Opening his drawstring University of Florida Gators backpack, junior Alex Maupin pulls out his most recent crocheting project; a turtle pillow. Although he has just recently learned how to crochet, he has picked it up quickly.

“I taught myself to crochet in the beginning of September,” Maupin said. “Since I already knew how to knit, I started crocheting as well.”

Maupin’s most recent project was a pair of burgundy arm warmers, which required cabling.

“I made the arm warmers. It took me about two hours per glove. Those required using front post double crochets, which has three single crochets on top of each other,” Maupin said. “It ended up looking like a cable-knit sweater.”

Sophomore Anna Frontaura also knits. One of Frontaura’s friends taught her how to knit when she was in middle school.

“It’s kind of like riding a bike. Even though I learned how to knit in middle school, I didn’t pick it up again until recently,” Frontaura said.

Frontaura admits that she does not know how to start a new project.

“I always have to ask my mom [to start it for me],” Frontaura said. “I’m left-handed so it’s a little bit more difficult for me. Some people think I knit backwards, but I don’t. I was just taught differently.”

Though they enjoy it, Frontaura and Maupin both agree that losing their spot is one of the biggest hassles of knitting.

“You set [your project] down for 10 minutes and you come back and think ‘what was I doing again?’” Maupin said.

Frontaura says that getting clarification is also one of the difficulties of knitting.

“It’s so frustrating when I’m trying to get help from my mom and she doesn’t understand what I’m saying because I’m not using the correct terms,” Frontaura said.

Frontaura said that knitting is fun, but sometimes it can be difficult to keep her focus.

“I usually watch TV or listen to music to keep myself sane. If I watch TV, it’s typically That ‘70s Show,” Frontaura said.

Maupin’s hobby started off simple, but he hopes to progress his talent.

“Scarves are difficult [to crochet], Maupin said. “But sweaters are more difficult. Crocheting a sweater is my biggest goal. It would be awesome.”