Crochet

[justjen]

Have any of you tried to teach children to crochet? My son wants to learn, and I think it would be good for him. It might actually calm him down a bit. I'm not great at teaching, and was wondering if there is a kit or book or something that is good to use for teaching crochet.

 

[Tangnefedd]

I can crochet, I forget how I learned to do it, not from my mother who can't crochet. It is not something I passed on to my girls, they were not interested. In fact knitting, which I am not good at, and crochet are a bit of a dying art, certainly here in the UK.

 

[Celticflower]

Have any of you tried to teach children to crochet? My son wants to learn, and I think it would be good for him. It might actually calm him down a bit. I'm not great at teaching, and was wondering if there is a kit or book or something that is good to use for teaching crochet.

Hi! I have taught a number of children to crochet, my daughter when she was 10, and classes for 3rd - 5th graders at a program called Super Saturdays for the past 2 years. There are a couple of books for children on crocheting ( I Can Crochet is the one I am familiar with). But with the classes I have found the best thing is to take it a step at a time. Start with a chain, then singles, then doubles etc. The books are generally "project" oriented, which is fine for some kids, but others need to learn how to do the basics well before they feel ready to tackle even the simplest project. The books also tend to be aimed at pre-teen girls, which could pose a problem with a boy to teach.
The main thing is to let your son learn at his own pace. One class I taught had kids who were still working on a chain in the third session, while the youngest student in the class had half an afghan done!
You may not be a great teacher, but you are his mom. Just be patient with both of you, sit with him, take it slow and be willing to show him over and over and over how to do each step. You may find you are a better teacher than you thought!

 

[Celticflower]

Have any of you tried to teach children to crochet? My son wants to learn, and I think it would be good for him. It might actually calm him down a bit. I'm not great at teaching, and was wondering if there is a kit or book or something that is good to use for teaching crochet.

Hi! I have taught a number of children to crochet, my daughter when she was 10, and classes for 3rd - 5th graders at a program called Super Saturdays for the past 2 years. There are a couple of books for children on crocheting ( I Can Crochet is the one I am familiar with). But with the classes I have found the best thing is to take it a step at a time. Start with a chain, then singles, then doubles etc. The books are generally "project" oriented, which is fine for some kids, but others need to learn how to do the basics well before they feel ready to tackle even the simplest project. The books also tend to be aimed at pre-teen girls, which could pose a problem with a boy to teach.
The main thing is to let your son learn at his own pace. One class I taught had kids who were still working on a chain in the third session, while the youngest student in the class had half an afghan done!
You may not be a great teacher, but you are his mom. Just be patient with both of you, sit with him, take it slow and be willing to show him over and over and over how to do each step. You may find you are a better teacher than you thought!

 

[GinooKo]

I've been crocheting since I was 7

Same here. I've breen crocheting since I was little. In fact, I remember crocheting hats and booties and my aunt sell them.

I rarely crochet with yarns but my passion is crocheting doilies and anything with mercerized cotton.

 

[alidansma]

I taught my stepson to crochet when he was about 11. It was very hard for him to see what I was doing and understand it. It was pretty frustrating. He was tryign to copy what I was doing, but couldn't duplicate it. So I sat behind him and crocheted, so he could see what I was seeing, that helped a lot, you can even hold their hands to guide them the right way. He still hasn't made anything yet, he is 14 now, but at least he knows how.
I have been crocheting for about 20 years and I have only made about a dozen things myself, so he's got time.

 

[GinooKo]

I think that's great Alidansma. I taught my son how to crochet when he was little. I guess it's not his forte since he could only do chains and a mile of them too.

 

[ema0941]

My mum taught me to crochet when I was little but it was years before I had the patience to complete anything and I never stuck at it for very long. Then suddenly 2 years ago, I came home from Uni for the Easter break and picked up a crochet hook and crocheted continuously for four weeks, completing nine different fancy dollies mostly in very random bright colours so they can't be used for anything! (and my fingers were very sore at the end too!)
I hope one day to be inspired to make something useful but until then I shall be happy with the belief that I could if I wanted to. Thanks for all of the stories you've all been sharing, they are really encouraging.

 

[TNSearch]

I crochet, also. I learned to do it just less than a year ago, and I love it. I'm working on an afghan now, it's flourescent green and teal it's about a third of the way done. I'm also working on one for my godson, but I'm not too thrilled with it, so I haven't been doing it too much. Does anyone have any good patterns. I can't find many that don't look old lady like, and I'd like to make something for my boyfriend. He loves them.

Tracey

 

[Celticflower]

, I came home from Uni for the Easter break and picked up a crochet hook and crocheted continuously for four weeks, completing nine different fancy dollies mostly in very random bright colours so they can't be used for anything! (and my fingers were very sore at the end too!)
.

What do you mean "can't be used for anything"???? Maybe not as a "traditional" doily, but I'm sure they could be used.

Thread ribbon thru one of the last rounds and tie around a scented jar candle or small jar of flowers.
Sew to a blah jacket or sweatshirt.
Matte on a contrasting color (to show off the stitches), frame it and hang it as art.
Glue to construction paper, fold and create a one of a kind birthday card.
Sew onto a plain fabric pillow, picking a color that will show off the doily .

Even if you used a varigated thread these kinds of ideas work. Nobody said doilies can only be done in white or solids. Think outside the box and have fun!

Celtie

 

[Celticflower]

I crochet, also. I learned to do it just less than a year ago, and I love it. I'm working on an afghan now, it's flourescent green and teal it's about a third of the way done. I'm also working on one for my godson, but I'm not too thrilled with it, so I haven't been doing it too much. Does anyone have any good patterns. I can't find many that don't look old lady like, and I'd like to make something for my boyfriend. He loves them.

Tracey

Try looking at:
home.inreach.com/marthac/links
or:
crochetpatterncentral.com

Both sites have links to lots of free patterns for just about everything.

Celtie

 

[Beauty4Ashes]

I don't know how to knit but I love sewing and I'd like to start crocheting. All I've ever taken the time to do is like maybe a tiny square and one time a little crocheted blob.......(it almost looked like something )

 

[faithnjesus]

I've been crocheting for over 30 years. Blankets, scarves, hats and doilies. Just a few years ago I taught myself how to knit. So far all I've made are a few afghans