Photo Courtesy of Elizabeth Berry.
My introduction to crocheting was a crochet kit made just for kids that was far too advanced for my nine-year-old self, leading to a bout of frustrated tantrums. Needless to say, crocheting was not the hobby I dabbled with during quarantine. But Connecticut College alumna Maddie Megargee ‘20 has been crocheting various clothing items since March, posting her wholesome creations on her Instagram account @the.crochetcottage––a pun on the ‘cottage core’ fashion trend.
Megargee, who studied Sociology and French at Conn, ordered her first crochet kit in March as a potential quarantine activity. She began to post images of her pieces on her personal Instagram accounts but eventually decided to make a crochet-focused account where she could share her work, as well as sell items to interested parties. So, she made a little black-and-white doodle that is now her bio photo and worked with her friend Hannah @ladyandthecam to design a logo.
While crocheting is fun, Megargee explains it was frustrating in the beginning. She taught herself the basics and became more familiar with certain crochet patterns that use specific terminology in the instructions. Even now, having more background in these patterns, Megargee enjoys free-handing and often does not have to follow pre-established patterns. “I will free-hand [the piece] and block it out using shapes, [with] lots of trial and error,” she says over a phone interview. She goes on to say that “most projects have a moment where I have to un-do something,” regardless of following a pattern or not. Her hardest pieces are always new styles, while patterns she has more familiarity with are a lot easier to make. I have personally asked for a striped halter top with a tie-neck and teardrop cutout, a design that Megargee has previously made for her sister. Regardless of how many times she has made a pattern before, Merargee says a little frustration is always present in the process.
Despite these hurdles, crocheting is a very portable hobby because all you need is a crochet hook, some yarn, and access to Youtube tutorials. When it comes to pricing, Megargee will plan out how much yarn she needs to make a specific item and base the price on the cost of the yarn and how much time it will take her to make––plus shipping. There is definitely more expensive yarn out there, but Megargee says you can easily find a roll of yarn for just a couple of dollars.
You can see Megargee’s breadth in the craft; her Instagram highlights items ranging from leg warmers, purses, and earrings to bralettes, crop tops, and sweaters. Customers can order a customized piece, like the matching colorful crop top and shorts pictured above, or purchase items that Megargee has already made such as the hats pictured below. Her favorite piece so far is a large blanket of 100-little granny squares. This is the largest crochet project Megargee has undertaken; she worked on crocheting the individual squares for almost two months.
Like many, Megargee found comfort in crocheting during the lockdown. In the same interview, she explains that “Everyone had their thing, some of them stuck and some of them haven’t.” She goes on to say that crafts are a cool trend that has come out of the pandemic. Plus, “it’s really satisfying to make something yourself.”
While crocheting may be new to Megargee, she has always been into crafting. She took art classes in high school as well as a color theory course at Conn, which she says has come in handy these past months when deciding on palettes. “I have always liked crafting and have enjoyed seeing more people craft and sharing their crafts,” she says. Megargree has also thought about expanding her sewing knowledge, as she briefly sewed for the costume department at Conn. But she explains that there are so many more fun things you can do with yarn. For example, she wants to learn how to do Tunisian crocheting, a crochet afghan pattern that requires a longer hook. Knitting is another craft medium she has considered but gives a shout-out to Conn alumna Jenni Wilson ‘20 who runs a knitting specific Instagram account @knitsbyjenni.
The pandemic has certainly sparked inspiration among craft masters, as well as conversations on sustainability when it comes to fast-fashion. Megargree explains that she wears a lot of second-hand clothes, but thrift-shopping can sometimes be ethically questionable. She finds that making her own clothes is a great solution to avoid fast-fashion. “With the things I make, I am more inclined to wear it as they mean something to me,” she explains. Her customers and herself included are more likely to find a way to wear the piece she has crocheted as it was designed just for them and thus holds more significance than a random graphic tee. They may even wear the article of clothing for a longer time period and get more use out of it.
Whether people continue to buy her products or not, Megargree plans to continue crocheting and expanding her proficiency in the fiber arts. She has signed up for a workshop at her local yarn store where they will learn how to spin their own yarn. There are other similar workshops she hopes to participate in, as well as potential craft fairs once these events become safe again in a post-pandemic world.
Megargee explains that if she were at school now, she would definitely keep a hobby that wasn’t on the screen as “a brain break.” This is sound advice from a recent graduate, especially as we enter module two of Zoom University. Crochet on camels and stay safe.•
