Question:

How can I most easily learn to crochet?

What Kind of Learner are You?

Introduction
You have decided you are ready to learn how to crochet. The items you have seen are things of beauty, and you would like to learn to create your own, either to give as gifts or for your own use and enjoyment.

It is not just a matter of sitting down, gripping the crochet hook and yarn, then instantly learning how to move the hook, how many loops to create and how to move to the next step. You learn based on one of three learning styles. You need to know your own innate learning style so you can tailor your crochet lessons to that style.

Kinesthetic
This means that you learn, using a hands-on style. You need to pick up the hook and yarn and try the different stitches out as you learn them. Your learning style is best suited to sitting down with an experienced crocheter and mimicking her movements.

Here are two recommendations: If you are right-handed, sit next to your instructor and mimic her movements as she makes them. If you are left-handed, sit immediately in front of her, hold your hook in your left hand, yarn in your right and mimic her movements as if you were looking into a mirror. Your left hand will be on your instructor’s right-hand side. Regardless of your handedness, keep working with your instructor until you are comfortable with the stitch movements for each stitch.

Visual
You learn best by creating images in your mind. You have probably always thought pictorially. For this reason, looking at drawings of different stitches will be your most effective learning aid.

Look for crochet instruction books, either at the library or bookstore. Leaf through the pages, looking for pictures of each crochet stitch. The best books will have pictures that take you through each step of the stitch – for instance, a step one, step two and step three.

Schematic graphs are also a good tool for you as a visual learner. Crochet has developed a symbol for each stitch, going from the chain stitch up through the longest stitch. Crochet pattern manufacturers compose schematics, using these symbols, which helps you visual learners to see how the design should look.

Auditory
You learn best by listening to instructions. It is easy for you to explain things to someone else, so you are able to understand the instructions given by an instructor. You might learn to crochet most effectively by sitting with an experienced crocheter and listening to what she has to say.

As she shows you how to make a slip knot, she will also tell you how to make a loop in the yarn to slip your hook through. She should do the same with each crochet stitch she shows you. As she demonstrates it physically, she should verbally explain each step.

As with the other learning styles, plan to sit with your instructor until you are comfortable with the process of crocheting, and with crocheting each stitch.