My daughter, who will be 7 in January, is begging me to teach her to crochet.  Do any of you have any ideas/suggestions about how to get started or any personal stories about teaching a young child.  Do y ou think 7 is too young?

Any advice is appreciated.

Happy Holidays!

- Tracy

I don't think it's too young.  I was in 2nd or 3rd grade when I started learning.

Size 'I' hook would probably be a good one to start with.  Let her pick out some yarn in a color she likes.

She should start with chain stitch, of course.  Let her make lots of loooong chains.  You can use them on the Christmas tree, or she can use them for necklaces & bracelets.  You can teach her to braid them together.

Once she is making consistent sized chains, start teaching her the single & double crochet stiches.  She can make blankets for her dolls and dishcloths to use when she helps you in the kitchen.

My response from yesterday got lost! Dernit!

Anyway, my sister and I learned aroud that time - if she's interested I think its a great age.  We made a lot of chains, headbands, belts and granny squares. And flowers to go on the headbands.

It's fun to just make the chain when you are starting.  Maybe she'll like to make the garland for the Christmas tree, as Angela suggested.  Or ties for packages if you don't want the chain on the tree.

Do you crochet? Would you be learning with her, or does she have someone to learn from? We learned from one of my mom's friends who lived down the street. It was nice to have some help nearby.

As for yarn, I would recommend starting with something where you can see the stitches well. Something plain (cotton,wool or acrylic) without a bunch of fuzz on it.  I remember we had a GIANT skein of red-white-and-blue acrylic yarn.  We would make stuff, pull it apart and re-do it better. 

I started my daughter at about the same age.  I taught her to practice making the chain to get comfortable with the needle.  After she had the hang of that...I taught her a simple stich.  We worked together side by side while doing this. 

Hi My Grandma taught me when I was about the same age. I learned real quick, but I just never finished what she got me started on, I wasn't around her all the time tho or I might have.

Thanks everyone!! 

Believe it or not, I just found on the 25 cent rack at the library a "kids can do" learn to crochet book with very simple projects!!! (like me, she's very results oriented and would definatly need a project to be working on).  It has daisys from chain stich, bookmarks and a simple, simple purse.  It was in perfect condition and I bought it with a couple of fun skiens of yarn and larger hooks as a gift for her upcoming birthday. 

I remember sewing, quilting and crocheting with my grandmother as a child, but I cannot figure out just how old I was when I did what!!  I'm so excited to be passing this along to her.

I love the idea of decorating with the long, long chains!!! 

Thanks for all the input!!

- Tracy