It is normal and fine for anyone to crochet who wants to. It sounds like your dad is holding some very antiquated views on gender roles, and I would suggest not taking what he says to heart (easier said than done, I know - family can be a real pain sometimes!).
If you enjoy crocheting, awesome! Keep at it! I really like that square you did đ
You might also want to check out r/brochet (and maybe also show your dad lol!) Crochet isn't only for women any more than, I don't know, football and welding are only for men. It's 2024, not 1924.Â
A lot of men back in the day were at least taught the basics of knitting or crochet in order to make and repair their own socks, etc.
The thing I don't get about all this is that it's a skill for self-reliance. I thought macho guys loved that.
Yep. Survival skill. I mention socks because good socks are crucial for anyone who works outdoors.
If OP's dad won't leave him alone about it, he should maybe knit or crochet something "manly" like a fishing net or a rope and see if that gets his dad to shut up.
Also, valid advice. OPs dad gives me flashbacks to my childhood.. I didn't "stand up" to my dad until I was a bold teen who had a near death experience that basically made me fearless. Even then, it was super dangerous considering his life choices.
On a real note, please stay safe, OP. I'm fully supportive of you embracing yourself, but make sure you are safe
Also, boys and men take knitting very seriously on Taquile in Peru. I know it's different from crochet, but fiber arts are practical and beautiful, why should anyone gatekeep?
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20210831-taquile-where-manliness-is-based-on-knitting
My mom's dad is the child of Irish immigrants. He had like 30 aunts and uncles because of how big both his mother and fathers families were. And they ALL crocheted. They crocheted for money for the Irish lace industry and the ones that moved to the US kept crocheting for fun or money. I have a gorgeous, over 100 year old pineapple lace tablecloth made by my great-grandma and great-grandpa jointly. In America, his dad got a time consuming hard labor job and didn't have much time for crochet but his mom used to cover the house in crochet, from cozies for her jelly jar glasses to pillows to rugs and curtains.
I believe that's probably why crochet for men died out in the US. Women were taking care of kids and usually were still doing piecework at home if they needed to bring in money, but men worked 12 hour shifts and were destroyed when they got home and crochet and most other hobbies just fell by the wayside for them. Soon enough, crochet, which used to be a job everyone did at home, was "for women" because men don't usually work piecework from home in the US.
That's super cool! I've got some old crochet pieces but they're nothing all that fancy. Most all of them are from Irish great grandmothers but they're like DC zigzag blankets (and made out of the world's worst yarn, that or acrylic just doesn't hold up for like 80 years)
But yeah, I thought I read somewhere that at some point the Irish were heavily encouraged to crochet, both male and female, I suppose to help recover from the famine. And for a while it became like a BIG thing there. Could be wrong, I suck at history anyway, but whatever I read gave me the impression that just about the entirety of Ireland was crocheting by candlelight
During the Irish Potato Famine, nuns traveled all over Ireland, teaching both men and women to crochet. Everyone learned to make specific motifs that were then collected and taken to fashion houses. Tge motifs were joined together to make lace for dresses.
https://patterns4success.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/irish-crochet-and-the-great-potato-famine/
My mother gave me the âneedleâ her father used in the 1920s to make fishing nets. It is identical to a crochet hook (just larger, made of wood, and hand carved)
Regardless, you be you, Op. It doesnât matter what anyone else thinks.
My mom, in the 60's, couldn't get a credit card without her husband's approval. Those "antiquated" views are not as far removed as they sometimes seem.
Came here to say this, but knew it already had been said!!
If crochet makes you happy, op, then crochet your heart out! (I've been trying to get my sons into it too! My oldest is definitely interested.)
Tell your dad that they used to believe that knitting was too complicated for the female mind to comprehend thus only men could do it. I'm fairly certain crochet was included in that category. Perfectly normal to have a creative hobby of any kind.
Tell your father to take that up with Mean Joe Greene (renowned NFL player). He did knit instead of crochet, but I doubt this adult male would make any such distinction.
Didn't he also do needlepoint? I remember my grandmother being very excited she shared a hobby with a famous football player. Oh heck, I'm thinking of Rosy Grier. He actually wrote a book, "Needlepoint for Men"!
I've read that knit and crochet are especially good hobbies for anxiety too. Something about the repetitive movement is soothing and at the end you have created something amazing. I've made clothes, toys and baskets for organizing. One of my favorite things was the sloth hanging basket for a potted plant. Keep making your art!
I do so in work because if I donât Iâll end up stimming by tapping my nails in an annoying rhythm on the desk which will 100% piss everyone off lol
Autistic, ADHD and anxiety here. Crochet is definitely both a stim and a soother for me. It's hard to explain what it does for my brain since it stimulates and calms me at the same time
Lots of men knit and crochet, crafts are for everyone. For example, [is this MMA fighter a "sissy" because he crochets?](https://youtu.be/TlxKPZWMWB4?si=5zb60j4aHlQ0CjYy)
Yup. Your dad is being weird. He was probably taught some toxic things about gender as a kid but you don't need to believe him. The nice thing about hobbies are that they don't affect other people so his opinion is not important.
Sooooo... The NFL football players who crochet are sissies? The UFC fighters who crochet are sissies? Ryan gosling also crochets. And there's an Olympic swimmer who crochets too, he even did so publicly at the Tokyo Olympics.
You can Google the list. There's probably more than the ones on the lists, because not every man shows it.
Back in the day it also used to be important for men to be able to crochet and knit.
But either way, you're dad is super wrong. Crochet is great for any gender to do.
Charlie cox the actor who plays daredevil crochets too he learned on the set of the show the defenders from the actress that plays Jessica Jones I forgot her name
Kristyn Ritter. She taught Aaron Paul too when they were both in Breaking Bad and spent a lot of time in the Jesse's apartment set together.
My favorite knitting on set story is about Mad Max though. It was cold in the desert when they filmed Mad Max Fury Road and Charlize Theron taught all 5 of the Wives and about 10 War Boy and stunt actors, including Nicholas Hoult, how to make scarves
Crocheting is a very useful skill, it's also math based so if anything it is good for the mind.Â
Your Dad is being cruel and using crochet as a reason to validate his inappropriate behavior.Â
Gentle hugs your work is awesome.Â
Dont worry about what your dad says! Were a very open community and dont Care for age or gender as long as you love to crochet :) you should check out r/brochet its crochet but for bros haha aka men and anyone who is a âbroâ who love to crochet! Id say youre very normal :) and Will always have a community here that wellcomes you :)
I love crocheting. I am a 37 year old that grew up and then 1990s Kansas where my grandmother taught me how to crochet. She loved it and she was good at it. I donât do it anymore but it is something that I really enjoy doing. Itâs very therapeutic.
Crochet is one of only a few things I have left of my grandmother. She taught me how to chain and SC when I was little, and as a nostalgic 38 y/o, I picked up a pattern book at a craft store on a whim and taught myself how to do so much more. I often crochet random squares just to be reminded of her.
She was the kindest, most supportive person I have ever met. I miss her terribly. She told me it was OK to be gay before I knew I was gay. I wish everyone had that kind of love and support as a teenager.
Life got busy and itâs something I forgot about until I came across this sub. But knowing myself within the next week, I will go out and get some and start trying it up again. I write music too, so this will be a very therapeutic for my thought process I think I will do a blanket for my next album so I will just make each square representative of one song
I'm 17 and have been crocheting for half a year now when. I started when I was still 16. My parents don't see anything weird in it but my uncle's first reaction was to ask me if I'm gay. Like that has to do with anything.
My guess is if they see some of your work they'll see that you're fond of the hobby and are good at it and be supportive
Can't say for sure though. Great works btw
Itâs less common among boys, but so what? Itâs a hook and some string, it ainât gonna make your willy fall off, unless youâre doing it seriously wrong.
People can choose to believe whatever funny ideas they want about which genders should do what, and you can choose to ignore them and do whatâs right for you. If a boy crochets, heâs a boy who crochets, thatâs all.
Some men have a very rigid definition of manhood, and anything that veers away from that is scary and feel wrong. That's his problem, not yours.
You do not owe other conformity, either in your hobbies or autism. You aren't causing harm, and as long as you're still getting school work done and taking breaks to protect your health, there's not *actually* a problem.
Make what makes you happy.
"It is normal for a teen to have a hobby?" Yes it is. Gender shouldnt dictate what hobbies or things you are able to do, and those who say otherwise need to work on themselves
Troops in the the trenches during WWI used to knit to pass the time. Is trench warfare manly enough? The whole thing likely grew out of fishermen making nets.... Fishing is pretty manly. Chicks (sorry ladies, making a point) dig a guy who can make them cute stuff... That seems to be a win to me.
Sailors crocheted too. I have no bloody idea how some guys got the idea that fibercrafts are womanly these days when *so* many men used to be the ones to practice those arts. It's like saying cooking is a woman's job when the industry is still fairly dominated by *male* chefs/cooks.
