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“Isn’t that for old people?”, “I don’t have time to do that.” These are only some of the things that people think when they hear crocheting. Although not everyone, those who don’t think these things might believe that there are some benefits to learning how to crochet. To start off, no one can be sure of when “crocheting” originated or why it started. Most of the time it is older women who crochet, and they do it to keep themselves busy throughout the day. Just because people think that this activity is considered for the elderly, it doesn’t mean that only they can do it.   

Cathy Meyers believes that crocheting is an activity that not only relieves stress but can also inspires those crocheting to be creative. She goes into detail about when archeologists and scientists believe that crocheting really originated, and some of the finding are shocking. Three of the main theories that are roaming about the internet are 1) crocheting began with the Arab trade route, spreading from Arabia to Tibet and Spain, 2) South American tribes used crochet as a part of their tribe's puberty ritual, and 3) early examples of crocheted dolls in China. Although these are great for history, what are the benefits? There are many things that make crocheting beneficial, it keeps not only the fingers moving but also the eyes. It also calms, manages stress, and in the end helps strengthens the body’s immune system.

I agree with many of the benefits that come out of crocheting but there is one fact that I would have to disagree. Meyers said, “Crochet is an inexpensive way to produce clothing…”, I have personally bought yarn to crochet a blanket or hat, each ball costs about three to five dollars, and most of the time if you are working on a large project you will need more than one ball of yarn. Although I only disagree with that one fact, the article provided many theories about the origin of crochet. “Chain four, join, and turn.” (Meyers) These words may not mean much to you, but to crocheters they signify the project that they are putting all their free time into during the day, and as they get closer and closer to the end of the pattern they can see the finished product that they worked on for only a few days or many months. And when it is all done they feel a sense of accomplishment, and realize it is time to move onto the next crocheting project.