My Crochet Story: Legally Blind Crochet

I feel like I’m being a little repetitive here. I talked some about my legally blind crochet story on Instagram earlier this week. You can see that video by clicking this link if you’re interested.

I remember when I was a kid, I wanted to knit. Someone even gave me some knitting needles. But they didn’t teach me how to use them. My sister stepped on one and punctured her foot, so I had to throw them all away. Despite having great-aunts who crocheted, I didn’t learn until I was in college.

Once Upon a Time

At the time, one of my roommates taught me how to crochet. She didn’t know how to teach me to hold the yarn to regulate tension, so I crocheted very tightly. I made a scarf that would not bend. I have no idea what happened to that scarf. I figure it got thrown away. After that, I didn’t do much else with it.

Fast forward twenty years or so. 

In the meantime, I had started making jewelry. I had a beading magazine that featured a pattern for a crocheted wire bracelet accented with beads. I wanted to make it. But I didn’t remember how to crochet. I looked up videos and checked out books. I tried to figure it out on my own, but I couldn’t.

The local college had a community education program. In looking through their catalog, I saw there was a crochet class. I signed up for it. I made friends with the other ladies in the class and we started getting together once a month after the class ended. 

That class was about thirteen years ago.

I haven’t looked back.

Introducing Legally Blind Crochet

I’ve made baby blankets, bibs, booties, baby hats, beanies, headbands, fingerless gloves, scarves, shawls, gloves, Kindle covers, purses, necklaces, and more. I’ve made wearables, accessories, and home decor. I’ve learned to read patterns and started writing my own. I also have some free patterns on this blog in this post and in this one too.

Being legally blind, sometimes I have even struggled with reading patterns. I prefer digital patterns to printed ones so I can enlarge the pattern to what I need to be able to see it. Over the years, there have been some patterns that would not enlarge for one reason or another. That’s not exactly conducive to legally blind crochet.

I have discovered, though, that those experiences play into what I do and what I want to do. I want to make crochet accessible to everyone regardless of their visual ability. That allows for legally blind crochet, in my case, or blind crochet for others. It would allow for dyslexic crochet or crochet for those with other visual processing disorders. It opens a variety of opportunities. I’m excited about that.

Just because my crochet story is unique to me doesn’t mean it’s exclusive to anyone else. Your story will be different than mine, but that doesn’t make it any less valid. In fact, that kind of diversity is what we need. Everyone’s story contributes to the yarnie community.

The good thing about it is my story is continuing to evolve. I’m looking forward to some plans I’ve made for this year. In a quick summary, I’m going to be pursuing some partnerships, starting a podcast, and writing more patterns. That will all make sure my crochet story continues. It might influence yours too. If it does, I hope you’ll let me know.

What have been some of your crochet experiences? Leave a comment and let me know. I would love to hear/read them.