March is National Crochet Month

In honor of National Crochet Month, I would like to propose a fun activity for me and my friends. Let's have a Crochet-a-long this month. I've never organized one, but how difficult can it be?

I suggest for anyone who always wanted to learn how to crochet, to take this opportunity to just do it. I will be available to answer questions you may have to get your project off to a good start. Obviously, I don't know everything, but the trick is to know where to find your answers. Thanks to the Internet, learning a new hobby is easier than you think.

If you do not want to crochet yourself, you could encourage someone else, maybe a child, to pick up a hook and some yarn. Because children are naturally quick learners, they find crocheting to be a fun and entertaining activity. Bonus: It teaches them to sit still, be patient and concentrate, not to mention the rewards that come from having completed a project.

I will provide you with links to some websites with tutorials and free crochet patterns for your perusal. If you are going to a crafts store, like Michaels or Hobby Lobby, to purchase your yarn and hook, they often have free patterns hanging in the yarn section for you to take. Also, be sure and read the sleeve around the skein of yarn for the size of crochet hook that you will need for that particular yarn. I like to use 100% cotton yarn for my dish cloths. Look for yarns that also have free patterns on the sleeve - cotton yarns usually give you patterns for kitchen items.  For beginners, I would recommend easy projects, like maybe a pot holder, dish cloth, scarf or beanie type hat, anything that isn't too complicated or else it's likely you will get frustrated and lose interest.

Here are the websites I promised you:

Crochet Guild of America

Crochet Pattern Central

About.com

Free Vintage Crochet

Lions Brand Yarn

You Tube: How to crochet

Craft Yarn Council of America

Mary Maxim

 

I hope some of you will join me in this month's Crocket-a-long and as an added bonus, I will offer anyone who has completed their project, to send me a photo to display on my blog for other readers to see - and maybe get inspired by.

I will enter all participants in another drawing for a small surprise gift! (with free shipping to the US and Canada only, please!) Good luck and enjoy!