Needlework Monday | Chains & Big Stitches

Hello, beautiful needleworkers! It's been a while since my last post here... If I scrolled down my page right, it must be when I also talked about how Little Miss wanted to make her crochet bigger (wider) almost a year ago. She has not made a lot of progress since then because she (and I, too) does not crochet regularly, but she does try from time to time.

I am still confused by the days since the weekend here in the UAE changed on January 1st. I honestly just realized that today is Monday when it was already almost night and while I have another topic to post, I thought I might as well just share our recent crochet activity.

Making it "Bigger"

Little Miss had been trying to go beyond the chains for some time now. Last time, we shared how she tried the double crochet using a 5.5mm hook. She found it easier to use a bigger hook because she could pull through the loops faster.

This time, she made single crochet with a 3.0mm hook. There were incidences that tested her patience but she came to a point that she did not need my help anymore when she got the hang of it. She was not following any pattern but she had a very long foundation chain so the just the thought that she had to go all the way back to the first chain before she could turn, exhausted her already. LOL.

We will try a simple pattern soon and see if she will be able to finish a simple project. She even asked me how I was able to change yarn colors in my projects -- that though will still have to wait.

My New Student

Meanwhile, there is a new student in our Little Crocheters Homeschool. Little Man is also showing interest in the craft. Well I think he just wants to skip our lessons (see the books lying here in the photo below) but this is a good idea too since crocheting requires lots of attention to detail, coordination, and patience -- qualities that I want this Little Man to learn.

Chains!

Right now, Little Man (six years) is just mastering the chain. He still needs help in holding the yarn so I help him by lending extra hands.

Tension! Tension!

We first tried to make the chains where I hold the beginning knot in place so he could supposedly easily pull through the holes. His holes though, got very tight.

"Don't pull the yarn," I said, referring to the other end of the yarn. "That is why the hole gets very tight".

"I am not pulling!" he replied.

But look at his left hand...😆

One More Time...

This Little Man is not someone who gives up easily, you see. The following day, he asked me if he could continue with his "crochet project", a.k.a. chain.

This time, I hold the yarn altogether while he does the crocheting. It went on smoothly that he was able to make a very long chain! Way to go, Little Man!

I do not expect these kids, six and eight (Little Miss just turned eight yesterday!), to be able to master the craft now. I personally only learned how to crochet two years ago when the pandemic started and I stopped working. Right now, I am happy that they try it and are able to develop their character through patience, creativity, and hard work.