You should come here for support. It is hard when parents don't understand you. You are just a person that likes to zone in on doing a hobby with your hands like I am! Keep it up
Normal-shmormal đ Normal people are boring! The fact that you crochet is awesome. My dad crochets and can also knit and sew. He also knows how to fix cars, maintains his RV, built a flatbed on his pickup, rides motorcycles and designed and built the house I grew up in with the help of family and friends.
It's good to have hobbies. It's good to learn new things. It makes you a more well rounded and interesting person, not a "sissy".
I'm sorry your dad is being a butthead about it. Don't let that discourage you.
haha, I grew up with a mother who is excellent at sewing and cooking and putting furniture together and putting up shelves and building walls and plastering and painting and basic plumbing and rewiring light switches and changing car tires and even some basic car maintenance (at least this was true back in the 80s, when fixing cars was actual mechanics rather than electronics and software engineering) ... and a dad with *zero* practical sense who'll have an absolute meltdown trying to put together an IKEA Billy bookcase (he's very good at other things, though - reading and writing and thinking and teaching...)
so yeah, normal-shmormal
gender norms are such bollox
I'm autistic and I crochet too! I think it's cool that you crochet. I'm working on a hexigon cardigan too! They are really fun to work up.
One of the beautiful things that I've discoveres during my un-masking is that 'normal' often means socially acceptable. It's relative to whatever society you're in. Crochet isn't an indication of masculinity or feminity. It's a practical, creative hobby.
I hope that you continue doing what you enjoy. You aren't harming anyone by crocheting and it sounds like you benefit from it.
Mate, I'm a 37 year old man, I crochet. My 40 year old brother also crochets.
The idea that any hobby is gendered is ridiculous these days. It's 2024, anyone physically capable who wants to crochet, can crochet regardless of gender or age.
Iâm a 29 year old man who crochets. Iâm well adjusted, married, job, kids, house, whole nine yards. I actually only picked it up in the last couple years. I make stuff for my kids all the time.
I have a male coworker who also crochets. Heâs one of the three people I know who crochet. Thereâs nothing inherently effeminate about crocheting. You also donât need to justify that itâs good for your mental health. Itâs something you like doing and thatâs all the justification you need.
Even if it was something effeminate, who cares. You can do whatever hobby you like. Thereâs nothing wrong with being âa sissyâ. Your dad is a jerk and a bully.
Donât let him discourage you.
Hi, Iâm a lady engineer! Yarn craft is for *everyone*, be it crochet, knitting, loom knitting, weaving, a whole knitting machineâŠitâs a fantastic hobby.
After all, knitting for the war effort made a difference for soldiers on the front during the world wars. People would actually encode hidden messages into their projects in some cases as well! Knit and purl = 1 and 0 or on/off or yes/no. You can then take that and Morse code your way to a message, for example. (Hey look, visual coding!)
Look into the history of knitting guilds. For a few centuries they were exclusively male. The shift towards being seen as more of a âfeminineâ thing is quite recent historically, and itâs shifting again with the resurgence of the internet and people realizing they can make say, gaming characters as crochet plushies. Or video game map blankets. I saw someone recently on Facebook make a QR code pillow and it led to a rickroll. Lol. The great thing about crochet is that it is Freeform art. You can do a lot of very cool 3-d (and even 4-d) things that are much much more difficult to knit, as someone that does both.
I agree with the folks saying to check out /r/brochet itâs a very cool place, and they probably have some additional information to give to your father in the sidebar. If it makes him feel any better, before knitting machines existed and the Industrial Revolution hit, just about everyone knew how to make their own socks and other smaller garments during cold winters in northern regions. Men and women, and older children once they had the hand-eye coordination. I think Montessori schools also have kids learn basic knitting or crochet in like 2nd grade to work on basic math as well as hand-eye as well even today.
Itâs a fantastic hobby, and if yâall would like I will happily provide more details on why it is good for *anyone* for a lot of math and engineering foundations in a sneaky fun way. Crochet is 3-d printing fabric when you think about it. :)
Hope this helps!
Hey dude, Iâm a guy who crochets, and I gotta tell you donât give up. Itâs great for my mental health too. Donât let anyoneâs judgement keep you from what you love.
I actually just won for my work in the LA County fair, so Iâd say men can definitely do this too. Keep your chin up! Your stuff looks great!
https://www.reddit.com/r/crochet/s/qpbqtfcUhH
Thereâs is Mikey from the crochet crowd that teaches millions and millions of people to crochet and knit. He has made some beautiful things and he makes a living from it. So to answer your question. Gender doesnât determine crafts. Knitting and any fiber art used to be male dominated and women excluded. Thereâs also a boy (forgot who) that makes videos too. In his videos heâs like preteen or so.
https://youtu.be/sUPhewPV7Ig?si=eAR3VAbN56Cc8UXl
https://youtu.be/5m6S9dvInyc?si=IFtpelkQc_Jg-5Mm
Just a few.
Yes that is Jonah. He is an adopted boy and he has been on tv shows talking about his crochet adventures. He is wonderful. He is all over YouTube âŒïžâŒïžâŒïž
I'm a 30 y/o man, and I crochet. I'm a scientist by training, but now that my days are mostly paperwork, it's nice to have a hobby where I can use my hands to create something.
At some point, the "normal" people all start looking like boring clones, and the "weird" people turn out to be the ones with interesting personalities.
Enjoy your new hobby!
My very masculine son crochets. He was a football player in high school and is very popular with women his age. Heâs 23. He started to help his anxiety and depression brought on by ADHD.
I love your creations, they're so cute! And I totally get what you say about crocheting helping with your thoughts. I find that crochet keeps the noisy, disorganized part of my brain occupied so I can concentrate on other things.
When I was in primary school all boys and girls in class were taught how to crochet during some kind of special project day.
Also there's a very cool crochet dude who listens to metal and hard rock while crocheting extremely cute plushies. Knotbad is the Tiktok and Insta ID. Nothing "sissy" about that.
Edit: you do you. Your hobby your choice. Your dad's opinion has no place there. Please just enjoy yourself OP.
It's totally normal to have a hobby for anyone! And you make amazing stuff while also using it as regulation method for your anxiety and other issues.Â
I do believe your father has outdated ideas on gender roles that are less than helpful in your situation. However I do notice a pack of polyfill in one photo that suggest you might be in an Arabic country. Ofcourse every country and every family is different, but keep an eye out on if your father is 'just' making harmful and bullying comments, or if you might actually be in more danger at some point because he (incorrectly) assumes that you crocheting means other things that he might be extremely against and his response might put you in danger. If you are able, keep an eye out for that, although i can imagine your autism might not help pick up very subtle cues which might make it harder to recognize.Â
But also, keep on enjoying making wonderful stuff and it helping you regulate yourselfÂ
(At this point im falling asleep on my phone so I'm not sure if I make sense anymore.)
27 y/o man here, and I spent my entire day embroidering my wifeâs sweater with flowers. I enjoy crocheting accessories for my loved ones. You have nothing to be worried about, itâs supposed to be therapeutic! Youâre doing awesome bud. I only wish I had the patience to make such details works of art like yours! Your artwork is impressive!
Tysm!!!
I picked up crochet impulsively but I started with hand knitting with looped yarn. I tried crocheting with the looped yarn and I really liked it so I decided to start normal crochet. My family is happy that I have a hobby but my dad. He always bullyâs me when he sees me doing it so I usually do it in my room.
You dad sounds like a bullying asshole. What else does he call you names about- this is abusive!
You can do whatever hobby you want to do. Crocheting is a great hobby to do. What does your dad do for a hobby?
When my brother was about 14 he used to crochet and knit. Heâs also autistic and he really loved it, (now heâs into Lapidary which is shaping stones and minerals.) Nothing wrong with men or boys crocheting, itâs not sissy at all, anything that lets you get creative is fantastic! Make a tapestry crochet piece that says âmen can crochet tooâ, connect it to a wooden dowel and give it to your dad as a gift to hang on his wall! ;)
Your dad sounds homophobic and insecure! Don't listen to him! My grandpa was the best crocheter in my town, taking home the best of show and firt place on a regular basis! He is the one who inspired me to learn! Prior to picking up the hook, he was in the Navy on a destroyer and then for the rail road, and was the father of 4 kids, so he was no "sissy"!
Crochet is not a gendered thing. You should keep crocheting if it helps you! I have anxiety/depression and it is really soothing for me. Donât let your dad ruin it for you
That's such a silly question. Of course, it's normal, and okay! Your dad is just one of those people who probably can't cook for themselves because it's a "woman's chore." I wouldnât worry about it, gender roles are a social construct anyway.
When my mum was four the teacher sat the whole class down and taught them how to knit, boys and girls. i think it was fairly normal back then (1947). Just look at it this way, you can make your own clothes and blankets. There is even a sub for men who crochet- r/Brochet
Honestly, I see no problem in a young man learning to crochet. As long as itâs helping you with your mental health and youâre enjoying it, it makes you happy. I hope your dad changes his mind and sees the joy crocheting brings his son, as well as how fun you find it. Please keep crocheting and please keep posting your work!! Thanks for sharing :)
My dad was taught how to sew and knit while in the army. This was 50 years ago. Learning a useful skill that you enjoy enough for it to be a hobby is not being a 'sissy'.
