I have always wanted to learn how to crochet. More specifically, I have wanted to learn how to crochet in order to make homemade gifts for friends and family. With Christmas just around the corner, what better time to embark on my crochet gift giving journey!
You might be thinking, “what does this have to do with inquiry?” Well, I have decided to dive a little deeper than simply using this hobby to craft. Given the fact that I am a University student, always almost drowning in homework, I have decided to test how picking up this new hobby will affect my stress levels.
My first step was to watch a few video to ensure this hobby would actually be obtainable and easy enough to pick up. I finallt made the decision to crochet slippers in hopes to wrap them for Christmas presents. Although, that idea depends are the outcome of the slippers. Plus, I don’t know about you, but my feet are always cold…so this new skill will hopefully give me the gift of warm feet too! I have linked the two videos that I will be watching to begin my journey.
My second step was to think about how to transform this idea of a new hobby into an inquiry project. So, I brainstormed some guiding questions that could lead me down different avenues of exploration.
- How does picking up a completely new hobby affect the stress levels of an already busy university student?
- Will stress levels increase or decrease? Why or why not?
- How will I measure/project my findings into the blog?
- Make a chart to fill out before and after sessions of crocheting
- Read studies or other first hand experiences related to stress levels
- What are the pros and cons of picking up a new hobby?
- How could I incorporate this skill into my professional practice?
- Are their other skills I might learn from this process that are be easier to incorporate?
After deciding that I for sure wanted to pursue this topic, this brings us to my third step: venturing to the store to get supplies. I got a rough idea of the supplies I will needed from the two videos I mentioned earlier. Continue reading to see the exact prices and products I will be using.
On the right, you can see my choices of wool/yarn. The grey one is SUPER soft and machine washable, which are the two reasons as to why I chose this one. It is 220 yards, which could most likely make slippers for the whole family. It also comes with a free pattern on the label, which would be useful if that were what I was making. The total for this one was $10.97.
The second one I chose because I like the colourful pattern. I was also thinking about the wool texture and considered how it will be super warm when creating slippers. This one is also machine washable, and is 87 yards. The cost for this was $8.97.
Now, while I was gathering the yarn, I also bought two crochet needles. I bought two different sizes based off the videos I watched, and also considering the tightness of the slippers. I was thinking that if I had smaller needles, the slippers would have smaller holes, therefore being warmer. The sizes I purchased 4.5mm and 6mm. Together they came to a total of $6.49.
Now that I have my idea in place and my supplies ready to go, check into my blog post next week see how the balls rolling, or should I say to see how the slippers growing…..
*insert laugh track*
Until next time!
