At What Age Should You Teach a Child to Crochet?
Crochet can start at a young age as little as two or three years old, but there are a lot of factors to consider. Learning how to teach kids to crochet can prove to be difficult, but with patience and the right materials, you can make it easier on yourself and on the kids.
“Beginning ages vary from child to child but usually it's when the child is interested. Some say when children can hold the hook. I'd suggest 6 and up. Arm crocheting and finger chaining are a good way to introduce the concept of crochet for children to teens.” — Dixie Berryman, Craft Yarn Council
Don't push children into skills if they're not quite ready for it. Even if you can't wait to teach your child to crochet because it's a fantastic skill to have, you don't want to force it. Each child learns at a different pace and fine tunes their motor skills at different ages.
Teaching Crochet to Kids: How to Start
Being a teacher, regardless of what you are teaching means you always need to be organized, prepared, focused and have a lesson plan. When talking about crochet for kids you need to have something in mind.
What do you want to teach that child: Is it a simple chain, single crochet, double crochet? Have a plan ready so the lesson can go smoothly. A large part of teaching children to crochet is that you must have patience, but you also want to keep it fun. Get a little silly with them while explaining what's going on.
Keep in mind that showing a child is easier than just telling a child. Crochet takes a lot of visuals, especially with young children. Show the child what a hook and yarn is and then show them a finished crochet pattern so they can see how two simple products can create a beautiful masterpiece.
"While giving instruction, pause frequently to allow the child to think about what you have just said. Speak clearly and slowly. Speaking slowly will allow your mind to work ahead of what you are saying and you will be less likely to forget anything. It is always a good idea to make a brief outline of things you want to cover in class each day." — Dixie Berryman, Evie Rosen, and Audrey Hein, Craft Yarn Council
Explain to them that crochet is a series of stitches and knots woven together, but don't go into great detail more than they can understand; we don't want to confuse them or put them off. You will also want to teach them crochet shorthand and abbreviations as they learn, but only teach them the terms as they need to know them.
How to Teach Crochet With Hooks
The simplest way to teaching children to crochet is by using a large hook and bulky yarn. After all, their tiny hands most likely can't grasp a tiny hook as well as an adult; the bulkier the yarn the better, and the bigger the hook the easier it'll be.
However, starting without a hook may be easier for some children. NatalieGagnon from Nattypat Crochet says,
"While some kids may be able to coordinate both hands to chain or even single crochet, I highly recommend starting them without a hook to prevent initial frustration."
Another way to encourage interest is to let the child choose his or her yarn. If they choose the color they want to use then they'll be that much more excited about learning how to crochet. Crochet hooks are also available in lots of fun colors, which kids will love. Choosing a hook size is important in crochet for children.
"As for what size crochet hook to start kids on, that depends... but I prefer something in the middle size range. Small needles; though easier for little hands to hold create stitches that are too small/tight and therefore to hard/frustrating for a new learner. Too big, and they become too big/cumbersome for little hands to manage." — Katie Sullivan, My Sweet Homeschool
More importantly, allow them to move at their own pace. If they can't quite get the hang of it, it's ok. Let them continue trying the same stitch or movement over and over again. We all know that practice makes perfect.
How to Teach Kids to Crochet: Beginner Stitches
In order to learn crochet, children will need to learn the basic crochet stitches and beginning points. Where should you start when teaching a child to crochet?
Katie Sullivan from My Sweet Homeschool says,
"We teach a slip knot first and then a single chain. We single chain a long time, making necklaces and garlands and the like before we move on to single crochet. Dishcloths are a great project for single crochet (pick a cotton yarn for dishcloths since they will get wet often), so are scarves."
So, teaching a slip knotshould be first when working on crocheting with children. It is simple and easy to learn. Then, move on to single chains. Single crochet should be the first full stitch type they learn, and then they will move on to more basic stitches, like double and triple crochet. Then choose easy projects that use those stitches. Check out the section below for some ideas!
Easy Crochet Patterns for Kids
I have a free pattern download, the Stash Buster necklace, available on NattypatCrochet.com,which is a good place to start. *Note: the single crochet tube which is added can be made by an adult to assist or forgone altogether."
As mentioned by Katie above, simple crochet patterns like necklaces, garlands, dishcloths, and scarves are all smart projects to start with. Just because a pattern says it is for the beginner or easy level crocheter does not mean a child will enjoy it or be able to understand the directions. Crochet for children needs to simplifiedin terms of style, hook, yarn, and pattern instructions."For a first project, I would recommenda simple crochet chain necklace/bracelet that is made without a hook and with hands only. They can make one really long chain and wind it around several times, or just go with a single chain made with chunky yarn. You can also add some large wooden beads to it to jazz it up (typically a big hit for girls) or attach a bubble-making wand (hit with both girls and boys when combined with a bubble blowing trip to the beach or park and BONUS—they shouldn't lose the wand this way).
— Natalie Gagnon, Nattypat Crochet
These crochet projects for kids range in style and type, and may still be too advanced for some learners. Use your best judgment when it comes to picking a pattern. Take their suggestions, too! Would they prefer something long and repetitive like a scarf or small and a little more detailed with curves, like a crochet flower?
- How to Crochet the Chain Stitch - This video tutorial will help teach one of the most important skills in crochet.
- Rainbow Friendship Bracelet - This is a small project that may be too tiny for some but it is very simple to follow. Use one color to make it easier to crochet for kids.
- Quick Crochet Butterfly Pattern - Shown below! Who doesn't love butterflies? This easy pattern is perfect for beginners and children will love working up a swarm of these pretties.
- Children's Hand Chain Scarf - This crochet project for kids doesn't use any hooks, only hands!
- Cute Washcloth - This is a great project for them to make and then use for bath time.
- Easy Crochet Flower - Shown below! This video tutorial is for making a basic flower. You can use any size hook and yarn weight, making it simple to adjust for the learner.
- Single Crochet Beanie for Beginners - The name says it all; It's a basic beanie using single crochet, so it's sure to help them practice this stitch.
- Hand Chain Sashay Scarf - Here's another scarf that can be made without a hook. Kids will love working this up with their hands and seeing it come together quickly.
- Grayscale Beginner's Crochet Dishcloth - The style of this dishcloth hides mistakes easily, which is a bonus for beginners!
- Easiest Beginner Crochet Necklace - This easy crochet pattern for kids (or adults) is a combination of a scarf and a necklace. It can be adjusted for size, style, and thickness.
