What Age Did You Start Crocheting?
By Rachel Choi – 109 Comments| Have you ever gotten tired of the stereotype that only old ladies in rocking chairs crochet?
Well, I am! Although I think most stereotypes have some truth behind it. Old ladies in rocking chairs do crochet, but I bet most of them learned when they were young. In my opinion, crocheting is a hobby that is timeless and once you learn it, it sticks with you for a long time. Maybe that is why lots of people think that it’s an old lady’s sport. I learned to crochet sometime in middle school. I’m not exactly sure what my age was, but I’m going to guess I was around 10 years old, give or take a year or 2. I don’t think a 10 year old is considered an old lady. |
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Now, lets prove this stereotype wrong once and for all! What age did you start to crochet?
I learned to crochet about 10, also. I continued to crochet off and on, but during the past 2 years I have made crochet my passion. I do craft shows, take orders for specific items, and teach a small group of 4-6th graders after school one day a week. They are loving it and have improved greatly over the span of our sessions. Their last project was to make a new-born size cap, all of which we donated to a home for mothers who are alone and in need of help with their infant. The gift of crochet just keeps on going….
I was about 10 when my great grandmother taught me to crochet, because I wanted to learn it at school, and the teacher had no patience teaching me how.
Bless my great grandmother, for she had an understanding with me.
It has been almost 40 years since then. I am so glad that she left me a *forever* legacy! I miss her.
My mother taught me to crochet when I was about 7 yrs old although I didn’t start following patterns & really making things till I was in my early 20s & pg w/our first baby.
I loved crochet since I was 9, my mama taught me how to crochet and knit
now with my busy studies, when she sees a needle in my hands she screams to let go so I won’t get distracted from my books 😛
Rachel,
I learned when I was around 7 or 8. I’m left-handed and my mother had trouble teaching me. But I really wanted to learn and she had a friend who was left-handed. I don’t even remember her name. I crocheted constantly in high school, but hadn’t’ done it since then. I’m in my late 40’s now and have picked it back up. I’ve made hats, scarves (for my son, charity and gifts) and planning on an afghan (for me).
Also, the fact that your stitch pictures flip to left-hand when the mouse is held over the picture is one of the many reasons I enjoy your “Crochet Spot”. I have referred more than a few “newbie lefties” to your site.
How do you get the pictures to flip for lefties? Thanks so much. Lefty crocheters are especially grateful.
I, too, learned when I was about 8 or 9. I am also left handed and my left handed cousin tried to teach me. But it was my right handed grandmother that didn’t care if I was left or right handed. She just showed me how, and I did it!
A tear fills my eye right now. I had not really thought much about when I first learned. I remember going to grandma’s house and I didn’t run to the toybox. I would ask for her to bring out her yarn and crochet hook. I remember how nice and neat everything was. Wish my projects were so nice and neat! Thanks for asking such a sweet question. Thanks for the memories! By the way, I will be turning 54 next month. Not quite rocking chair material yet.
I learned from my grandmother so long ago that it’s hard to remember the exact age. 8 or 9 is my best estimate.
My mother taught me when I was 9 years old, in 3rd or 4th grade. Did a lot of simple DC and granny square stuff back then. Picked it up off and on thru my teens and 20s, but didn’t really get serious with it until my 30s. Now I ALWAYS have something on my hook and I love trying new stitches and patterns.
I started crocheting when I was 13. My cousin was taking home economics and she had to crochet a blanket for class. I wanted to make something for my mom for Christmas and I have been crocheting now for 26 years. I just love it.
I learned how to crochet earlier this year. I was 15. Now I am 16 and I can make like hats and stuffed animals. They are very good, but they are a start 😀
My best friend taught me to crochet at age 8. I spent many years creating chains until I dared go further while in high school and have been crocheting ever since — that’s a total of 51 years. My grandmother did indeed crochet, but I don’t think she ever sat in a rocking chair. That wasn’t Gram’s things. She made many afghans and tablecloths for family and friends until her arthritis said no more and lived to age 93.
I started crocheting when I was 7. I was so happy when I made my first stitch.