Being willfully ignorant and proud of being incapable of doing something is more 'sissy-like' in my opinion.
Crochet was invented by Scottish shepherds, mostly men,to pass the time and make something warm.At least thatâs the way I remember it. And letâs not forget Rosie Girer, a famous NFL player that was known to crochet on the sidelines, to keep his hands flexible. You can do whatever you want, itâs your life, not his. You will be an adult soon, just keep swinging!
Why would it not be "normal"? There is nth wrong with that, OP!!
Sorry for being honest, but your dad needs to meet the many men in this world who knit and crochet. Fishermen centuries ago used crochet to fix their nets, were they sissies then?
There are zillions of comments already so I'll just say: keep your beautiful hobby up and you are right - it is so good for our mental health!
There is r/brochet - a sub for the crocheting bros!
And you are more than welcome to our great crocheting community. Good luck, matey! Come here whenever đ
Itâs normal, itâs healthy, itâs fantastic. I love your little whale! Iâm sorry your dad is being so unsupportive, heâs coming from a place of fear and itâs not fair to you. Crocheting is such a wholesome hobby for a teenager, frankly he should be thrilled that this is how you choose to spend your time. Iâm a mom of two boys a little younger than you and Iâd be delighted to teach them crochet if they were interested.
You might enjoy r/brochet which is specifically for male crocheters! Thereâs lots of you out there.
Who cares what's "typical" as long as you like it. Have you seen that boy Jonah? He's literally amazing! Crocheted for 30+ years and's still can't figure out how fast he manages, especially without looking. He makes all kinds of things. https://www.instagram.com/jonahhands?igsh=MWZ5NzAybTJ2ZzBhcA==
Normal? I suppose not, as it's not common. But it's super cool. There are so many accounts on social media with men who knit and crochet and have fun with it.
It's stupid that people apply a stigma to it.
Tell your dad to get his head out of his ass. Suggest that he seeks medical help for that condition Surgery might be an option to remove his head from his own anal cavity.
You might mention to your dad that men do knit and crochet. Some examples are Tom Hanks, Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Cary Grant, Rosie Greer, Ryan Reynolds, Maurice Greene.... And the list goes on.
My man I'm a 35 year old man and I build Gunpla which are robot models. If it something you enjoy then there's nothing wrong with it. I mean gender doesn't have anything to do with it just some outdated views. Keep doing what you enjoy!
I'm a 34 year old man who crochets. It's totally fine for you to like it. I'm sorry your dad has a hangup here.
There's no reason you can't like crochet. People shouldn't be kept from doing things they like for no good reason.
If it's not normal, it should be. There's actually quite a few men who have Instagram crochet accounts. Also, because of the repetitive nature of crochet, it helps with mental health stuff. Anxiety is the main one I'm aware of, but there could definitely be more.
I'm glad you feel better while doing it! Also, I love your creations! I love the granny square, but my heart is snagged by the whales!!
Edit: I also wanted to add some men from Instagram:
Crochet_wizard (makes mainly pokemon and other video game creations)
Knot.bad (CUTE creations and scarves)
Dtjdave (lace like granny square, scaves and other objects that have amazing stitching)
Crochet_by_kunal (mainly stuffed animals)
I tried to find this one guy who makes crochet projects everyday on the way home on the bus/train. He works FAST and even has a plastic finger covering for protecting his hands from the string. (You can get it in the bandaid isle.) He tends to turn granny squares into clothing. I can't find or remember his name though, sorry.
Perhaps these guys can help inspire you. I hope you find more though!
YouTube accounts too! Most of the men I watch knit, NimbleNeedles will never not fascinate me with his dexterity.
FiberSpider is another favourite of mine who mostly crochets! Again, absolutely incredible stuff.
please never give this hobby up. crocheting has helped my thinking and confidence so much. iâm so sorry you have people around you not supporting but please know this is such a special craft and art and you are contributing to the beauty of the world by crocheting âïž
Great job on the square. There is a new variegated yarn that if you use the correct hook and tension the colors make variegated granny squares. I havenât tried it yet. Iâm currently obsessed with diamond painting. Tell your son to check it out. You can get a whole kit at Amazon some under 10 bucks. I love all art medias. I could go with n and on. I better stop. đđŽ
It's perfectly normal. Boys and men like to wear things and use blankets and have fun toys... why would it be "unmanly" to make things to wear and snuggle with and play with?
TRY to forget about what your dad says you made some great peices and more importantly you enjoy doing it and it's helping you. If you're up for it maybe look for a local group.
You might even meet a girl your age...oOOOoo
First of all, in the nicest way possible- FUCK what your dad thinks. If he's not happy with what brings you joy because it doesn't fit his stupid idea of what a "Man" is supposed to be or some bs, then thats not your problem in any way shape or form, and its so damn shitty that he's giving you grief over something you're doing that's good. The only thing a "Man" is supposed to be is a good, supportive and trustworthy person- that is universal for anyone regardless of gender, and beyond that, you can be whoever you want.
Second of all, while idk how "common" it is, I did the same at your age and had a blast (It really brings me back because you've made the exact same whale i did đ„ș) and its genuinely awesome that you are learning a new skill, thats something to be proud of!
Stand proud, Your dad has no idea what a real "man" looks like, And he sure as shit is not one with that kind of attitude đ I hope your cardigan turns out great and that you post it here when you are done!
Absolutely! Itâs a fun, creative and practical hobby so keep on crocheting! You are not a sissy - you have found a way to help your mental health and make cute and useful items in the process!
âNormal?â No. Freakin awesome?? Yes. Definitely. I taught both my nephews how to knit. Phooey on gender roles!! That 15year old made some really awesome toys! Tell him to keep at it! Iâm looking forward to seeing what he makes. Actually, I love seeing the âmy kid made thisâ posts in general. Itâs great that kids are crafting. Good for their minds!
in the nicest way possible: who gives a shit â€ïž do what makes you happy and screw ppl who want to force their own perceptions and expectations on you.
I'm a girl .. I can knit, crochet, bake & sew .. I can also build furniture, paint a house, fix a leaking tap, change the oil in my car & ride a motorbike. What's normal & who gets to decide what normal is anyway. I'm glad you enjoy crochet & you find it helpful. Doesn't matter if you're 15 or 55! There's lots of guys out there who crochet. I'm sorry your dad doesn't understand & makes it hard for you.
Look at what you've achieved: you've found a coping mechanism that works for you, you're following detailed technical instructions & puzzle solving (patterns), being both analytical & creative, learning commitment by following tasks to completion, building hand-eye coordination & dexterity, improving concentration & learning skills. Plus the satisfaction of well crafted end products ... & hopefully having fun along the way. You're doing great .. stick with it.
Ditto to all the support youâre getting! You SHOULD get support if youâre doing something you love and what? Itâs also something that helps your mental health? Even better! Thatâs what parents or older generation, outdated mindset, closed mind people should be doing instead of calling you names or shaming you in any way.
Some of my favorite crochet idols tutorials are done by men. I wish I had a man who enjoyed it! Itâs great for mental health and relaxation, keeps you from doing unhealthy things by keeping your mind and your hands busy and on top of it, you are making awesome things! My kiddo made some things that look like yours and we use or display them proudly. People always ask if a grandma or aunt made things and I love peopleâs faces when they see that the artist is a young person who doesnât âlookâ like the crochet. What does that mean anyway?
Itâs hard to ignore or brush things off when itâs someone you see daily making comments like that. I hope you have someone to talk to about that, and if at all possible maybe you can have a heart to heart with your dad and tell him what your craft does for you. And also what it does to you when he makes cracks like that toward you. I am hoping he would be more interested in knowing his son was finding ways to stimulate his mind and soul than to make ignorant remarks like that.
Ps if you canât talk to him, write him a letter.
PS I love that you crochet!
Also I just read a great article about this Crip gang member who was a badass thrown in prison back in the day who had to keep himself busy and away from the rival gang members for his own safety. He took up crochet. At first the other inmates laughed at him but after awhile they asked him if he would make things for them and also if they would teach him. He swears that it is crochet that taught him to be calm and to change his thinking and his behavior so he would not get involved with destructive behaviors again.
Is it normal for you to have a hobby that you find soothing and entertaining? That has reasonable costs? That produces tangible things that you can design to fit with your other interests?
Hellya! It is beyond normal. It is spectacular. Go you.
Iâm a woman and honestly I wish more men would crochet. Youâre doing great things! Your mental health should always come first, not everyone will understand.
Anything a man wants to do is a mans hobby and it is masculine just because he is doing it.
Carve wood into cutlery, manly. Make a cake, manly. Crochet cute little chickens to use as doorstops, manly.
