Replies

1. 
   marijke | Nov 18, 2006 12:29am | #1

   My seven year old daughter and 10 year old niece both have dabbled in knitting.  I started them on simple straight shape, a scarf.  Both of them found it challenging, but both stuck with it and did nice work with a basic stitch.  The hardest part was for them to not "lose" stitches.

   My 6 and 7 year old have both tried a "knitting mushroom,"  a year or two ago, but they lost interest without ever finishing anything on that.

   Haven't tried crochet with them.

   It depends a bit on where the child's fine motor skill development is at and whether they have an interest in learning.  If they're interested, lots of encouragement will help them persist.

   (I still remember knitting a scarf in 1st grade.  Part of our curriculum back then.)

   Marijke

1. 
   achome | Nov 18, 2006 12:32am | #2

   Thanks very much

   John

2. 
   Teaf5 | Nov 18, 2006 01:50am | #3

   Eight-year-olds should be fine with either knitting or crochet, especially if you start them on small projects like scarves, hats, bags, or belts. My daughter crocheted clothes for her dolls at about age five; she caught on quickly to making chains and then connecting them, but some of her first doll garments were little more than yarns knotted around the poor doll. Smaller projects allow kids to finish projects within a few days and offer more rewards for them than a larger project would.

   Both knitting and crocheting are ideal for occupying long winter evenings; nowadays, my seventeen-year-old son single crochets striped beanies for himself and friends while listening to his favorite music from an mp3 player or while watching t.v.

3. 
   lkl | Nov 18, 2006 02:43pm | #4

   Dear Achome,

   I started crochet before the age of five.   Afgan bored me but I learned how to read a pattern. Doll clothes, shapes that covered bottles etc.developed.  I learned to rest the point where the stitch is made on my index finger instead of suspending the yarn between my fingers  I feel this was a most valuable advantage in that  as you progess in tecnique you crochet with your hands in a relaxed position thus they don't tire as easily. That method also allows greater contol of tension.Those early shapes later became sculpture I exhibited and won in museams ets. I  also designed and produced one of a kind wearables after teaching art for awhile. I would recomend keeping the project open ended like making a basket, useing worsted weight or larger ,smooth yarn. They can then develope patterns, change color,learn different stitches.My books are on loan now so I can't give you any titles. Look for books in the library, and check fiber artists,  crochet,fashion ,the web and your local craftmans guilds,art museams. Visit some good yarn stores and local craft shopes to touch and see  the vast posibiliites.I hope both you and the children will enjoy the whole experience. 

   lkl 

    

1. 
   achome | Nov 20, 2006 03:54pm | #5

   Thanks very much for your insights.

   John

4. 
   red2375 | Nov 25, 2006 06:45am | #6

   I learned to count by crocheting. I'm now 57 and it has been a joy to me over the years. I don't think you can be too young if the person can hold the hook and has the motor control to do it.