I started when I was 13 and now I’m 14, so I haven’t been crocheting for too long. I love crocheting though and my favorite thing to make is amigurumi. I learned how to knit shortly after crocheting too and also love that. My brother always calls me an old lady but I really don’t care, I just consider it one of the favorite hobbies and the results I get from crocheting and knitting give me this accomplished feeling. I love to make gifts for my family and sometimes friends because it’s really meaningful when you take the time to make something for others. I think this hobby definitely will stick with me until I’m an old lady!
I learned when I was in 6th grade in my home ecs class. Then I crocheted on and off for about 4 years before I started doing it on a regular basis.
My Great Grandma Smith was always working on crochet and knitting projects. I have several of her pineapple doilies. My Grandma Rugg taught me and several of my cousins how to make a chain. We used to make lots of really really long chains. Sometimes we made them without hooks (just used our hands). She taught me how to add a second row when I was probably 7 or 8 years old. It confused me for some reason. I tried to teach myself from books about 10 years ago but still couldn’t get it. Finally about 3 months ago with the help of You Tube and my Mom, I got it!! I’m 32 years old. I’ve been making all kinds of things and LOVE it! I don’t know why I had so much trouble. I started teaching my cousin’s 9 year old son recently. He was really interested in learning and picked up on it really quickly.
I taught myself to crochet when I was 21. We were stationed at Fort Ord, CA, and my husband worked about 4 hours away. I only saw him on weekends, and I had a 1 year old. So I learned from a book, and my first project was a very involved lacy shawl. I was too dumb to realize that was a huge first project! But I finished it and have crocheted ever since. I’m 56 now. I have taught one of my granddaughters to crochet, and she is doing very well for a 7 year old. I hope these will be special memories for her as she gets older.
My little old Gregre from Prince Edward Island taught me when I was about 7 years old.
I learned some very basic stitches when I was about 20 and made a scarf and blanket. That was all until 4 years ago when at age 55 I decided if I was ever going to learn I’d have to teach myself. So through trial and error and dozens of different dishcloths, potholders and towels I learned to read a pattern correctly. Since then I’ve made many afghans and lots of different smaller things always with an eye to learning some new stitch or technique. Love it, love it, love it. What would the world be without yarn and hooks?!
I started knitting (still not good at it because it requires so much more patience) around 5 or 6, and crocheting about 11 or 12. My grandmother could only remember one stitch. I’ve taught her a few others now. 🙂
I wanted to learn when I was 10 because my mom always crocheted, so she got me a beginner’s kit w/a how-to book and different sized hooks and a skein of Red Heart yarn. But I didn’t have the patience then to keep with it so dropped it pretty quickly. Why my mom didn’t just teach me herself I don’t know. Perhaps because she’s also self-taught. But last year, at 24, I picked it up again and am still going strong, mostly making amigurumi. My friend decided to take up knitting and that inspired me to pick crocheting back up. Before she moved, we hung out once or twice a week for “Stitch ‘n Bitch” to work on our projects and watch iCarly. Sometimes our other friend who also began knitting would join us, so it was 3 Danielles in their 20s knitting and crocheting on a Tuesday night and watching Nickelodeon LMAO.
Great stories! I taught myself reading a how-to book upside down when I was 20 or so, which at 56, I still own and use. Then I was lucky enough to work with a wonderful woman who crocheted at lunch–I would face her at her desk and follow her instructions…so we would crochet the same way! She was the most patient and wonderful teacher I could ever have.
My grandmother taught me one summer when I was about 12 or 13. She only taught me how to make a granny square, I didn’t even know what the stitch was called. Then while pregnant with my son a couple years ago I picked up the habit again. I bought a crochet stitch book and realized the stitch I had been using all those years was a double crochet, from there I learned the rest of the stitches and taught myself how to read patterns. I am in my late 20s and my husband often teases me about my ‘old lady’ past-time 🙂
Being a “lefty” (love your site with the reversible pics) nobody would teach me to crochet. So, when I became the little old lady in the rocking chair two years ago (age 64) I taught myself. I am still learning, but now am tackling thread crochet for Christmas ornaments. I watched Grandma make tablecloths, bedspreads, and lace collars. I don’t think she crocheted with any other than Aunt Lydia’s Bedspread Cotton.