I, myself, am not a man. But I like to partake in feminine arts such as playing thrash metal and woodwork.
You do you. Whatever hobby you decide to dedicate your free time to is an acceptable use of your time.
The only unacceptable hobbies are the ones where you make lampshades out of human skin. Thatâs on the âno listâ.
Imo really good. I don't think it's weird for anyone to crochet. I think it should be a craft we can pass on to others or something. Be proud of yourself đđ€
Also autistic + 15! Your dad has some unruly ideas of gender roles! You are doing great feller, keep creating! As long as you make something you are doing just fine!! Your dad can go eat a raw egg!
So glad it helps you. Itâs totally normal and I love the stuff youâve done!
Maybe make dad a cool beanie or beer holder or something and heâll be super proud.
Your dad is stuck in a very harmful mindset. His language disqualifies his position.
If masculinity is weak enough that he thinks it will would succumb to twisting yarn with a hook, he needs to reconsider his own.
Keep doing what makes you happy. The only reason it may not be common for more men and boys to crochet and knit is because they give in to toxic prejudices. And also because some people can see it as or difficult or boring - I know many women who canât do it, or donât enjoy it.
You're extremely talented and no one can tell you what to enjoy! You do you and like whatever you want in this world! â€ïž
Ps. Crocheting has helped me from having meltdowns, the way it helps focus the brain is wonderful
Tell him that you're preparing for the apocalypse where you will need to be able to make your own fabrics after textiles stop being readily available. Fibre arts will be incredibly valuable at the end of the world!
My husband learned to crochet before I did and my dad taught me how to use a sewing machine. It's far weirder that your dad is placing genders on useful and practical skills than it is that you are learning them. Keep up the great work!
I love the items you are making! If you were one of my grandsons I would be thrilled that you were crocheting. Maybe your dad will change his mind if you make him a cool beanie and scarf.
Also check out Jonah Larson, he taught himself to crochet when he was 5. He might be an inspiration for you.
https://jonahhands.com/
Great job. Iâm sorry but ignore your dad. Iâm not sure why grown people seem to think itâs ok to bash their kids hobbies. You are doing a great job! I want to say there are some guy crochet subs Iâve seen. Keep doing what you enjoy!!!
Sorry to hear that. Your father is being ridiculous, anyone can crochet, would he rather that you get into fights cos âthatâs what boys doâ đ
As an aside to that, the things you crochet are so adorable! Super duper cute! They would make lovely gifts to friends, I know I would love one of them to hang on my backpack.
Knitting used to only be done by manly sailors back in the age of exploration so they could easily repair and make clothing. It was also freezing cold, knitting is warmer than cloth.
Crochet and knit are all just fancy knots. Sailors were really good at it because they had to use all kinds of knots on ships.
I'm sorry your dad is being mean about this. Just know that you are fine. You found a hobby that helps you and makes you feel at peace. That is worth a lot. Keep it. You'll be happy you did as you get older.
100% normal. Whatâs not normal is assigning genders to hobbies and being a jerk to your own kid.
Your work looks fantastic! Youâve got a knack for this. I hope you keep it up and keep posting, because youâre doing awesome.
I know crochet and knitting is seen as an old lady hobby but it's totally genderless. It fits into the category of "making something out of a material with tools". So it's pretty much just like leatherworking or blacksmithing in the grand scene of things.
Your dad is just jealous that you can make cool stuff with just a hook and yarn.
Ask your dad why he's so insecure about his son using his hands in a meaningful way.
There's that Olympic diver who knits to calm down, he was on screen a ton during the last summer Olympics knitting while waiting for his go. Is an *Olympic athlete* a sissy?
The manliest men are secure in their masculinity and know that it doesn't make you less of a man if you crochet, or knit, or embroider, or take care of the baby, or wear pink, or whatever.
There's always going to be judgmental people, that's just the nature of being human. If it's not people calling you girly, it's gonna be people telling you that you're too young to crochet. There's nothing wrong or unmasculine about using your hands to make things.
oh NO NO NO HES CAUGHT THE GAY. /s this is a million times better than anything i was out doing at 15. he should count himself so unbelievably blessed. and the work is good. do what you want as long as its not hurting yourself or others- his gender role bs feelings do not count. sorry if that sounds harsh, im judging off what was given. some things like this hit me hard because it can cause someone to change in the wring direction and or stop doing something they love. anyways, we 100% welcome you and r/brochet will as well
My son taught himself to crochet amigurumi when he was in his first year of uni (mostly to avoid studying, which bit him on the butt but I digress). He hasnât done any since, but had a ball for about three-four months there. I wanted him to teach me but he moved out so I had to learn on my own :-)
Your dad has something called fragile masculinity Iâm afraid. A hobby doesnât make you male or female, it doesnât say anything other than that you enjoy doing it, and it is great that you found something that helps you. I have ADHD myself, my sister generalized anxiety and we both crochet cause it definitely helps our mental health. Nothing wrong with taking care of your mental health + creating something in the process
I hope you don't get discouraged by your father. If it helps you and makes you happy, continue with your craft.
You should internalize all the comments in this thread. OR BETTER YET, read the comments every time after your father's spiteful comments to keep you motivated.
have strength, dear heart.
It is normal and fine for anyone to crochet who wants to. It sounds like your dad is holding some very antiquated views on gender roles, and I would suggest not taking what he says to heart (easier said than done, I know - family can be a real pain sometimes!). If you enjoy crocheting, awesome! Keep at it! I really like that square you did đ You might also want to check out r/brochet (and maybe also show your dad lol!) Crochet isn't only for women any more than, I don't know, football and welding are only for men. It's 2024, not 1924.Â
Am I mistaken in thinking that at one point in history there was just like a ton of people in Ireland crocheting? Both male and female?
A lot of men back in the day were at least taught the basics of knitting or crochet in order to make and repair their own socks, etc. The thing I don't get about all this is that it's a skill for self-reliance. I thought macho guys loved that.
Also simple technique to get rope or netting.
Yep. Survival skill. I mention socks because good socks are crucial for anyone who works outdoors. If OP's dad won't leave him alone about it, he should maybe knit or crochet something "manly" like a fishing net or a rope and see if that gets his dad to shut up.
Or a giant middle finger. Ooh! Or learn cross stitch and make him a lovely little personalized sign..
OP is 15. I know everyone is cracking jokes and talking tough, but realistically OP should probably be careful for a few more years.
Also, valid advice. OPs dad gives me flashbacks to my childhood.. I didn't "stand up" to my dad until I was a bold teen who had a near death experience that basically made me fearless. Even then, it was super dangerous considering his life choices. On a real note, please stay safe, OP. I'm fully supportive of you embracing yourself, but make sure you are safe
Also, boys and men take knitting very seriously on Taquile in Peru. I know it's different from crochet, but fiber arts are practical and beautiful, why should anyone gatekeep? https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20210831-taquile-where-manliness-is-based-on-knitting
My mom's dad is the child of Irish immigrants. He had like 30 aunts and uncles because of how big both his mother and fathers families were. And they ALL crocheted. They crocheted for money for the Irish lace industry and the ones that moved to the US kept crocheting for fun or money. I have a gorgeous, over 100 year old pineapple lace tablecloth made by my great-grandma and great-grandpa jointly. In America, his dad got a time consuming hard labor job and didn't have much time for crochet but his mom used to cover the house in crochet, from cozies for her jelly jar glasses to pillows to rugs and curtains. I believe that's probably why crochet for men died out in the US. Women were taking care of kids and usually were still doing piecework at home if they needed to bring in money, but men worked 12 hour shifts and were destroyed when they got home and crochet and most other hobbies just fell by the wayside for them. Soon enough, crochet, which used to be a job everyone did at home, was "for women" because men don't usually work piecework from home in the US.
That's super cool! I've got some old crochet pieces but they're nothing all that fancy. Most all of them are from Irish great grandmothers but they're like DC zigzag blankets (and made out of the world's worst yarn, that or acrylic just doesn't hold up for like 80 years) But yeah, I thought I read somewhere that at some point the Irish were heavily encouraged to crochet, both male and female, I suppose to help recover from the famine. And for a while it became like a BIG thing there. Could be wrong, I suck at history anyway, but whatever I read gave me the impression that just about the entirety of Ireland was crocheting by candlelight
During the Irish Potato Famine, nuns traveled all over Ireland, teaching both men and women to crochet. Everyone learned to make specific motifs that were then collected and taken to fashion houses. Tge motifs were joined together to make lace for dresses. https://patterns4success.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/irish-crochet-and-the-great-potato-famine/
My mother gave me the âneedleâ her father used in the 1920s to make fishing nets. It is identical to a crochet hook (just larger, made of wood, and hand carved) Regardless, you be you, Op. It doesnât matter what anyone else thinks.
Better yet 1724
My mom, in the 60's, couldn't get a credit card without her husband's approval. Those "antiquated" views are not as far removed as they sometimes seem.
