My freshman year in College is when I learned to crochet. If someone tells me they tried to learn or someone else tried to teach them, but they just couldn't catch on or didn't stick with it, I'll ask them how old they were because, I know from experience and teaching lots of others to crochet, you really have to have a desire to do it. Many people I know learned when they were 5. Maybe they did have a desire to learn but there's another factor. I've been in lots of groups where I or others have taught numerous kids and older people to crochet. I just came to this conclusion on my own.
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| Beginner Crochet Purse / Bag My Granddaughter Made at Age 12 |
My Thoughts On Keeping Them Motivated
Many grandmothers or anyone who teaches someone to crochet will teach the child (or grown-up) to do a chain and send them home to practice. I've even heard some say when they were young they made a chain the whole length of the house! And most of the time when someone teaches a child, they will help them start a potholder or something small they're not really excited about. SO, I decided I'd start finding out some of the things they'd LIKE to make. Some may tell you they want to make something that is not a beginner project but more advanced. I talk to them til we come to an agreement of something they're interested in that's for a beginner. For instance, if someone who just learned wants to make a purse, most teachers would say no, that that's too advanced for a beginner. Well, I had my 12 yr old granddaughter, Chloe, make a purse, but it was a very easy purse! It was basically a long rectangle which became the front and back of the purse, by folding it over. I can't remember if I had her do single crochet rows or whether they are half double crochet or double crochet, which goes faster. It's no harder than a single crochet-you just wrap the yarn around the hook before putting it into the stitch and this makes the stitch taller, so it's easy.
Another Suggestion
Helping a beginner to do little things, will help them not feel as overwhelmed.
I also helped her by making a flap to fold over and then she crocheted the long shoulder strap she wanted. I also helped her make tassels to put on the bottom but I let her design the whole purse by choosing the yarn and telling me exactly how she wanted it to look. I think I made a small flower to put on the front too, knowing she'd eventually learn to do a flower. But I knew the things I did to help wouldn't discourage her from crocheting & when she saw how cute it was when finished, it made her want to make more things. Since then, she's made scarves, bracelets and helped her mom crochet an Afghan. She's in college now and has even started a crochet group among her friends who either already knew how to crochet or wanted to learn. I have given her tons of yarn and lots of crochet books with easy projects to share with her friends. I also gave her about 25 crochet hooks in different sizes to share with friends. I collect crochet hooks and had over 100 of them!
But my point is that when they make something they're excited about and can actually SEE the results, they are much more likely to stick with it! But also helping them by making a flower or sewing the bag together for them, while they watch, gets them excited they'll actually be able to carry the purse and show their friends what they did.
Another motivation for beginners is showing them small projects they can make as gifts for friends and family. Some suggestions for gifts that are quick would be:
Bookmark
Keychain
Hair accessories
Coin Purse
Cell Phone Case
Water Bottle Carrier
Coffee Cozy
Bracelet, Necklace, Ring or Earrings
Doll Clothes
Scarf or Cowl
Eye Glasses Holder
Pencil Case
You could probably think of 100's more small projects! And there are 1,000's of free patterns on the internet.
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