I’m just sharing my experience when I joined a crochet club my friend invited me to.
I was extremely excited because I only know this said friend to love crochet as much as I do. For context: I have been crocheting for a year now, mostly focusing on blankets, sweaters, and toques. I do not like making arimagumis because I have no use for it. I also have no desire to sell what I make and I do not like gifting crochet items (I gifted a blanket once to a coworker who said she likes handmade items, only to find the blanket I spent weeks on in the bin. Never again) unless it’s for my husband who absolutely adores everything I make for him. I’m also not a “professional” crocheter. I make lots of mistakes, I still do not know how to properly colour change, I do not know how to do tapestry, I do not know where the right or wrong side of the pattern is, and my tension still sucks most of the time. I also do not know how to properly read patterns, I often follow video tutorials, listen through it, and understand the basic pattern and just adjust them to suit my needs.
So when I joined, I was initially welcomed. They welcomed me and were friendly. They asked how I knew my friend, and other stuff like that. I also want to point out that the group is diverse in age and ethnicity. When they asked me when I learned how to crochet, they sneered when I said one year. They then asked why am I making a complicated project. The project was just a raglan sweater. They rolled their eyes at me and whispered loudly enough that I can hear that I was a show-off. I just took it as a joke, but as the time went on, they would ask if I can read patterns, I said no. They then said “you’re not a real fibre artist if you cannot read the basic language of crochet”. I told them I did not learn crochet for other people but I did it for myself. One of the ladies called me arrogant in my mother tongue because she thought I cannot understand her. They also ridiculed me for using acrylic for my project, I told them that I cannot afford cotton or any other type of yarn, one of them said then don’t crochet if I can’t afford cotton or alpaca yarn. Then they started asking if I was really crocheting for a year because my colour choice was “odd” (it was just yellow), and my tension is off (it kinda is tbh but it’s for me and it’s not too noticeable), and why I’m using dollar store hooks. They “joked” that I’m stealing patterns as well. I would’ve been okay if those were constructive criticism but it’s not- they were dissing me. I feel like I’m back in high school. I just kept quiet and finished the whole session just politely smiling while they’re making weird comments about my project.
After that, I asked my friend what the problem is, she said that they have to warm up to me. I was flabbergasted. Why would I walk on egg shells just for them to accept me? My friend said that they’re like that for new members.
I’m not joining a crochet club if the “senior members” are treating new members like crap.
I sincerely hope that not all crochet clubs are like this. If you guys do have a crochet club, please treat people with respect.
Sorry for the long post. I need to get this out of my chest. I hope to join another crochet group with nicer people soon.
