There's something about the rain and the cold coming that invites us to sit down with a cup of hot tea and a ball of wool.
Learning to knit and crochet is a lot fun and not as difficult as one might think. It also helps to improve fine motor coordination.
I teach knitting and crochet in the winter months. As with fabric we don't throw anything away so there are a varied number of products that the children make using even the smallest pieces of wool.
First they learn basic crochet skills. Crochet lessons can begin when children are young and teaching children to crochet is rewarding and provides them with a lifelong skill.
They crochet a simple chain stitch which is the basis for any project. They make one really long chain which they wind around several times to form a scarf.
They can create an infinity scarf just with chain stitch, this allows them to practice a lot and become familiar with the crochet hook. It also gives them a sense of accomplishment when they see their finished project.
Once they have mastered the crochet chain, it's time to learn how to make a crochet stitch. They then learn to count stitches, do single crochet and double crochet, and make a granny square. The ambitious students make a number of squares and create a scarf with them.
They also learn how to knit . There are several basic skills involved in knitting. Knit and purl stitches are the 2 knitting stitches that form the base for most patterns. They learn to cast on, do the knit stitch, the purl stitch and cast off when the project is finished.
Scarves are a wonderful beginner project as they are long and one can practice a lot and really get to know the basic stitches.
Once they have these basic skills they will never be bored.