Sitting at The Delafield Farmers Market one Saturday a mother of 11 children walked up to me and said, "You make crocheting look so easy to do! I have enrolled our 2 daughters in a summer school crochet class and they haven't learned a single thing!"
I shared with her how I learned by sitting at the right side of my mother, (both of us right handed) listening to her and watching her as she held the crochet hook in her right hand and the thread in her left hand and began hooking the thread through loops. It was a good idea to watch her closely because I would always want to grab the thread OPPOSITE of what was "correct" (meaning I was hastily grabbing the thread before I went through the loop, not after).

When my children were about 5-6 years old, they wanted to learn crochet. I did the same with them as my mother taught me. My 2 sons, John and David made several different colored ropes to attach to their wheeled toys (and all over the furniture legs!). They even made hair ties for their sister, Antoinette.

Before we begin, choose a larger-sized crochet hook (size J or K is good), preferably a plastic hook, and heavy wool yarn. This type of yarn will slide over the hook easier. This first tutorial will begin with the simple "Chain Stitch". Good luck, have fun and Soar!

-Kathleen Bachay Jenson