by Kristina Nelson

Created on: December 29, 2008   Last Updated: December 30, 2008

During my late thirties, I taught myself to crochet by borrowing a book from our local library. The book was titled, "A Complete Guide to Crochet Stitches", by Mary M. Dawson (1972). I remember my mother crocheting, but not very often. My grandmother, who lived through the Great Depression, made everything herself, including crocheted blankets, pillows, slippers, scarves, and so much more. Today, I resent not paying attention to my grandmother's handiworks. My teenage daughter now wears slippers her great-grandmother crocheted, and have outlasted any store bought pair we have had. I became more inspired to learn to crochet by simply listening to what my friends were crocheting.

One day, when my six year old daughter was home sick, I took my yarn and crochet hook and sat in a chair beside her. I was crocheting dishcloths for myself and for Christmas presents. Although she was watching a movie, she was watching me as well. As she began to feel better she asked if I would teach her how to crochet. That particular day, I also taught her how to tie off her ends, and make strings of single crocheted stitches. She made necklaces, bracelets, and eventually some to tie in her hair for hair bows. She made chains for Christmas tree decorations, and tied them in bows to decorate her room. It was a year later when she asked how blankets are crocheted. She even taught her eight year old sister to make a chain of basic single crochet stitches.

Children's interests change and grow daily. While a six year old may be eagerly interested in crocheting, a teenager may be more interested in mucking horse stalls and repairing barns. Encouraging children to learn to crochet introduces it to them at least one time. The only way to know if a child is ready to learn, is to ask them. Many times, if they are interested enough, they will ask the parent, grandparent or older sibling themselves.

Children, who are around a friend or family member that crochets, will or will not, be come interested in learning to crochet. For children who do, they usually will start by asking questions about what is being crocheted and how it works. By watching and asking questions, they become interested and excited to learn. If the surrounding friends and family do not crochet, you can investigate the child's interests with how-to movies from the local library or on-line tutorials.

Children who are old enough to read chapter books, my spark an interest after reading Little House on the Prairie books, or similar.

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