Teaching Crochet - Perfect Patterns for Beginners

It's half term at the moment here in Wigan, so that means no crochet classes.  I've got a few interesting posts lined up over the next few weeks but today I'm going to share some of my favourite patterns for beginners.

I'm pretty sure that the main reason we learn to crochet is so we can make something. Yes, there are other benefits to crochet - it keeps my hands busy, helps me to relax and, quite frankly, is the most awesomist hobby in the whole wide World.  For me, I wanted to be able to make garments.  Quite a big ambition for a beginner but that's why I initially picked up my hook and yarn. 

I've found this to be true of almost every student I've ever taught.  Some of them are obsessed with scarves, others want to master amigurumi and then there are those with the big ambitions of making a blanket to cover a king size bed (I wonder if any of my students will recognise themselves here?)

Bearing this in mind, I plan my sessions to include links to patterns that I feel are suitable for beginners.  It's really important to test these out first to make sure that they work and are written in an easy to follow way and sometimes I've re-written them to make sure they are. 

Below you will find links to some of the patterns I recommend to my students - I hope you find these useful either to share with your own students or to use if you're a beginner.  You may also find my previous post on reading crochet patterns useful to which can be found here.

The Humble Granny Square

Everyone loves granny squares.  I teach granny squares as part of my 1 day beginners crochet workshop and as the third lesson on my 10 week course.   I wrote this pattern to make changing colour at the end of each round easy.  I give the students handouts with all of the photographs on so that when they go home, they have a little bit of help. I've seen some fabulous creations with granny squares - a few blankets in beautiful colours and a child's dress with granny squares as the top and fabric for the bottom. 

The Granny Shrug

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/granny-shrug-2

I love this pattern! (Although I have re-written it to make it easier for my students to follow and one day I will post it to my blog)  It is a super easy way to make a garment.  It is made of 2 granny hexagons that when folded and stitched, makes a cardigan.  I love that students can make it to fit them really easily just by altering the number of rounds they work.  You can also make it in any weight of yarn - I've seen it successfully made in chunky yarn and in cotton DK.

Amigurumi Owls

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-owl-ornaments

These go down a storm on my course.  The pattern is well written and very easy to follow and, best of all, makes a really cute owl!  Each owl has it's own little personality. I use this pattern as an introduction to crocheting 3D objects and amigurumi.  As it is an American pattern, I use it as an opportunity to teach students about the differences in terminology and to allow them to find their own way to manage this.

The Granny Shawl

http://lallylou-lou.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/granny-shawl-pattern.html

As part of my beginners course, I give the students 2 weeks where they can work on a project in class.  This way, they can make something a bit more challenging, have access to me for help and apply the skills they've learnt working more independently.  I offer the choice of 2 patterns, this or the Granny Shrug or students can work on something  of their own.  I love the granny shawl as it is just the right amount of challenging.  It also looks great in any yarn and can be made for winter or summer.  The pattern I use isn't on Ravelry but I have found this brilliant one, complete with video, by Lally Lou Lou (I think this may be the one I use in future!)

The Chevron Scarf

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/just-another-chevron-scarf

I have to admit that the chevron stitch has to be one of the most beautiful stitch patterns there is, but it is also one of the most difficult.  One mistake, and it just doesn't work.  It has been requested as a session on a number of occasions so I spent hours trying out chevron patterns until I found one that was easy to follow for beginners.  In this version of the stitch, the mountains and valleys line up on top of each other so, once a few rows have been worked, it's clear to see where they go.  This pattern requires perseverance and you must, must, must count your stitches carefully.

Journal 52 - Weeks 13 and 14

You may have noticed that I've fallen behind a little bit with my art journaling recently. The main reason for this was that I was finishing off my first sketchbook and samples for my textiles course.

Tonight I felt the urge to journal. I wasn't feeling the love for my crochet (mainly because I've run out of the yarn I need) and after a few rows knitting on my shrug, I'd had enough of that to. So I decided to journal.

Lots of paint and mess, and 2 hours later, I had completed 2 pages.