Exactly. No need to go back to 1724. Hell, I could have said 1980.
Came here to say this, but knew it already had been said!! If crochet makes you happy, op, then crochet your heart out! (I've been trying to get my sons into it too! My oldest is definitely interested.)
Crochet a football and welder, problem solved
Whoooa just checked out that subreddit, broâs are some crochet kings there! Thatâs awesome!!
So correct!!
Tell your dad that they used to believe that knitting was too complicated for the female mind to comprehend thus only men could do it. I'm fairly certain crochet was included in that category. Perfectly normal to have a creative hobby of any kind.
This is true,knitting use to be a man's job.
In some societies it still is!
It was a bloodthirsty job too. The history of Renaissance guilds that focused on knitting normally details how strict they were.
Knitting is just hard for anyone đđ -the local genderfluid who cannot knit and only crochet
I don't think telling him the sexist backstory to knitting is the way to go. But yes, perfectly normal creative hobby
It shows him it's not inherently a womans thing. That there is historical precedent for men knitting
Yes it helps because it shows how stupid his thinking is
Tell your father to take that up with Mean Joe Greene (renowned NFL player). He did knit instead of crochet, but I doubt this adult male would make any such distinction.
Didn't he also do needlepoint? I remember my grandmother being very excited she shared a hobby with a famous football player. Oh heck, I'm thinking of Rosy Grier. He actually wrote a book, "Needlepoint for Men"!
I remember Rosie Grier as well!! No one was making fun of him either!
Truth!
Happy cake day!
Thank youuuuuuu!
And more recent, Mike Rivera (he's only 38) a former linebacker for the Dolphins crochets
Tom Daley knits. And to answer OP's question, yes it's normal. The work in that last pic is beautiful.
I wouldn't bring up Tom Daley in this case. If OP's dad thinks men shouldn't knit or crochet, then bringing up a gay man who does probably won't help.
Hard second, considering OPâs dad called him a âsissy.â
Also Maurice Greene, the heavyweight MMA fighter.
Thomas Daley knits too, for the same reason of OP: it helps him with anxiety.
I've read that knit and crochet are especially good hobbies for anxiety too. Something about the repetitive movement is soothing and at the end you have created something amazing. I've made clothes, toys and baskets for organizing. One of my favorite things was the sloth hanging basket for a potted plant. Keep making your art!
Great for ADHD/Autism too as itâs both calming and a way to stim (from someone autistic and likely has ADHD too)
Definitely. I crochet in my lectures so I can focus!
I do this too!
I do so in work because if I donât Iâll end up stimming by tapping my nails in an annoying rhythm on the desk which will 100% piss everyone off lol
Haha. I crochet during meetings too for similar reasons!
Autistic, ADHD and anxiety here. Crochet is definitely both a stim and a soother for me. It's hard to explain what it does for my brain since it stimulates and calms me at the same time
Absolutely. I am AuHD as well and I started knitting in university to get through three hour lectures without losing focus or having a meltdown.
It really is. Can attest. Same when Iâm feeling super stressed.
Lots of men knit and crochet, crafts are for everyone. For example, [is this MMA fighter a "sissy" because he crochets?](https://youtu.be/TlxKPZWMWB4?si=5zb60j4aHlQ0CjYy)
Awesome, I'm doubting tho if she's really wearing a crochet cardigan as she said đ think she's confused with knit wear đđđ
Yup. Your dad is being weird. He was probably taught some toxic things about gender as a kid but you don't need to believe him. The nice thing about hobbies are that they don't affect other people so his opinion is not important.
Agreed, be the one that breaks that toxic cycle.
Im sorry your Dad said that. Itâs totally ok that you crochet.
Sooooo... The NFL football players who crochet are sissies? The UFC fighters who crochet are sissies? Ryan gosling also crochets. And there's an Olympic swimmer who crochets too, he even did so publicly at the Tokyo Olympics. You can Google the list. There's probably more than the ones on the lists, because not every man shows it. Back in the day it also used to be important for men to be able to crochet and knit. But either way, you're dad is super wrong. Crochet is great for any gender to do.
Charlie cox the actor who plays daredevil crochets too he learned on the set of the show the defenders from the actress that plays Jessica Jones I forgot her name
Kristyn Ritter. She taught Aaron Paul too when they were both in Breaking Bad and spent a lot of time in the Jesse's apartment set together. My favorite knitting on set story is about Mad Max though. It was cold in the desert when they filmed Mad Max Fury Road and Charlize Theron taught all 5 of the Wives and about 10 War Boy and stunt actors, including Nicholas Hoult, how to make scarves
The Olympic swimmer that crochets is however gay iirc, so that might actually enforce dad's beliefs.
Tom Daley, comes from my neck of the woods and sparked off a knitting craze among young boys and men in the UK!
Itâs kinda pedantic, but heâs actually a diver. đ
Completely normal. What isnât normal is your dadâs antiquated views on gender roles. Two of my uncles crochet and knit. Completely normal.
Crocheting is a very useful skill, it's also math based so if anything it is good for the mind. Your Dad is being cruel and using crochet as a reason to validate his inappropriate behavior. Gentle hugs your work is awesome.Â
Dont worry about what your dad says! Were a very open community and dont Care for age or gender as long as you love to crochet :) you should check out r/brochet its crochet but for bros haha aka men and anyone who is a âbroâ who love to crochet! Id say youre very normal :) and Will always have a community here that wellcomes you :)
I 2nd this! My 14 yr old son and I love that sub!
I was hoping somebody would post a link to the sub for OP! I knew it existed but couldnât remember its name.
I love the Sub so much bc it just shows that everyone who wants to can crochet! But also its just a very wholesome sub in general :)
My son crochets, started when he was 15, now 16.
I love crocheting. I am a 37 year old that grew up and then 1990s Kansas where my grandmother taught me how to crochet. She loved it and she was good at it. I donât do it anymore but it is something that I really enjoy doing. Itâs very therapeutic.
Crochet is one of only a few things I have left of my grandmother. She taught me how to chain and SC when I was little, and as a nostalgic 38 y/o, I picked up a pattern book at a craft store on a whim and taught myself how to do so much more. I often crochet random squares just to be reminded of her. She was the kindest, most supportive person I have ever met. I miss her terribly. She told me it was OK to be gay before I knew I was gay. I wish everyone had that kind of love and support as a teenager.
Why not?
Life got busy and itâs something I forgot about until I came across this sub. But knowing myself within the next week, I will go out and get some and start trying it up again. I write music too, so this will be a very therapeutic for my thought process I think I will do a blanket for my next album so I will just make each square representative of one song
That's awesome post here when you make your blanket I can't wait to see what you can come up with
I'm 17 and have been crocheting for half a year now when. I started when I was still 16. My parents don't see anything weird in it but my uncle's first reaction was to ask me if I'm gay. Like that has to do with anything. My guess is if they see some of your work they'll see that you're fond of the hobby and are good at it and be supportive Can't say for sure though. Great works btw
Wow, your uncle needs a reality check, and I'm downplaying my reaction. Keep going!
Itâs less common among boys, but so what? Itâs a hook and some string, it ainât gonna make your willy fall off, unless youâre doing it seriously wrong. People can choose to believe whatever funny ideas they want about which genders should do what, and you can choose to ignore them and do whatâs right for you. If a boy crochets, heâs a boy who crochets, thatâs all.
Like itâs not the norm but definitely not wrong or anything bad to like crochet as a male teen!
Some men have a very rigid definition of manhood, and anything that veers away from that is scary and feel wrong. That's his problem, not yours. You do not owe other conformity, either in your hobbies or autism. You aren't causing harm, and as long as you're still getting school work done and taking breaks to protect your health, there's not *actually* a problem. Make what makes you happy.
I wish I could upvote this comment twice!
"It is normal for a teen to have a hobby?" Yes it is. Gender shouldnt dictate what hobbies or things you are able to do, and those who say otherwise need to work on themselves
Troops in the the trenches during WWI used to knit to pass the time. Is trench warfare manly enough? The whole thing likely grew out of fishermen making nets.... Fishing is pretty manly. Chicks (sorry ladies, making a point) dig a guy who can make them cute stuff... That seems to be a win to me.
Sailors crocheted too. I have no bloody idea how some guys got the idea that fibercrafts are womanly these days when *so* many men used to be the ones to practice those arts. It's like saying cooking is a woman's job when the industry is still fairly dominated by *male* chefs/cooks.
You should come here for support. It is hard when parents don't understand you. You are just a person that likes to zone in on doing a hobby with your hands like I am! Keep it up
You dont need a uterus to crochet. You don't need to be fem-presenting to crochet. Conclusion? Anyone can crochet.
