new crochet fans!

Last week I taught my niece and her 6 year old daughter to crochet, and it appears that they are going to enjoy it! My niece had been told by a Colorado yarn shop that they had to sign up for classes and purchase tools and yarn there, which was going to be about $200 for them, not including lots of driving to and from Denver from their ranch for classes every Saturday, so I told them to forget it and wait until spring break when I could teach them at home. I made tote bags for each and then rummaged through my embarassingly large collection of tools and yarns, so each one got her own tote bag, little plastic container for tools, 3 mid-size crochet hooks, scissors, and pair of yarn needles, plus a couple of how-to books with good pictures and a large sack of miscellaneous balls of worsted weight acrylic yarn in various colors that I had tucked away from years of making afghans. They caught on quickly, and made sample swatches for practice, and then branched out into a double-sided potholder and hair scrunchies. My niece wants to make an afghan, and her daughter wants to make one for her doll's bed, so I think they are on their way!

I get really irritated when yarn shops, et al., tell people they can't possibly learn something new without classes and spending lots of money up front on equipment and materials! I have taught too many people to knit, crochet, and quilt with little if any expense to believe otherwise. I figure that if people enjoy doing it, they can buy equipment and materials later on as they need it, and if they don't enjoy it, they have saved a fair amount of money and can go find something else that pleases them. Like many others, I have large stashes of spare equipment and materials, and am pleased to sit down with beginners. (The only thing a person HAS to own is a thimble to learn quilting, since I never share thimbles or have spares to give away.) The yarn shops and fabric shops probably hate people like me, but that's OK.

Reply to
Mary
Loading thread data ...

Very well done Mary, I love hearing stories like this.

When my eldest was a baby we lived in a small village in England where we had a local store and post office, a butcher's shop and a wool shop.

Wednesday afternoons when the shop was closed for business the owner made over her back room so that other young mums could learn to crochet. I taught them for free (the companionship was reward enough) and all they needed was a hook and a ball of wool.

To draw diagrams they could refer to when working I purchased a pad of flip chart paper and a large felt tip marker pen. Bless those girls, when they found out the cost of those items they had a collection and reimbursed the money to me (none of us were well off back then). We spent many happy afternoons learning, laughing, sharing ideas, gaining confidence and taking turns to look after the "creche" so the various Moms could have time to concentrate on learning. It ended when my husband's work meant a move away but one of the lasses opened her house (sitting room) to keep it going.

Anything like this is such a worthwhile project and brings so much happiness to all concerned. :-)

Reply to
Bernadette

I've never heard of that or seen any adverts for such classes! Don't mothers teach their children how to sew, knit and crochet and more? I taught ours and several of their children come to think of it so perhaps there ARE changes ... :-(

Yesterday was very cold, I wore a triangular beret and our 21 yo grand daughter, who temporarily lives with us, said she wanted one and would I make it for her? I said no, she could do it herself, I hve lots of spare yarn and every needle she'd need but she said that it would be too hard. So guess what she's going to be doing when she's back from college in the evenings! I shamed her into it by telling her that her 12 year old cousin Edmund and his older brother had been taught to knit in our sitting room.

Yes, but they'll have made items which would be impossible to buy in a shop!

Thimbles must match the wearer, I don't share mine either even though I'm not a quilter.

Keep on with your crusade!

Mary

Reply to
Mary Fisher

So many mothers don't do any sewing or needlework or yarnwork at all anymore, at least here in the US, since they are contending with husbands, children, housework, and fulltime jobs with travel requirements. Thus, they don't teach their children, and the circle is broken. Lots of the shops do offer classes for beginners, but with so many of them that's more a sales ploy than anything else -- they charge fees for the classes, and then insist that people purchase lots more tools and stuff than they need, a book or two, and then enough materials for an entire afghan or adult sized sweater or large quilt! All one really needs to start with knitting or crochet is a ball of yarn, a pair of needles or hook, scissors, and somebody to sit down with! I start quilters with scrap fabric and scrap batting and regular sewing kit stuff, which is plenty to see whether they enjoy the process.

When I was working in my first office, a bunch of us used to play bridge during lunch hours, and I always had my knitting with me. I knit a whole lot of sweaters over bridge! When I changed offices nobody there played bridge, but quite a few of the women brought their needlework and yarnwork projects, so we could chat around the table in the break room, share techniques and patterns and ideas, and teach the beginners. We had a lot of fun, and particularly enjoyed the days somebody would wear a newly-finished project to work -- hat, scarf, mittens, sweater, etc -- or bring in the afghan or tapestry or pillow or whatever to show everybody!

Since I retired I have enjoyed taking projects out to the front porch during good weather -- a little needlework, a pitcher of iced tea, the dog, fresh water and a toy for the dog -- and life is good! I live in an old neighborhood in the historic district with lots of adult trees for shade, well-preserved Victorian homes, traditional front porches with wicker furniture, and neighbors who visit back and forth. I've helped folks with their projects, and they bake cookies. Everybody watches the kids playing, and almost everybody knows their neighbors. It's probably a throw-back to an earlier time, but we like it a lot!

