Music & Crochet

Warm Pie & Ice Cream
Copyright: ClosetCooking.com

Music & crochet go together like warm pie and ice cream. Like beaches and sunsets. Like Vegas and strippers…. You get the point. A quick search of the hashtag “crochet” on Instagram, and you’ll find photos of WIPs along side a screenshot of the current tunes being played on iTunes. Crocheters find inspiration in music, and as a means to unwind. But most importantly, crocheters use music to get into a rhythm!

Google “music and crochet” and the search engine giant will auto correct to search for “music and crotchet.” Crotchet? Sounds like what my 10 year old son has nicknamed my hobby. Nope. Crotchet is actually a British musical term for a quarter note! Who knew? Looks like crocheters found inspiration in music without even looking! No, but seriously, music inspires us from the traditional musical note applique to the rocker amigurami

Memmie’s Corner on Instagram
Copyright: @memmiescorner

dolls. In 2012, the now defunct Crochet Today, released an entire issue of music inspired patterns which included a vest stirred up by the spirit of Janis Joplin, an iPod mixtape case and an iconic Annie (think Broadway musical) dress. Inspiration flows through us and out our hooks through music in so many ways.

Crochet, for most of us, is a means to unwind. Music helps us get into that trance and stitch away. Last October, Psychcentral.com published an article about music and stress, claiming “[music] encourages coordination and communication…[improving] quality of life.” Likewise, Interweave Crochet published an article by Kathryn Vercillo in the Spring 2016 issue entitled, “Crocheting for Solace.” The article touches on how relaxing crochet is and Kathie claims that “The repetitive motion of the stitching is relaxing, and the concentration required for crochet helps focus me and redirect my thoughts.” Sounds like getting lost in a song.

If you’re like me, you’re not listening to classical music 90% of the time you crochet. We save that for writing sessions (I’m currently listening to Der Erlkonig) and nap time. Instead something upbeat, and more important, rythmatic is more suited. Anoxiaperson has a diverse crochet playlist on Youtube consisting of Katy Perry, Kimbre, Blink-182 and Purity Ring to name a few. Now that’s more my cup of tea and something that can get me into a groove. Some days I prefer Spotify’s Acoustics playlist, and other days I just want to scream along with Blindside or Underoath. Either way, music helps me groove while I work and actually get things done quicker!