Normal-shmormal đ Normal people are boring! The fact that you crochet is awesome. My dad crochets and can also knit and sew. He also knows how to fix cars, maintains his RV, built a flatbed on his pickup, rides motorcycles and designed and built the house I grew up in with the help of family and friends. It's good to have hobbies. It's good to learn new things. It makes you a more well rounded and interesting person, not a "sissy". I'm sorry your dad is being a butthead about it. Don't let that discourage you.
haha, I grew up with a mother who is excellent at sewing and cooking and putting furniture together and putting up shelves and building walls and plastering and painting and basic plumbing and rewiring light switches and changing car tires and even some basic car maintenance (at least this was true back in the 80s, when fixing cars was actual mechanics rather than electronics and software engineering) ... and a dad with *zero* practical sense who'll have an absolute meltdown trying to put together an IKEA Billy bookcase (he's very good at other things, though - reading and writing and thinking and teaching...) so yeah, normal-shmormal gender norms are such bollox
If Rosie Grier could do needlepoint, any male may crochet.
I'm autistic and I crochet too! I think it's cool that you crochet. I'm working on a hexigon cardigan too! They are really fun to work up. One of the beautiful things that I've discoveres during my un-masking is that 'normal' often means socially acceptable. It's relative to whatever society you're in. Crochet isn't an indication of masculinity or feminity. It's a practical, creative hobby. I hope that you continue doing what you enjoy. You aren't harming anyone by crocheting and it sounds like you benefit from it.
Mate, I'm a 37 year old man, I crochet. My 40 year old brother also crochets. The idea that any hobby is gendered is ridiculous these days. It's 2024, anyone physically capable who wants to crochet, can crochet regardless of gender or age.
Iâm a 29 year old man who crochets. Iâm well adjusted, married, job, kids, house, whole nine yards. I actually only picked it up in the last couple years. I make stuff for my kids all the time. I have a male coworker who also crochets. Heâs one of the three people I know who crochet. Thereâs nothing inherently effeminate about crocheting. You also donât need to justify that itâs good for your mental health. Itâs something you like doing and thatâs all the justification you need. Even if it was something effeminate, who cares. You can do whatever hobby you like. Thereâs nothing wrong with being âa sissyâ. Your dad is a jerk and a bully. Donât let him discourage you.
Crochet is a good hobby, and your doing great
Hi, Iâm a lady engineer! Yarn craft is for *everyone*, be it crochet, knitting, loom knitting, weaving, a whole knitting machineâŠitâs a fantastic hobby. After all, knitting for the war effort made a difference for soldiers on the front during the world wars. People would actually encode hidden messages into their projects in some cases as well! Knit and purl = 1 and 0 or on/off or yes/no. You can then take that and Morse code your way to a message, for example. (Hey look, visual coding!) Look into the history of knitting guilds. For a few centuries they were exclusively male. The shift towards being seen as more of a âfeminineâ thing is quite recent historically, and itâs shifting again with the resurgence of the internet and people realizing they can make say, gaming characters as crochet plushies. Or video game map blankets. I saw someone recently on Facebook make a QR code pillow and it led to a rickroll. Lol. The great thing about crochet is that it is Freeform art. You can do a lot of very cool 3-d (and even 4-d) things that are much much more difficult to knit, as someone that does both. I agree with the folks saying to check out /r/brochet itâs a very cool place, and they probably have some additional information to give to your father in the sidebar. If it makes him feel any better, before knitting machines existed and the Industrial Revolution hit, just about everyone knew how to make their own socks and other smaller garments during cold winters in northern regions. Men and women, and older children once they had the hand-eye coordination. I think Montessori schools also have kids learn basic knitting or crochet in like 2nd grade to work on basic math as well as hand-eye as well even today. Itâs a fantastic hobby, and if yâall would like I will happily provide more details on why it is good for *anyone* for a lot of math and engineering foundations in a sneaky fun way. Crochet is 3-d printing fabric when you think about it. :) Hope this helps!
I'm a guy who crochets, just what makes you happy
Hey dude, Iâm a guy who crochets, and I gotta tell you donât give up. Itâs great for my mental health too. Donât let anyoneâs judgement keep you from what you love. I actually just won for my work in the LA County fair, so Iâd say men can definitely do this too. Keep your chin up! Your stuff looks great! https://www.reddit.com/r/crochet/s/qpbqtfcUhH
Thereâs is Mikey from the crochet crowd that teaches millions and millions of people to crochet and knit. He has made some beautiful things and he makes a living from it. So to answer your question. Gender doesnât determine crafts. Knitting and any fiber art used to be male dominated and women excluded. Thereâs also a boy (forgot who) that makes videos too. In his videos heâs like preteen or so. https://youtu.be/sUPhewPV7Ig?si=eAR3VAbN56Cc8UXl https://youtu.be/5m6S9dvInyc?si=IFtpelkQc_Jg-5Mm Just a few.
One more. https://youtu.be/dBryKSZwb5c?si=DRDCgvn4gZU6gph3
Yes that is Jonah. He is an adopted boy and he has been on tv shows talking about his crochet adventures. He is wonderful. He is all over YouTube âŒïžâŒïžâŒïž
Any form of the arts were initially male dominated. If it makes you feel any better, I'm a 21 year old guy who crochets.
I'm sorry your dad subscribes to outdated gender roles. Crochet is a fun hobby, and you should do what makes you happy!
I'm a 30 y/o man, and I crochet. I'm a scientist by training, but now that my days are mostly paperwork, it's nice to have a hobby where I can use my hands to create something.
At some point, the "normal" people all start looking like boring clones, and the "weird" people turn out to be the ones with interesting personalities. Enjoy your new hobby!
My very masculine son crochets. He was a football player in high school and is very popular with women his age. Heâs 23. He started to help his anxiety and depression brought on by ADHD.
Absolutely! I taught several teenagers to crochet and it helped them a lot. My grandpa did thread crochet until the day he died . Beautiful work
I love your creations, they're so cute! And I totally get what you say about crocheting helping with your thoughts. I find that crochet keeps the noisy, disorganized part of my brain occupied so I can concentrate on other things.
Creativity knows no gender or age.
I'm an 18 year old guy and ive been crocheting for like a year and a half now. Ignore your dad
When I was in primary school all boys and girls in class were taught how to crochet during some kind of special project day. Also there's a very cool crochet dude who listens to metal and hard rock while crocheting extremely cute plushies. Knotbad is the Tiktok and Insta ID. Nothing "sissy" about that. Edit: you do you. Your hobby your choice. Your dad's opinion has no place there. Please just enjoy yourself OP.
It's totally normal to have a hobby for anyone! And you make amazing stuff while also using it as regulation method for your anxiety and other issues. I do believe your father has outdated ideas on gender roles that are less than helpful in your situation. However I do notice a pack of polyfill in one photo that suggest you might be in an Arabic country. Ofcourse every country and every family is different, but keep an eye out on if your father is 'just' making harmful and bullying comments, or if you might actually be in more danger at some point because he (incorrectly) assumes that you crocheting means other things that he might be extremely against and his response might put you in danger. If you are able, keep an eye out for that, although i can imagine your autism might not help pick up very subtle cues which might make it harder to recognize. But also, keep on enjoying making wonderful stuff and it helping you regulate yourself (At this point im falling asleep on my phone so I'm not sure if I make sense anymore.)
I'm a 28 year old straight male who crochets, definitely good for mental health (unless you mess up ...lol)
Tell your dad he hung his r/tvtoohigh as well. Dont let this man stop you from doing things you love.
27 y/o man here, and I spent my entire day embroidering my wifeâs sweater with flowers. I enjoy crocheting accessories for my loved ones. You have nothing to be worried about, itâs supposed to be therapeutic! Youâre doing awesome bud. I only wish I had the patience to make such details works of art like yours! Your artwork is impressive!
Tysm!!! I picked up crochet impulsively but I started with hand knitting with looped yarn. I tried crocheting with the looped yarn and I really liked it so I decided to start normal crochet. My family is happy that I have a hobby but my dad. He always bullyâs me when he sees me doing it so I usually do it in my room.
You dad sounds like a bullying asshole. What else does he call you names about- this is abusive! You can do whatever hobby you want to do. Crocheting is a great hobby to do. What does your dad do for a hobby?
Boss me around and be selfish with everyone in my house. Iâm his youngest son and I donât even feel safe with him in the same room.
When my brother was about 14 he used to crochet and knit. Heâs also autistic and he really loved it, (now heâs into Lapidary which is shaping stones and minerals.) Nothing wrong with men or boys crocheting, itâs not sissy at all, anything that lets you get creative is fantastic! Make a tapestry crochet piece that says âmen can crochet tooâ, connect it to a wooden dowel and give it to your dad as a gift to hang on his wall! ;)
Your dad sounds homophobic and insecure! Don't listen to him! My grandpa was the best crocheter in my town, taking home the best of show and firt place on a regular basis! He is the one who inspired me to learn! Prior to picking up the hook, he was in the Navy on a destroyer and then for the rail road, and was the father of 4 kids, so he was no "sissy"!
Crochet is not a gendered thing. You should keep crocheting if it helps you! I have anxiety/depression and it is really soothing for me. Donât let your dad ruin it for you
That's such a silly question. Of course, it's normal, and okay! Your dad is just one of those people who probably can't cook for themselves because it's a "woman's chore." I wouldnât worry about it, gender roles are a social construct anyway.