Reply to
Mary

Sorry Mary , i think you forget there is a whole generation ,That wasn`t taught to knit or make handcrafts, almost and i repeat A L M O S T as a Feministic act. After almost a generation of seprate Gendral craft teaching [ boys wood work and electricity=== gilrs sewing knitting] , there was a sort of in built refusal to teach it .... Now thise women can`t teach that to their daughthers [ or sons] ,,, mirjam

Reply to
mirjam

I can't see any problem in schools teaching boys to do metal and woodwork and girls to do cooking and sewing. I think we've done a great disservice by trying to make everyone 'equal'. It hasn't worked.

Reply to
Mary Fisher

I don't think the problem was that separate sex classes were unequal, the problem was that they were unfair to boys who wanted to learn to cook and sew, and girls who wanted to learn metal and woodworking.

As far as the girls' situation was (some years back in my corner of the world anyway) many learned from their mothers or grandmothers and some didn't, so you'd have girls with some skills and girls with none at all in the same class. I heard many people say that such things and sports (for girls and boys) shouldn't be done in school at all, but should be done at home or in after-school groups for those who were interested.

Now there's increasing efforts to have sports and phys ed in schools because of the increased awareness of problems with weight and lack of fitness, but I don't remember hearing much about efforts to increase the practical skills taught. That's largely left to the home or hobby classes.

Cheryl

Reply to
Cheryl P.

I believe that Everybody should have Equal opportunities, There is nothing wrong with biys learning to cook and sew, and nothing wrong with girls learning woodwork and metal. By teaching both gendres , all the subjects , we will open the opportunity for every person to find that which suits their needs , hopes and abilities. Modern life , needs a person that can Moove between jobs, many Different abilities and basic knowledges might make the difference , between finding a new job opportunity, when needed , or come handy at home , when miney isn`t enough to BUY services and help .. mirjam

Reply to
mirjam

Ps Mary, i think the first feministys thought more in terms of IDENTICAL rights , which of course can`t happen , but we learned the EQUAL rights are possible ... mirjam

Reply to
mirjam

LOL! I knew this was a can of worms but I stick to my beliefs.

That wasn't the reason given.

There's a good argument for that too. It depends what you want to produce from the sausage machines we call schools.

Spouse was a 'craft, design, technology' teacher for many years. Cooking wasn't taught to girls or boys, instead they were taught things like designing a pizza take-away box or how to assemble ready-prepared ingredients to make a meal. He couldn't teach real practical metal or woodwork because it involved dangerous tools, only the theory.

Playing football once a week isn't going to off-set the lounging about playing with computer games or watching television.

I have many beliefs about education but trying to make everyone equal isn't one of them. We all have different needs and different abilities. That's why schools as we know them fail our children, they aren't nurtured as individuals because of the polkitical fear of being accused of elitism.

If I'd had the courage I'd have educated our children completely at home. As it was they had an education despite going to school. They are all capable of every skill known to Spouse and me and those are extensive. They all contribute more to society than they take from it.

What's more they had all the skills they needed to live - washing, making bread etc) by the time they were eight years old. If we died they had to be able to survive.

Mary

Mary

Reply to
Mary Fisher

It was the reason I heard and expressed. You undoubtedly encountered someone or some people who had different reasons for advocating the same change. It's not surprising really that different people have different opinions for supporting the same thing.

That certainly wasn't the case the last time I knew a home ec teacher, although admittedly that was a while ago - not so long ago that her students learned those skills at home, though.

Equipment for practical subjects always seems to come at the short end of funding fights, and of course, the legal requirements for supervision are strict.

I learned from home, school, other formal groups and informal and family groups and networks. I think that children from families that expect one institution - even the school; even the family - to provide everything every single child might ever need to learn are at risk of being deprived. Fortunately, almost all of them would survive even if their parents both die since there are so many back-up systems, from family through friends and neighbours and even to the much maligned foster care system. Some, tragically, won't - generally because of multiple failures of several systems, not merely because the schools failed them.

Cheryl

Reply to
Cheryl P.

Hallo Mary and Mary and all

I don`t think of this as a can of anything , i think it is an interesting discussion , of how education was used to Implant and enhance certain , convinient [for those in economic control] traits.

the reason wasn`t given , but there were background Dos and Don`ts ...

hahahha sausage machines hahahhah what an image !!!>

When my son learned in Boston , he had cooking class as well for half a year ,, it was very good for him.

OOOOOOOY ,,, still sports should be taught ,,,>

Elitism is not giving every one Equal opportunities according to his abilities ... Elitism is nourished held alife , but not spoken about ...