I asked my grandma to teach me at about 8 years old. I would sit next to her with my hook and yarn. I’d watch her intently. “blip” and she’d be finished. “No Grandma, I didn’t see what you did.” Blip, she’d be finished again, and again. Finally I had mom buy me a “how to” book and taught myself. I’m now 64 and still crocheting. Last summer I taught a granddaughter and grandson how to crochet. They both loved it and the grandson asked for yarn and easy patterns for Christmas. The boys at the local Children’s Home are all sent to the “crochet room” when they can’t pay attention in class to work out their frustrations. Each year they raffle off an afghan to buy more yarn for projects the next year. I can’t sit down and watch TV without a crochet hook in my hand.
18! It’s been 2 and 1/2 years since i learned and i’m still going strong! 😉
I just started this year, so I was 24. Not an old lady, but not little either. Someone tried to teach me to either knit or crochet (I have trouble remembering which now) when I was little but it just didn’t stick.
I learned fairly early, around 4 years old. My aunt taught me, but she was more of a knitter, so I only learned the chain and sc, before she passed away. Then another aunt tried for a bit, but she was worse than I was. I was around 10, when my paternal grandmother realized I shared all her crafty passions, so she started teaching me other stitches, and she would give me magazines with patterns for doilies for when she wasn’t around. I’m only 21 now, and many don’t consider me an old lady, so there! LOL.
I’m 13 right now and have only been crocheting for a few months, but I’m turning 14 on the 24th!!!! Throught these times, I’ve been through a lot of books since my mom doesn’t know how and my grandma didn’t really crochet much. Back then, people didnt have many clothes, and my great-grandmother use to make stuff from crocheting, so my grandma was “spoiled” with stuff! Though the learning process was slowed, I feel very happy and excited that I learned all by myself in less han a month! Since then, many of my friends have appreciated my works(still off of patterns of course). I love my projects too much to give them away, but there are a few I made for some people (A bunch even want to buy from me too!). Recently, I figure out that when you crochet, you insert the hook from the side facing away you….so I’ve been crocheting on the wrong side! XD Sorry for the long story, a lot has happened this year and I haven’t had anyone to tell this about. 🙂
I was about 10 or 12 when I first tried to crochet. I found a book of my mother’s and tried to learn from the book. Later, when I waw 17, I learned from someone else and I was off and crocheting!
Hi Crocheteers
I’ve been crocheting since 10 (I’m now 45) and was taught by my grandmother. Although my illiterate grandmother could create wonderful patterns, I eventually taught myself how to read patterns.With crocheting, your thread is the limit!!!
I’m 58 and have been crocheting since age 19. My mum learned first and then showed me – but mum has never learned to follow a pattern – she just does everything ‘freestyle’. She does a stitch that we, in England, call a half-treble – not sure what it’s known as elsewhere. I bought a book called ‘Patons First Steps in Crochet’ that taught me all the stitches alongside small projects to do at each stage. However, I’ve never mastered the ‘correct way’ of holding your work/yarn! I ‘kind of knit’ onto my crochet hook BUT the stitches STILL come out right lol.
Well, i was 4. I usually watched my grandma knitting or crocheting and i asked her to teach me. And she did. Of course, at 4 you dont do it well…. but it was fun.
I remember the event, but not the actual date when my cousin’s wife and her friend taught me the basics of crochet. I was in my early 20’s (probably 1978 or 1979) so that was about 30 years ago. It was during the summer, in Mississippi, on a ladies’ vacation. We had my cousin’s kids. They were crocheting and I asked what they were doing so they showed me. I never looked back. LOL
I was 9 years old. I saw a woman crochetting while i was on a bus. She saw me watching her, and showed me how. When we got off the bus, my grandmother took me straight into woolworths and bought me my first hook (a J ) and some yarn. That was 35 years ago!
I am 19 I just began to crochet about 6 months ago. I’m not very good at it but I do still enjoy it. I’m basically self taught using books and the internet. 😀 I have made a few scarves and belts, and I have just about completed a throw type blanket that was sorta of my own ideas. I try to use patterns, but as I said, I’m not very good. I really love the patterns on your website though!! I also have lots of unfinished projects.
