Crochet & Knitting

What is crochet and how is it different from knitting?

Crochet is a textile processing method that has been around since the 1800s and was originally used to make nets. Unlike knitting, crochet does not involve working with two needles, but with one crochet hook and one yarn. The crocheting needle has a hook at the end, which is used to pick up the yarn and create stitches. This method can be used to make items such as potholders or blankets. Crocheting with children is also great for making small gifts or bracelets. Things that are crocheted are much stronger than knitted items.

Knitting for children:

As well as crocheting, knitting with children is a great way to train motor skills. Children of primary school age can slowly work their way up to knitting with a knitting shuttle. Once they have internalised this process, more advanced children can try their hand at knitting with knitting needles. Not only is it a lot of fun, but knitting is also a great way to switch off and create great things.
Handicrafts: Why should children crochet or knit in primary school?
Handicrafts such as crochet have a whole host of benefits. These include:

• Development of motor skills
• Increased creativity
• Patience
• Support for self-confidence
• Training dexterity
• Increased memory
• Improvement of hand-eye coordination
• Deceleration
• Increased ability to concentrate

By the way: The same also applies to other handicrafts with children, such as felting, weaving and embroidery.

Learning to crochet with children - what do you need?

When crocheting with children or beginners, all you need is a crochet hook and wool. However, finding the right wool is not that easy, so you should get a thick wool so that the children can work as easily as possible and quickly see their first successes. This makes the crocheted items easier to grip. The wool should also be smooth and not pull threads. Only a smooth wool will glide easily through the stitches with the crochet hook. It is also important to pay attention to the label when buying the wool. This provides important information about the required needle size, the composition and the washing instructions. In addition to the label, you should also pay attention to the handle of the crochet hook. The thicker the handle, the better the needle will fit in the child's hand.

Crochet for children: Knitting instructions:

Especially for children of primary school age and beginners, it can take a short time at the beginning to understand how crocheting works. Therefore, the top priority is patience. Once you have the right crochet material, you can start practising straight away. It is a good idea to start by practising chain stitches.

Knitting instructions: chain stitches
The children take the thread of yarn in their left hand and wrap it once around their index finger. The shorter end is held with the thumb and middle finger and make a loop. Now the children take the crochet hook and pass it through the loop from the back to the front and pull the thread that goes to the index finger through the loop. This creates a new loop. Now repeat this process until there are enough chain stitches. Trick: The needle should be turned downwards when pulling the thread through.

Knitting instructions: Slip stitch
To crochet a slip stitch with the children, they should insert the crochet hook into the stitch of the previous row. Then bring the yarn to the front and pull it through the loop on the crochet hook.
Knitting instructions: Single crochet stitch
For the single crochet stitches, the child sticks the crochet hook through the stitch from the front and then pulls the yarn through. There should now be two loops on the crochet hook. The yarn is then pulled through both loops.
Knitting instructions: Turning stitches
The turning stitch is required for all crochet projects that have a back and forth row. It is always made at the end of each row. The turning stitch is essentially a normal chain stitch, after which you continue crocheting in the other direction.
Embroidering or weaving with children are also great ways to encourage children's creativity and create great things.

Crochet for children - instructions for great crochet ideas
You can crochet great things such as bracelets, necklaces or laces using air stitches alone. If larger items such as bags or even cuddly toys are to be created, children should be familiarised with the single crochet stitch.
Crochet bookmarks:
Crocheting a bookmark is not only easy, it also looks great and is always good to use. To do this, first crochet as many chain stitches until the desired length is reached. Then work upwards with single crochet stitches until the desired width is reached. Important: Do not forget the turning stitch at the end of each row. To pimp up the bookmark, the children can knot beads or stones to a ribbon of chain stitches.

Tip: The same method can of course also be used for potholders, small blankets or bracelets.

Crochet a drinking bottle cover:
A crocheted drinking bottle cover is a great alternative to expensive covers from the shop. And on top of that, the children can design them however they like.
First, crochet a simple rectangle with the wool of your choice until it can be wrapped completely around the bottle. The open part is then crocheted together.
Advanced users can also crochet a round base, which is crocheted to the rest using single crochet stitches. The whole bottle is then surrounded by the cover.