Crochet for Children
by Claire Montgomerie

As I mentioned yesterday, one way to equip children to create gifts for others is to teach them major crafting skills.  Crochet for Children is another tool for doing that.

This is a hardcover, and it does a pretty good job of presenting the necessary skills.  The introduction is followed by a short section about teaching crochet to kids.  This, in turn, is followed by a techniques section.

Using full-color photographs, tools frequently used in crochet projects are introduced.  Then crochet skills are added, ranging from holding the hook and holding the yarn to double crochet.  Fastening off, slip stitches, increasing, and decreasing are all addressed, as are working in the round, adding colors, sewing pieces together, and even making pom-poms.  When holding the hook and yarn, lefties are not left out!  These techniques are also illustrated with examples of completed projects that incorporate them.

After the techniques are taught, there are project sections.  These are titled “Warm and Cozy,” “Accessories,” “Bedroom Essentials,” “Playtime,” and “Amigurumi Toys.”  (Amigurumi are basically crocheted or knitted stuffed animals.)  Projects are indicated as being Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced.  Necessary supplies and instructions are clear and easy to find/read.  Good full-color photos of the completed projects are included, as well.

The author even thought through things like yarn choice.  Although you can certainly substitute if you want or need to, the yarns she suggests were chosen because they’re easy to work with and “kind to…sensitive skin.”

This book and a set of crochet hooks would make a terrific gift for a child who likes to work with his hands.

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