Crochet

I have a lovely time with my seven year old grand daughter as she wants to learn how to knit and crochet. I belong to a knitting group and she came along with me at half term. I thought that she would get bored but she was the last one to pack her work away. She is right handed but her mother is left handed and when she was little, I used to sit her opposite me and she had to work out for herself the best way for her to do things.

Sit her opposite you and get her to copy . I'm very left handed and have used this method to teach right handed people. For left handed crochet you hold the yarn in the right hand as you do for knitting.
Right handed people hold the yArn in the left hand for crochet and right hand for knitting. Get that straight and it's easy.

The 'crochet crowd' on face book is run by 'Mikey' who does video tutortials including left handed ones.

I taught GD1 to knit when she was seven. Gd2 who is 5 wants to get involved when we are knitting so as she is left handed I will have her sit opposite me and do as you advise Brenda

I will also have a look at the FB link you mention Galen. I might even learn how to do a few more crochet stitches to add to the basic one I have used for years.

I find it very hard to show anyone else how to do these things. When you have been doing it for years it just comes naturally. Someone once wanted me to show them how I knit so fast (the technique of never taking your fingers off the needles) and I really could not do it - I turned my brain inside out trying to think how I did it. I could not even remember who taught me.

I have tried to interest my only old enough GD in sewing etc and she just does not have the patience. She will do a bit of a child's tapestry for about 5 minutes then she is off - she is 9. I am so envious of those of you who can share these things with your GC.

AgusMikey* has loads of different stitches and techniques on his videos,

There are some cheap, basic books on knitting and crochet. I bought a couple from The Works but I have seen some in Aldi too. My grand daughter has been able to follow the simple pictures in these. I know this does not answer the left handed question but may help other Nans who are teaching their grand children.

I am left handed as was my mother but she always knitted right handed, because I suspect when she was at school it was encouraged. She taught me to knit in the same way and I've never found it awkward but just a new skill like any other. My sister on the other hand was left handed and used to knit left handed until she re-taught herself to knit right handed.

I do crochet left handed though and taught myself from a book with right handed directions. There are good instructions for crocheting left handed on youtube which I have referred to if I get confused with right handed instructions.

Knitting and crochet are skills for life and I'm so glad it's something I can pick up when I like.

That sounds easier than following instructions in a book Galen. Apart from the ubiquitous squares that even GD's dollies are wrapped in I once made doilies from circles of curtain lining and some fine white cotton embroidery thread. Not much call for them now though

Agus - yes, whatever happened to doilies?
I will now have yet another go at crochet. I always seem to be all thumbs when I try. A couple of years ago, my DS and partner gave me 'Crochet for Dummies' for Christmas. It's still on the bookshelf...

Crochet is so much easier to learn than knitting. Problem with our grand-daughter, and grand-son, who live in the UK, is that I knit the German/Swiss method, eg waving needles around the wool, rather than twisting the wool with one finger aorund needle- so they'd get all confused at a later stage. So will stick to crochet and macramé with them.

Thanks everyone. My GD is not quite old enough to do crochet yet but I will keep all your tips in mind. I'm crocheting her a blanket for her fourth birthday. I go to Knit and Natter group and they let me in although I Crochet and Natter. My hands are swollen and painful with RSI from decades ago and I find holding kitting needles difficult.

One of my aims this winter was to learn how to crochet after seeing galen's lovely throw. Haven't started yet, because I have got carried away with knitting a dog walking cardigan.

I found it difficult teaching both my girls knitting and crochet being as they are both left handed - best to sit them facing you and get them to copy your actions - it does take time and patience - sadly a much under used skills that one day they might both require!

the stitches are so easy, the main problem with littlies is holding the wool tight around fingers and letting it flow through.

the stitches are so easy, the main problem with littlies is holding the wool tight around fingers and letting it flow through.

Went I spent 6 months plus in hospital lying on my back, in those days without TV, internet, etc- it when I learnt to crochet and embroider (44 years ago, in traction after a terrible car crash)- knitting was out as I knit the German (Swiss) way, and you need lots of space to flap those elbows around with the needles.

German/Swiss knitting Granjura, that brings back memories of watching a friend of my mother knitting; she was Dutch, wonderful lady.
I was absolutely captivated but couldn't for the life of me work it out, let alone manage how to do it that way.

Well it is what you are used to- as always. Speaking and writing in French is very easy for me ;)

We used to have 'competitions' (otherwise known as arguments,lol) with my mil- about which method was easier, quicker, etc. Mind you, she was one of those knitters who made the most intricate designs, with the most delicate and complicated stitches, without a pattern, all from top of head- and always got it right. Same for sewing. I couldn't begin to try knitting the English way!

granjura is that known as 'continental knitting ' where you hold the yarn on the left and 'pick' it with the right hand needle? ( if you are righthanded).

Rather than 'wrap' the yarn around the needle by flicking it forward?

I have tried it but can't get the hang of it. I know it is supposed to be faster.

I have just bought a 'sock loom'. Has anyone used one? It's a bit like the old French knitting with a bobbin and little nails except there are 36 loops to work on. It makes a tube and there are instructions to knit socks and wrist warmers. My question is will I be allowed to take it on a plane? I am going to California in March, to DS1 & family, and it uses a tool like a handle with a short knitting needle to pass the loops over. I can do it with a crochet hook instead but I don't know if either would be allowed.

My grandmother was Welsh and was always knitting. Mum told me she knitted in a different way to us, because her work couldn't be undone to knit up again. (Recycling outgrown woollies in the 1940's).
Has anyone else heard of this? I have no idea how it was done and would love to know.

Check with the airline, ruby, however some jobsworth may still confiscate it.

I heard that bamboo needles, hooks were ok but I have never risked it. I heard of someone who had a nearly finished baby's shawl taken off her by some officious security person. I would have asked to thread the knitting with yarn and handed over the needles.

What do they do with all this stuff that is confiscated?

I don't know about the Welsh knitting.

Easyjet certainly won't allow crochet hooks or knitting needles as hand luggage, try looking up airline and see what they say or give them a call? Trouble is that the check in and security staff may interpret rules differently than what's on website....

Yes rosequartz, that's the one- couldn't do it lying on my back in traction, as the arms have to have space to flap a bit. Crochet was so much easier- and embroidery- it became such a joke with friends that I was doing this- a rock chick in the late 60s ;) but I would ahve died of boredom otherwise.