Report

#49

This Year's Costume For My Little Girl Is Finally Complete!

This Year's Costume For My Little Girl Is Finally Complete!

chorski Report

#50

A Sunflower Blanket I Crocheted As A Housewarming Gift

A Sunflower Blanket I Crocheted As A Housewarming Gift

arteporvida Report

Note: this post originally had 108 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.