Crochet for Children: Get your little ones hooked on crochet with these 35 simple projects

By Claire Montgomerie

Teach your children the basics of crochet in a clear way that's certain not to have them tangled in knots. Claire Montgomerie steps away from traditional methods of teaching crochet to kids and presents 35 brilliant projects that are fun and simple rather than complex and boring. By working through the easily digestible lessons, children will quickly develop the skills needed to make cool MP3 holders, mittens, jewelry, hats, dolls, teddy bears and more. There are four chapters, each featuring projects for beginners, intermediate and confident crocheters, so once the simpler projects have been mastered, your child can move on to the next challenge. The comprehensive techniques section describes everything from holding the hook correctly to crocheting in the round. All the stitches needed are explained with helpful photographs and clear instructions and in no time, any child will be working with yarn like a pro, ready to tackle all the patterns. The yarns have been selected for their ease of use and are often specially formulated for children to be kind to skin as well as being durable and easy to wash. Claire also shares tricks and tips gathered from her sell-out crafting classes, where she has taught hundreds of children the joys of crochet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: CICO Books
• Release date: Mar 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781782492832

Claire Montgomerie

Claire Montgomerie is a textile designer specializing in knitting and crochet. She has designed a rangeof knitted accessories, toys and garments, called Monty, and has also created samples for the American fashion market, designed patterns for books, made knitwear for film costumes and exhibited her work. Claire runs knitting classes for adults and children at the London knitting emporium, Loop. She is the author of Easy Baby Knits, Easy Kids Knits and Knitting for Children.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Techniques

Tools

You need just two items to start crocheting: a hook and some yarn. However, there are a few other bits and pieces that you’ll need to make some of the projects in this book, but none of them are expensive and you’ll probably have some of them at home already.

▲ Crochet hook Hooks come in different materials and sizes. Each pattern tells you the size you’ll need to make the project.

▲ Beads These are great for adding extra decoration or sparkle to a project. Just sew them on when the crochet is complete.

▲ Pompom maker These little gadgets offer a quick and easy way to make pompom embellishments.

▲ Stitch marker Markers are used, especially in rounds, where you need to keep track of the beginning of a row or a certain point in your crochet.

▲ Buttons Another way of adding color and decoration, buttons are especially good as eyes for toys.

▲ Sewing needle and thread You’ll need these to sew decorations and felt additions to your projects.

▲ Scissors Always cut your yarn, don’t break it, even when the pattern says break yarn.

Holding the hook

There are two ways of holding the hook in crochet, and you can choose whichever of these feels most natural for you.

1 Hold the hook in your right hand if you are right-handed, or left if you are left-handed, as you would a knife.

2 Hold the hook in your right hand if you are right-handed, or left if you are left-handed, as you would a pencil.

Holding the yarn

Creating the correct, even gauge is imperative in crochet, otherwise the stitches are nearly impossible to create. This is achieved by how you wrap the yarn around your fingers.

RIGHT-HANDED

1 Wrap the ball end of the yarn around little finger of your left hand, passing it over the other fingers.

2 Hold the hook in your right hand. Hold the work steady (here, the bottom of the slip knot is being held), with the middle finger and thumb of your left hand, then use your left forefinger to create tension by keeping it held above the work.

LEFT-HANDED

1 Wrap the ball end of the yarn around little finger of your right hand, passing it over the other fingers.

2 Hold the hook in your left hand. Hold the work steady (here, the bottom of the slip knot is being held), with the middle finger and thumb of your right hand, then use your right forefinger to create tension by keeping it held above the work.

Slip knot

The first loop on the hook in crochet is created by a slip knot.