Crochet is Child’s Play!
By Caissa "Cami" McClinton – 12 CommentsSince I’m really into crochet, I consume a lot of media about crochet. You’d be surprised; if you keep your eyes open for crochet, you’ll see it popping up everywhere! While reading or listening to interviews with crochet designers, there is one theme I see popping up over and over again.
“My mother/grandmother/babysitter taught me to crochet when I was a kid. (She probably wanted to keep me busy/quiet/out of her hair.) All I knew how to do was make chains, but I would do that for hours and hours.”
Seriously, I’ve heard this theme (with variations) touched upon multiple times by people who as adults are avid crocheters and crochet designers!
The way I see it, we need more of these people in the world! What a wonderful way to get a child started on a craft that will serve them for their entire lives. What’s more, we all could benefit from the future designs of this crocheting child! Are you with me?
What I mean to say is – if you have a child/grandchild/kid you babysit who is old enough to hold a crochet hook, active enough to have excess energy, and creative enough to want to play with yarn, then by all means, keep that kid out of your hair for hours and hours by teaching him or her to crochet! Even if all they know how to do is make chains, it could lead to something big!
I myself taught a crochet class to eight 13-year-olds in Mexico City. We met after school each week and worked on projects like headbands and flowers. One of my students was so good at the double crochet that she took home a ball of yarn one afternoon and came back a couple of days later with a very large square of double crochet! Her goal was to make a blanket and she came back asking for more yarn! One student with an entrepreurial spirit became obessessed with making circles and she excitedly showed me all she had created. “I am going to sell them!” she confided.
It is just so gratifying to share your craft with a young person! Have you ever taught someone to crochet? Were you that kid who was kept quiet by crochet? Please leave your stories in the comments below.
im am currently starting to teach my six year old brother! if you have any advice on the best way to start that be great.
Have him practice the chain stitch to get his hands use to the movement of crocheting. Then when he has that down teach him the single stitch. Hope this helps.
Us girls were taught to crochet when we were young because our Church was doing a charity thing that required loads of granny squares and our Nana taught us to help out. That’s all we crocheted for years but after having my own children I took up my crochet hook again to make fancier blankets, scarves and hats etc. I can’t wait to teach our girls how to crochet but I know that’s a couple of years away so while I’m waiting for that I’m going to keep looking for more stitches to learn for myself.
My mother also taught me as a child to crochet a chain and to crochet a rose/flower. I didn’t touch a hook for years and decided to pick it back up as an adult. I crocheted simple sc and dc baby blankets at first and now I can make a variety of things.
My mom taught me how to do a chain. I took off from there. As a social worker in a school, I thought it was/is necessary to teach students this art. I initially started with one student, who happened to be a lefty ( I’m a righty!). Classes started from there. For three years I have been teaching 7th and 8th grade students. Their interests level is high in the beginning, then it slows. Once they make something of use, interest level is high again. Now, if only I can muster up the patience to teach my 7 year old daughter, I will be so happy!!!
My great aunt taught me to crochet when I was about 8. I was bored, and I loved it instantly. I have been doing it ever since. I taught my daughters as well, and they (teenagers) have just joined their first crochet-along. They are very excited! I work at a school, and one of the Jr. High teachers is holding a knitting class for any interested students after school. I think she has about 10 kids (including a couple boys!) It is so wonderful to see them eager to learn this craft!
I’m almost 57 & when I was young, living in a big city I couldn’t do much or go anywhere alone but to the library. At 13, I saw someone on TV knitting & crocheting & on my next trip to the library found every book I could on those subjects, brought them home, begged my mom for $$ for a skein of yarn, a hook & a pair of knitting needles & “painstakingly” taught myself to do both. Once my mom saw that I was not giving up, she bought more yarn & I made a nice scarf & hat for myself for the next winter. Now if I can just master the knitting machine a friend got me for Christmas …
Pearl, check out Rachel’s “How to Crochet” instructions, they are very easy to understand and should help you teach your son. Good luck!
I also taught girls (and a couple of boys) after school how to crochet. They really want to learn and had a great time coming together. It was also a time to discuss things that happened or just relax. I had music that they listened to and snacks. They loved kicking off their shoes and relaxing on pillows or bean bags–and talking! One girl got so good, she was creating her own patterns. We started out with service projects, but also made an afghan, sold it in a raffle and gave half the money to the school–the other half went for the supplies. They really seemed to enjoy making things for others–they didn’t really have an interest to make something for themselves. Crochet is making a come back. We all need to introduce it to our children.
Even though she had a grandmother who crocheted, my mom taught herself, so when I showed interest in 5th grade, she just bought me a book and a skein of multi-colored yarn and let me have at it. I didn’t stick with it for long, but picked it back up about 6 years ago. I’ve been pretty busy and haven’t really made anything in a few years, but every time I try to start something, my 3-year-old says “I want to do yarn” and grabs a skein and a pretty fat hook like an N or a Q. I’ve tried to show her how to chain, but all she does so far is dig the hook into the skein and pull it all out. Maybe in a few more years she’ll really learn.
My sister-law Peggy taught me how to crochet when I was 12. I learned how to granny square. I granny squared everyone a blanket. At the age of 26 I took a class to lean how to read patterns. I was the only student who knew how to crochet. My teacher told me that I will be able to make anything once I learn how to read patterns. She was so right. My first project was a dress for my seven month old daughter. I still have it. I LOVE crochet. I teach anyone who wants to learn. I also tell those who can ‘only’ do the single crochet what my teacher told me. And that if they can single crochet they can crochet anything once they learn how to read crochet. I have taught several how to read patterns and it puts a smile on my face when I see their work. And for my friends who are learning, I have them practice, practice, practice the chain stitch. Really once you have that down, well that’s when you can create anything crochet! Did I mention that I LOVE CROCHET!
Forgot to mention that I am now 59 years young.
WooHoo! I love the spirit and spreading the crochet love! You are definitely a Crochet Spotter! 🙂