The first is based on the prompt 'how does your garden grow'. I've layered up acrylic paint applied with sponges, found objects and stencils. I even tried out bubble wrap taped to the outside of a cardboard tube to which gives a great effect. Once the paint was dry, I used coloured pencils to stencil big flowers on. I had to work through the messy to get to the effect I wanted.

The second page prompt was 'come rain or shine'. It just so happened that I had used up the paint left over from my garden page to make a stripey page just prefect for a rainbow (pure luck!) I kept the page simple, finding this fabulous quote on Pinterest and handwriting it onto paper before cutting it out and sticking it on. I tried writing it in both lower and upper case and was pleasantly surprised to find that I really like my handwriting in upper case.

5KCBWDAY7 - Looking Back, Looking Forward

As they say, better late than never.  I've been away this weekend on my felt course and didn't get back until late last night.  Anyway, the post for the final day of Knitting and Crochet blog week is to look back at this same post from last year and to look forward to what I hope to have achieved by next years.

Looking Back

Tunisian Crochet - Although I have continued to explore tunisian crochet, which I love, I have yet to make a large item with it.  I do however have a few clothing patterns that i hope to create one day!

Workshops - Well, I have definitely achieved this goal.  Since the last blog week, I have taught private workshops in crochet and am now teaching as part of the adult education programme. I can honestly say that I love it.

Design - Probably my biggest goal last year was to write up some of my crochet designs.  I have written up 2, my crochet Christmas wreath and my sock pattern.  It is a real challenge writing patterns as it is so important to keep it simple and easy to follow.  This is something I wish to continue with.

Looking Forward

By next years Knitting and Crochet Blog Week I hope to have:

1) Made that tunisian cardigan I love so much

2)  Learnt how to broomstick crochet

3)  Conquered the World with my range of upcycled skirts and clothing using crochet and felt

I wonder just how many of these I will have achieved by next years knitting and crochet blog week?

As ever, it's been so much fun joining in with #5KCBW and I want to send a great big thank you to the awesome Eskimimi Makes for planning it all and creating some wonderful topics.  If you want to read my other posts from this week, then follow the links below.

5KCBWDAY1 -  A Day in the Life
5KCBWDAY2 - Dating Profile
5KCBWDAY3 - Experimental Photography
5KCBWDAY4 - Conversations between Workers
5KCBWDAY5 - Something a Bit Different
5KCBWDAY6 - Views of Others, Views of Yourself

You can also read everyone elses posts by searching for the tags below (there are some brilliant posts out there).

5KCBWDAY6 - Views of Others, Views of Yourself

Today's blog week post is probably the most challenging - to write about a knitter/crocheter you admire and how others view you.

Inspiration to Learn
I'm a self taught crocheter but I was inspired to learn by my Mum. She crocheted little covers for zills (finger cymbals) for dancing and I thought, "I want to be able to do that."

Inspiration to Continue Learning
Once I was hooked (sorry!) my inspiration came from books, magazines and of course Ravelry. The multitude of patterns out there, and other crocheters completed projects, inspired me to learn new techniques and to get better.

One particular designer inspired me to learn Tunisian crochet. Aoibhe Ni designs the most beautiful tunisian crochet shawls and it was these that drove me to learn this technique. I am still a massive fan of her work today and continue to buy just about every pattern she releases.

Inspiration from My Students
As a teacher I aim to inspire my students. However, I often feel that they are the ones who inspire me! Their perseverance and drive to keep learning new techniques, even when it may be hard, is never ending. The projects they create and patterns they find often have me dashing off to hook it.
They inspire me not only to crochet but also to keep on teaching crochet!

How I Think Others View Me
I'm now pretty sure that when my friends think of me they think crocheter and I'm ok with that. In fact, I'm better than ok, I think it's awesome. I'm often sent links to crochet patterns, websites and pins and, I'm happy to say, am often asked for advice on yarn and hook size as well as how to do something.
It is overwhelming, inspiring and just down right awesome that this is how my friends see me (although possibly a reflection of how much time I spend crocheting)