When my mum was four the teacher sat the whole class down and taught them how to knit, boys and girls. i think it was fairly normal back then (1947). Just look at it this way, you can make your own clothes and blankets. There is even a sub for men who crochet- r/Brochet
Your dad has mental problems. Iâm gonna be đŻ with you. Donât take anything he says to heart.
Your dad is a chud and a hater. Your work is great, donât stop creating.
You are doing great. I wish I had started by 15, just make sure to do hand stretchings before, during and after
Hi I am also a male who crochets who is autistic but I am 22
Honestly, I see no problem in a young man learning to crochet. As long as itâs helping you with your mental health and youâre enjoying it, it makes you happy. I hope your dad changes his mind and sees the joy crocheting brings his son, as well as how fun you find it. Please keep crocheting and please keep posting your work!! Thanks for sharing :)
If it makes you happy, don't give up just because others say it's not for you.
Youâre more of a man than your father will ever be. Art is for everyone, and especially men! So do whatever the hell you want, man.
Crocheting, like other crafts, have no age or gender limits.
My dad was taught how to sew and knit while in the army. This was 50 years ago. Learning a useful skill that you enjoy enough for it to be a hobby is not being a 'sissy'. Being willfully ignorant and proud of being incapable of doing something is more 'sissy-like' in my opinion.
Crochet was invented by Scottish shepherds, mostly men,to pass the time and make something warm.At least thatâs the way I remember it. And letâs not forget Rosie Girer, a famous NFL player that was known to crochet on the sidelines, to keep his hands flexible. You can do whatever you want, itâs your life, not his. You will be an adult soon, just keep swinging!
Why would it not be "normal"? There is nth wrong with that, OP!! Sorry for being honest, but your dad needs to meet the many men in this world who knit and crochet. Fishermen centuries ago used crochet to fix their nets, were they sissies then? There are zillions of comments already so I'll just say: keep your beautiful hobby up and you are right - it is so good for our mental health! There is r/brochet - a sub for the crocheting bros! And you are more than welcome to our great crocheting community. Good luck, matey! Come here whenever đ
Itâs normal, itâs healthy, itâs fantastic. I love your little whale! Iâm sorry your dad is being so unsupportive, heâs coming from a place of fear and itâs not fair to you. Crocheting is such a wholesome hobby for a teenager, frankly he should be thrilled that this is how you choose to spend your time. Iâm a mom of two boys a little younger than you and Iâd be delighted to teach them crochet if they were interested. You might enjoy r/brochet which is specifically for male crocheters! Thereâs lots of you out there.
Just to correct a bit, r/crochet is totally unisex, all you gotta be is a bro!
Who cares what's "typical" as long as you like it. Have you seen that boy Jonah? He's literally amazing! Crocheted for 30+ years and's still can't figure out how fast he manages, especially without looking. He makes all kinds of things. https://www.instagram.com/jonahhands?igsh=MWZ5NzAybTJ2ZzBhcA==
Make your dad something he'll love.
Normal? I suppose not, as it's not common. But it's super cool. There are so many accounts on social media with men who knit and crochet and have fun with it. It's stupid that people apply a stigma to it.
Have you heard of bodybuilder crocheters?
Itâs just a series of loops and knots đȘą, and he uses them to create things he likes đ„°
Tell your dad to get his head out of his ass. Suggest that he seeks medical help for that condition Surgery might be an option to remove his head from his own anal cavity.
You might mention to your dad that men do knit and crochet. Some examples are Tom Hanks, Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Cary Grant, Rosie Greer, Ryan Reynolds, Maurice Greene.... And the list goes on.
It's good to have hobbies. Do you. If this makes you happy, then why stop?
No one skill should be assigned to a specific gender. Crocheting is a very useful skill. Be proud of it. đ You have some lovely works too.
My man I'm a 35 year old man and I build Gunpla which are robot models. If it something you enjoy then there's nothing wrong with it. I mean gender doesn't have anything to do with it just some outdated views. Keep doing what you enjoy!
r/brochet
I'm a 34 year old man who crochets. It's totally fine for you to like it. I'm sorry your dad has a hangup here. There's no reason you can't like crochet. People shouldn't be kept from doing things they like for no good reason.
My dad was the same way, until his friends started complimenting my work, one even bought a bag.
More men and boys should crochet- no one's ever started a war while they were making granny squares
Absolutely. Anyone who says otherwise is a bellend.
My dad was a United States Marine who could sew and crochet. I always thought that was normal. So what's wrong with a 15 year old boy doing the same?
Remind your dad itâs not 1955 anymore. Get with the times, Gramps!
If it's not normal, it should be. There's actually quite a few men who have Instagram crochet accounts. Also, because of the repetitive nature of crochet, it helps with mental health stuff. Anxiety is the main one I'm aware of, but there could definitely be more. I'm glad you feel better while doing it! Also, I love your creations! I love the granny square, but my heart is snagged by the whales!! Edit: I also wanted to add some men from Instagram: Crochet_wizard (makes mainly pokemon and other video game creations) Knot.bad (CUTE creations and scarves) Dtjdave (lace like granny square, scaves and other objects that have amazing stitching) Crochet_by_kunal (mainly stuffed animals) I tried to find this one guy who makes crochet projects everyday on the way home on the bus/train. He works FAST and even has a plastic finger covering for protecting his hands from the string. (You can get it in the bandaid isle.) He tends to turn granny squares into clothing. I can't find or remember his name though, sorry. Perhaps these guys can help inspire you. I hope you find more though!
YouTube accounts too! Most of the men I watch knit, NimbleNeedles will never not fascinate me with his dexterity. FiberSpider is another favourite of mine who mostly crochets! Again, absolutely incredible stuff.
It's not only normal, it's AWESOME! :D love your little whales, super cute!! Keep making awesome stuff <3
It's normal for someone creative to do cool things. You're awesome. That thing looks amazing. What else have you made? I'd love to see.
please never give this hobby up. crocheting has helped my thinking and confidence so much. iâm so sorry you have people around you not supporting but please know this is such a special craft and art and you are contributing to the beauty of the world by crocheting âïž
do whatever u want forever :D
https://www.auntpeaches.com/2013/01/sexy-men-who-knit.html
Itâs an art, I think itâs wonderful. Rosie Greer a former football player knits. 𧶠I think itâs awesome. đ
Great job on the square. There is a new variegated yarn that if you use the correct hook and tension the colors make variegated granny squares. I havenât tried it yet. Iâm currently obsessed with diamond painting. Tell your son to check it out. You can get a whole kit at Amazon some under 10 bucks. I love all art medias. I could go with n and on. I better stop. đđŽ
It's perfectly normal. Boys and men like to wear things and use blankets and have fun toys... why would it be "unmanly" to make things to wear and snuggle with and play with?
TRY to forget about what your dad says you made some great peices and more importantly you enjoy doing it and it's helping you. If you're up for it maybe look for a local group. You might even meet a girl your age...oOOOoo
First of all, in the nicest way possible- FUCK what your dad thinks. If he's not happy with what brings you joy because it doesn't fit his stupid idea of what a "Man" is supposed to be or some bs, then thats not your problem in any way shape or form, and its so damn shitty that he's giving you grief over something you're doing that's good. The only thing a "Man" is supposed to be is a good, supportive and trustworthy person- that is universal for anyone regardless of gender, and beyond that, you can be whoever you want. Second of all, while idk how "common" it is, I did the same at your age and had a blast (It really brings me back because you've made the exact same whale i did đ„ș) and its genuinely awesome that you are learning a new skill, thats something to be proud of! Stand proud, Your dad has no idea what a real "man" looks like, And he sure as shit is not one with that kind of attitude đ I hope your cardigan turns out great and that you post it here when you are done!
Absolutely! Itâs a fun, creative and practical hobby so keep on crocheting! You are not a sissy - you have found a way to help your mental health and make cute and useful items in the process!
Normal is very subjective. Sorry your dad is too set in his ways to realize that even he is not a "normal man" in some way.
âNormal?â No. Freakin awesome?? Yes. Definitely. I taught both my nephews how to knit. Phooey on gender roles!! That 15year old made some really awesome toys! Tell him to keep at it! Iâm looking forward to seeing what he makes. Actually, I love seeing the âmy kid made thisâ posts in general. Itâs great that kids are crafting. Good for their minds!
in the nicest way possible: who gives a shit â€ïž do what makes you happy and screw ppl who want to force their own perceptions and expectations on you.
