How in the World Do You Make a Magic Circle?

I had the great idea to take up crocheting because I wanted to be able to make toys for my son and his potential future siblings. I saw so many cool handmade toys online, from teddy bears to full on play kitchens complete with a crocheted refrigerator and crocheted food!

In true optimist fashion I thought Oh, I can do that! because really, how hard can it be? Let me tell you, friend. It’s HARD.

Picture this, new mom frantically pausing and rewinding the YouTube video because how do you wrap the yarn around your fingers like that and grab it with this stupid hook while the newborn is nursing on one boob and the cat has decided your ball of working yarn is his new favorite toy.

There are so many different tutorials on the internet for making the magic circle, which is the first step to creating stuffed toys, but it took so long to master! I would finally get the hook through to start the circle but my rounds would be too loose for it to take shape. And on top of that, the kits, tutorials, and designs that you get online and in stores are all in some weird shorthand. So not only do you have to learn how to get your fingers to cooperate, you also have to learn a new language! Crocheting is not for the weak.

Needless to say, this is not a relaxing hobby. This hobby is not multitask-friendly, either. I can paint, draw, scrapbook, and write blog posts while holding and feeding my baby, but I CANNOT crochet while doing so. Which means I have tons of crochet supplies and no idea what to do with them. I’ve successfully made a super loose, stuffing-falling-out blob that I lovingly call a chicken nugget, and I’ve been working up to a bumble bee. The sweet zebra making kit my mom got me is still just a ball of black and white yarn. Poor guy, maybe I’ll get brave enough to start on him soon!

Crocheting really is a labor of love and a big learning curve! Do you know how to crochet? What’s your favorite thing you’ve made?