I learned at 19 in college from a friend and I am 28 now and the only person I currently know that does it… I have always found it an addicting hobby, I just can’t walk away from a project!!
I learned at age 23. AND I AM A MAN. My mother in law taught me how. I worked at a call center for about 4 years and used to crochet all day as I talked to customers on the phone. I’m now 34 and teaching school so I don’t have all the spare “free hand” time to spend crocheting, but I’ve picked it back up to make a beanie for one of my students who was just diagnosed with cancer at age 16.
Like many of you, I began crocheting when I was 8 years old (I am now 44). My sister (13 years older) taught me to crochet along with other crafty things. She just taught me the basic stitches. During my teens I taught my self the other stitches and how to read the patterns. I started off making granny square afghans and curly-q hair thingamajigs. Every where I go now I carry some type of crocheting project: doctor’s appointments, athletic events, even “people watching” at the mall ~ it certainly helps to pass the time and to keep my blood pressure down from being stressed about the long wait to see the doctor 🙂 Now that my parents are approaching their 80s, we never know when we may have an emergency (and they are starting to happen more and more often) so I always keep a bag packed with something to do ~ crocheting is the craft of choice. Whenever I am crocheting in public, without fail, someone will inquire about my project. Oftentimes I even have finished projects in my car . . . and will sell them on the spot ~ usually for not more than the cost of the supplies. Crafting is certainly stress-relieving for me and is a welcome diversity.
My first crochet project was a baby blanket for my first nephew. I was 21 and I learned to crochet in an adult education class given at the local public high school. I did just a few things then but took up the hook again this year. The reason was that my 18 year old daughter needed some warm hats. She was losing her hair due to the chemotherapy treating her Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (her’s is a childhood type of cancer . I made multiple hats and then branched out and started making crochet toys and clothing for the next generation of nieces and nephews. I always gave the prototypes to my daughter. The nurses in the hospital and pediatric oncology clinic enjoyed seeing my crocheting and were amazed at my speed.
My daughter is now in remission and is on maintenance chemo. I made a new scarf for my now 35 year old nephew (Christmas present) and reminded him that my first crochet project was a baby shower gift for his mom. Now that Christmas season presents are made, I am going to start making hats for the pediatric specialty clinic patients. I can do a hat in an evening and it is for a good cause.
I learned to crochet (a chain at least) before I started kindergarten.
Happy stitching.
I learned how to crochet when I was about 15, then stopped for a while and then just recently picked it back up again (I’m now 19) with a passion :] I think I’m even getting new yarn for Christmas, haha 😀
I was about five when my mother learn me. I don´t started with chains insted I learned single crochet first, I remember that I where doing a lots of skirt to my barbies. Reading pattern did I a few years after schoolstart.
I have tried to learn my daughter to crochet, but like knitting better. But I don´t give up, maybee when they are old they will learn to crochet.
i was 13 so last year.. its so fun. my aunt in australia taught me.
I learned to crochet at age 10, that is also when I started learning how to knit and cross-stitch. My mom taught me alot. I’ve made afghans, scarfs, and hats, but mostly afghans and baby blankets.
My Aunt Eula taught me to crochet when I was 10 years old (am almost 61 now). I still have my very first crochet needle from back then. They don’t make them like they used to.
]i was 24 when i started to crochet,it was my husband aunt who taught me.it took less than a hour ,she was a very good teacher,and i need something to help me quit smoking and 8 yrs l8r therees nothing i cant make and i still dont smoke .she just wanted someone in the family to learn so there would always be the crochet dish clothes .now it my favorite way to pass the time
HAPPY CROCHETING IN THE NEW YEAR!
I started 2 years ago at 30. My first pattern was a penguin. I am self taught with all those wonderful help videos out there.
I started last year at 13.
I think it’s been 5 years now, so about 30, with the help of internet and books 🙂
I learned when I was 8 yrs old by my grandmother and always made blankets. I started my own cro biz when I was about 22 yrs and love to do it non stop. I have aways don’t it in may spair time but about 10 yrs ago I got hurt and now stay at home and cro.