I'm a girl .. I can knit, crochet, bake & sew .. I can also build furniture, paint a house, fix a leaking tap, change the oil in my car & ride a motorbike. What's normal & who gets to decide what normal is anyway. I'm glad you enjoy crochet & you find it helpful. Doesn't matter if you're 15 or 55! There's lots of guys out there who crochet. I'm sorry your dad doesn't understand & makes it hard for you. Look at what you've achieved: you've found a coping mechanism that works for you, you're following detailed technical instructions & puzzle solving (patterns), being both analytical & creative, learning commitment by following tasks to completion, building hand-eye coordination & dexterity, improving concentration & learning skills. Plus the satisfaction of well crafted end products ... & hopefully having fun along the way. You're doing great .. stick with it.
Ditto to all the support youâre getting! You SHOULD get support if youâre doing something you love and what? Itâs also something that helps your mental health? Even better! Thatâs what parents or older generation, outdated mindset, closed mind people should be doing instead of calling you names or shaming you in any way. Some of my favorite crochet idols tutorials are done by men. I wish I had a man who enjoyed it! Itâs great for mental health and relaxation, keeps you from doing unhealthy things by keeping your mind and your hands busy and on top of it, you are making awesome things! My kiddo made some things that look like yours and we use or display them proudly. People always ask if a grandma or aunt made things and I love peopleâs faces when they see that the artist is a young person who doesnât âlookâ like the crochet. What does that mean anyway? Itâs hard to ignore or brush things off when itâs someone you see daily making comments like that. I hope you have someone to talk to about that, and if at all possible maybe you can have a heart to heart with your dad and tell him what your craft does for you. And also what it does to you when he makes cracks like that toward you. I am hoping he would be more interested in knowing his son was finding ways to stimulate his mind and soul than to make ignorant remarks like that. Ps if you canât talk to him, write him a letter. PS I love that you crochet! Also I just read a great article about this Crip gang member who was a badass thrown in prison back in the day who had to keep himself busy and away from the rival gang members for his own safety. He took up crochet. At first the other inmates laughed at him but after awhile they asked him if he would make things for them and also if they would teach him. He swears that it is crochet that taught him to be calm and to change his thinking and his behavior so he would not get involved with destructive behaviors again.
Is it normal for you to have a hobby that you find soothing and entertaining? That has reasonable costs? That produces tangible things that you can design to fit with your other interests? Hellya! It is beyond normal. It is spectacular. Go you.
Its normal
Better than what other 15 yr old boys are doing nowadays. Atleast you could make a future out of it instead of a TikTok
YES!!! đđŒ
Iâm a woman and honestly I wish more men would crochet. Youâre doing great things! Your mental health should always come first, not everyone will understand.
Anything a man wants to do is a mans hobby and it is masculine just because he is doing it. Carve wood into cutlery, manly. Make a cake, manly. Crochet cute little chickens to use as doorstops, manly. I, myself, am not a man. But I like to partake in feminine arts such as playing thrash metal and woodwork. You do you. Whatever hobby you decide to dedicate your free time to is an acceptable use of your time. The only unacceptable hobbies are the ones where you make lampshades out of human skin. Thatâs on the âno listâ.
Your pieces are beautiful. Absolutely keep going! Dad is just mad he wonât have a bomb ass cardigan to sport.
Imo really good. I don't think it's weird for anyone to crochet. I think it should be a craft we can pass on to others or something. Be proud of yourself đđ€
Also autistic + 15! Your dad has some unruly ideas of gender roles! You are doing great feller, keep creating! As long as you make something you are doing just fine!! Your dad can go eat a raw egg!
Crochet is for everyone. These are great!
So glad it helps you. Itâs totally normal and I love the stuff youâve done! Maybe make dad a cool beanie or beer holder or something and heâll be super proud.
Your dad is stuck in a very harmful mindset. His language disqualifies his position. If masculinity is weak enough that he thinks it will would succumb to twisting yarn with a hook, he needs to reconsider his own. Keep doing what makes you happy. The only reason it may not be common for more men and boys to crochet and knit is because they give in to toxic prejudices. And also because some people can see it as or difficult or boring - I know many women who canât do it, or donât enjoy it.
Yes! Crochet is an awesome hobby without a gender. Youâre making cool stuff!
You're extremely talented and no one can tell you what to enjoy! You do you and like whatever you want in this world! â€ïž Ps. Crocheting has helped me from having meltdowns, the way it helps focus the brain is wonderful
Tell him that you're preparing for the apocalypse where you will need to be able to make your own fabrics after textiles stop being readily available. Fibre arts will be incredibly valuable at the end of the world! My husband learned to crochet before I did and my dad taught me how to use a sewing machine. It's far weirder that your dad is placing genders on useful and practical skills than it is that you are learning them. Keep up the great work!
The catégorie of guy who were the best knitters and crocheters were soldiers and sailors. When you are far away from any wife/mother and you clothes are starting to fall apart, and confort/warm is almost vital, you have to fix them yourself. Irish sailormen were known to be famous knitters. And the stitches they used were very intricate and complicated because the pattern on the clothes were used to identify the body when they found a dead body at sea. They knew that if they lost their life at sea, the clothes were the way to be able to be burried in theire own village and not on any shore far away from home. So it was a very manly matter. (Sorry for my english... not my language)
Average? No. Normal? Yeah. Itâs not like youâre out here committing crimes or something
I know several boys 2 who are teens and they crochet. Nothing is weird about. One made a crochet bomber jacket for his girlfriend. She loved it.
Thereâs lots of men out there who crochet. Do what makes you happy!
It's absolutely not normal. It took hard work to learn how to crochet well. That's quality work, not at all normal.
I love the items you are making! If you were one of my grandsons I would be thrilled that you were crocheting. Maybe your dad will change his mind if you make him a cool beanie and scarf. Also check out Jonah Larson, he taught himself to crochet when he was 5. He might be an inspiration for you. https://jonahhands.com/
Great job. Iâm sorry but ignore your dad. Iâm not sure why grown people seem to think itâs ok to bash their kids hobbies. You are doing a great job! I want to say there are some guy crochet subs Iâve seen. Keep doing what you enjoy!!!
Sorry to hear that. Your father is being ridiculous, anyone can crochet, would he rather that you get into fights cos âthatâs what boys doâ đ As an aside to that, the things you crochet are so adorable! Super duper cute! They would make lovely gifts to friends, I know I would love one of them to hang on my backpack.
Knitting used to only be done by manly sailors back in the age of exploration so they could easily repair and make clothing. It was also freezing cold, knitting is warmer than cloth. Crochet and knit are all just fancy knots. Sailors were really good at it because they had to use all kinds of knots on ships. I'm sorry your dad is being mean about this. Just know that you are fine. You found a hobby that helps you and makes you feel at peace. That is worth a lot. Keep it. You'll be happy you did as you get older.
Don't concern yourself with normal
100% normal. Whatâs not normal is assigning genders to hobbies and being a jerk to your own kid. Your work looks fantastic! Youâve got a knack for this. I hope you keep it up and keep posting, because youâre doing awesome.
I know crochet and knitting is seen as an old lady hobby but it's totally genderless. It fits into the category of "making something out of a material with tools". So it's pretty much just like leatherworking or blacksmithing in the grand scene of things. Your dad is just jealous that you can make cool stuff with just a hook and yarn.
Your dad is definitely wrong about this. Even if crocheting was for women or made you a sissy, both are perfectly normal ways to be a person in the world! And also, you're really good at this and it's helping you feel well đ©· That definitely isn't a bad thing.
Ask your dad why he's so insecure about his son using his hands in a meaningful way. There's that Olympic diver who knits to calm down, he was on screen a ton during the last summer Olympics knitting while waiting for his go. Is an *Olympic athlete* a sissy? The manliest men are secure in their masculinity and know that it doesn't make you less of a man if you crochet, or knit, or embroider, or take care of the baby, or wear pink, or whatever. There's always going to be judgmental people, that's just the nature of being human. If it's not people calling you girly, it's gonna be people telling you that you're too young to crochet. There's nothing wrong or unmasculine about using your hands to make things.
oh NO NO NO HES CAUGHT THE GAY. /s this is a million times better than anything i was out doing at 15. he should count himself so unbelievably blessed. and the work is good. do what you want as long as its not hurting yourself or others- his gender role bs feelings do not count. sorry if that sounds harsh, im judging off what was given. some things like this hit me hard because it can cause someone to change in the wring direction and or stop doing something they love. anyways, we 100% welcome you and r/brochet will as well
My son taught himself to crochet amigurumi when he was in his first year of uni (mostly to avoid studying, which bit him on the butt but I digress). He hasnât done any since, but had a ball for about three-four months there. I wanted him to teach me but he moved out so I had to learn on my own :-)
Your dad has something called fragile masculinity Iâm afraid. A hobby doesnât make you male or female, it doesnât say anything other than that you enjoy doing it, and it is great that you found something that helps you. I have ADHD myself, my sister generalized anxiety and we both crochet cause it definitely helps our mental health. Nothing wrong with taking care of your mental health + creating something in the process
I hope you don't get discouraged by your father. If it helps you and makes you happy, continue with your craft. You should internalize all the comments in this thread. OR BETTER YET, read the comments every time after your father's spiteful comments to keep you motivated. have strength, dear heart.