Crocheting is a fun hobby that you can use to make beautiful clothing, blankets, and gifts for your loved ones. Although it can take years to master all of the different stitches used in crocheting, the basics are easy enough for even a child to understand. If you want to share your love for crochet with a child, start with the simplest stitches, then slowly work up to more complicated projects!
Steps
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:
Introducing a Child to Crochet
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1Wait until the child seems interested. Children as young as 2 can learn to crochet, but if your child isn't showing any interest in it, it's best to wait. Forcing a child to do something before they're ready can mean they won't enjoy it as much later. [1] X Research source
- Remember, each child is an individual, with their own interests and skill levels. If crocheting doesn’t interest them right now, try to find another activity you can do together. They may become more interested in crochet later on.
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2Opt for a large hook and chunky yarn when you’re teaching children. It can be hard for younger children to work with delicate yarn and smaller needles. Use a large crochet hook, like a size N (10 mm), and thick yarn to start with. Once the child gets comfortable with those hooks, you can gradually reduce the needle size, if you want. [2] X Research source
- Avoid using black yarn. It can be very difficult to see the knots in black yarn, making it hard for the children to see what you’re doing, or whether they’re following your instructions correctly.
Did You Know? If you’re working with very small children, you can skip the hooks altogether and teach hand-crocheting to start with. Just show them how to make the knots with their fingers, instead.
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3Plan a project you can do with the child before each lesson. Whenever you’re teaching kids, it’s important to be organized and prepared before you get started. Choose what you want work on before you sit down to talk about crochet, and tailor each lesson to the child’s age and skill level. [3] X Research source
- For example, you might want to start out by having a lesson where you make a simple chain. The next lesson, you might work on single crochet, then double crochet once they get the hang of that.
- If the child is struggling to master one of the techniques, plan a few lessons where you just work on that stitch, until they get the hang of it.
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4Start by showing the children how to hold the hook. In your first lesson, show the children what a hook and yarn are, and the proper way to hold both. Explain that crocheting is just making a series of stitches and knots in the yarn. You may also want to include a finished project so the children can see a before-and-after. [4] X Research source
- You might choose to show the kids the finished version of what they’ll be making, or you can bring in a more advanced project to show them how far they can take crochet, if they enjoy it.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:
Teaching Basic Stitches
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1Sit with the child and start crocheting a chain, explaining what you're doing. Sit so that the kids can see your hands and the crochet needle. Make a slip knot, then slowly make a few stitches, clearly explaining each individual motion. Tell the child how to hold the yarn, including how to control the tension with their index finger. and repeat the stitch a few times until you feel like they have a good idea for what you’re doing. [5] X Research source
- Speak slowly and clearly, and pause often to make sure the child understands what you’re telling them.
- Sitting side-by-side will make it easier for the child to see what you’re doing.
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2Ask the child to repeat the stitches you just made. Hand the yarn and hook to the child, then verbally coach them as they try to follow what you just did. If you need to, correct how they hold the hook, but encouraging the child to keep trying, even if they don’t figure it out right away. [6] X Research source
- The best way to learn crochet is to do it yourself, so you want the child to get hands-on experience as early in the lesson as possible.
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3Make long necklaces and garlands with the chain stitch. Keep practicing the chain stitch with the child, creating long crocheted chains. You can then use the chains you make as festive garlands, or you can loop them around the child’s neck or wrist to make necklaces and bracelets. [7] X Research source
- Make sure to tell the child to keep their stitches loose for the chain.
- In addition to being a cute fashion statement, most kids love wearing something they made themselves!
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4Move on to single crochet once the child masters the chain stitch. Have the child stitch a chain. Then, turn the chain so it’s laying the opposite direction from how it was crocheted (e.g., move it from the left side of the hook to the right side, or vice versa), find the second chain stitch, and show the child how to work the single stitch into the chain they just made. [8] X Research source
- This will create a foundation row.
- Think of fun projects that you and the child can make together with a single stitch, like a brightly-colored scarf.
- If you’re working on a large project, or if you start near the end of a ball of yarn, you’ll need to teach the child how to join the old yarn with a ball of new yarn.
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5Work on more complicated stitches as the child improves. Once the child can successfully do a chain stitch and a single stitch, you can start teaching them more complex techniques. Gradually increase the difficulty of the projects you work on together, incorporating a new stitch each time. [9] X Research source
- Some stitches you might teach include double crochet, half double crochet, and triple crochet. As your child gets more comfortable with these essential stitches, you can teach more complex stitches that combine several basic stitches, such as the blanket stitch.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:
Making the Most of Each Lesson
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1Teach the child terms as they need to know them. Don't try to teach them the whole knitting vocabulary at once, as that can be really overwhelming. Stick to simple language, and use kid-friendly terms when you think they’re appropriate. [10] X Research source
- For example, if you tell a child on their first day that they’re going to learn single, double, and half-double crochet, they’ll have no idea what you’re talking about. Introduce the terms one at a time.
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2Work in a calm environment. Crochet takes some concentration, especially when you’re first starting. When you pair that with a child’s natural tendency to be easily distracted, it can sometimes be hard to get a kid to sit still long enough to learn how to do anything. Try to find a quiet place where you can work, without TV, devices, or other people making a lot of noise near you. [11] X Research source
- Of course, if you want to have some music or other white noise in the background, that’s perfectly fine.
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3Stick to a group of 5 or 6 if you’re teaching multiple kids at once. It’s probably most effective to teach 1 child at a time, since you can pay careful attention to their stitches. However, if you’re holding a class, try to keep it to a fairly small group. That way, you’ll be able to give individual attention to each child and correct any mistakes you’re making. [12] X Research source
- A smaller group will be easier to keep on task, as well.
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4Be patient and allow the child to work at their own pace. It’s not very likely that a child is going to master a crochet stitch right away. Even if they do, they might not retain that knowledge from one lesson to the next. Don’t get frustrated if they don’t understand right away, or if you have to remind them of the same thing over and over. Try to have fun, and give the child lots of praise when they get something right. [13] X Research source
- Let the child do as much of their own crocheting as possible, and make sure they know it doesn’t have to be perfect.
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5Find fun projects to work on together. Once the child has mastered some basic stitches, you can really start expanding what you crochet together. Look online for fun, simple patterns you think the child can make.
- For instance, you might find patterns for crocheting a toy animal, a friendship bracelet, or a warm hat in their favorite color.
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Things You’ll Need
- Size N (10 mm) crochet hook
- Chunky yarn
References
- ↑ https://www.allfreecrochet.com/Tips-for-Crochet/How-to-Teach-Kids-to-Crochet
- ↑ https://www.allfreecrochet.com/Tips-for-Crochet/How-to-Teach-Kids-to-Crochet
- ↑ https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/d1.html
- ↑ https://www.allfreecrochet.com/Tips-for-Crochet/How-to-Teach-Kids-to-Crochet
- ↑ https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/d1.html
- ↑ https://www.allfreecrochet.com/Tips-for-Crochet/How-to-Teach-Kids-to-Crochet
- ↑ https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/d1.html
- ↑ https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/d1.html
- ↑ https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/d1.html
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