Still i think the best thing would a Mix of school eduaction and private education ,, nobody is perfect but maybe in a combined effort we cab reach something ..

I respect your ideas , i hope they will indeed help your children all their life. mirjam

Reply to
mirjam

There were certainly some women to refused to do anything considered "traditional female" things they considered subservient -- they didn't learn to cook, clean, or do any needlework or craft or hobby that was seen as traditional. Some even sneered at those who knew how to do anything useful in domestic things. However, I knew many, many more who just kept their mouths shut and learned anyway. They did what they enjoyed, figuring that real freedom is the ability to choose for themselves. I am a member of that generation, and am very glad I decided to go my own way and learn whatever I wanted! Mother, grandmothers, and aunts were always available to help and advise, and we had some great times doing traditional things together, and I got to know people who were in traditional roles but who also were fiercely independent and made major business and banking decisions. (One grandmother had taken over and run a steel company during the Depression, and it not only didn't go under but also grew and made lots of money and kept lots of people employed. In the evenings she enjoyed cooking and tatting.) We also played a lot of bridge. My father wanted all the daughters to be able to handle tools and do the traditional "male" things, too, so we could be completely independent if we chose, and gradually made sure we learned as much as possible that was within our physical strength. I can make simple furniture, patch a roof, hang a door, build a gate, wire lamps, trim trees and hedges, change thermostats and light switches, repair plumbing, build a fire, etc., and am very pleased about that! Of course, he also made sure we all learned to fly airplanes and run boats, and encouraged us to enter international air races and navigate the rivers safely. People who learned nothing useful have had a difficult time later in life, and seem to spend inordinate amounts of money hiring other people do to simple things.

Reply to
Mary

I am not sure those women themselves `refused` to learn those subjects that were considered traditional female. For many iit was more EITHER/ OR they had no choice. If they wanted to learn Another Subject or job , they had to work hard , against odds , sometimes work on the side to survive . Thus they had to decide `how much effort they could put into everything. If you hgave to study a job and work in the eveings or nights, there are limits to one`s powers.

Of course i also know some ladies, who told me they DIdn`t want to so it because they considered it Beneath them, and that it will stop their advancement as an Equal person in the men dominated jobs. At a certain time some people thought in manner . As you see i keep saying some ,,,,, I knew ladies of both sides of this Historical /sociological strory. I sure don`t know it all , but i can tell you that Geography , historical timing, and economic status, WERE the deciding factors for most of those decisions. If you were in Usa , Uk or Europe it made a difference, If you were of ceratin nationalitis it made a difference. Last and not least, some women like to do it some don`t. The importnat message that the Female moovements gave us , was that being awoman doesn`t Authomaticly mean you have to know how to do the domestic duties , nore do you have to know what you call `which were considered traditional female` jobs.

As an inteligent woman , you know that sneering is a kind of embarrassment, Let`s face it , not all women are so strong physiclly that they can manage to Do everything , like you were so lucky , and be good at it , so they have to choose to excell only at part of those things, and there is nothing wrong with that . But Society has sort of washed our brains, that we should be it ALL , superwomen , Thus those of us who can`t be it all , really needed encouragement from those who were so strong to so much , and hence the sneering, which to melooks more like a Cry for help, from the Many demands society puts on women .

As i wrote about Not every one was so lucky to have ythis status in life, to be able to do waht they wanted both with their earning work as well their after hours hobbies [if they had any of those].

Now adays the world is Swamped with people many of them women , who travel to a foreign country leaving their children behind , and they work in as many jobs as they can , to make more money, to be sent home, thus their kids have a better future.

Yes You and your sisters learned a lot of wonderful things, and i hope it made your life a good life. Other people weren`t so lucky to learn all those abilities at home with loving family members, and they also had no ability to try International air races and navigation tests. And still when it came to the real thing, they made the Big test and Survived Not an international race , but a real flight for their Lives. I know people who at 14 , Fed half a Ghetto, for months and sometimes a year. I wouldn`t have been here if my parents hadn`t fled Mostly by foot. No they never learned how to navigate a river safely, They were hunted they were shot at and they Ran and crossed rivers, etc,,,,

I know people who learned all those things you consider Useful and still hire help, and i think this is ok [ as well as provides more jobs to other people !!] If they want to spend their OTHER abilities on Other things .This is OK . Let`s hope every person can enjoy their abilities, whatever they are , and if they feel paying others to do some jobs it Also ok . Believe me we as humans , may Win wonderful Art, science literature etc,,, if more persons whether male or female , were able to do that which they are good at and enjoy , and pay others to do that which they are less good at , and enjoy less. mirjam

Reply to
mirjam

That's rather unfortunate. At my school, we not only actually cooked things (I still use some of the recipes, my school tomato soup and pizza dough recipes in particular are very popular with my family) and sewed things (noticable gender difference in our class; boys all much better than girls at sewing), we also did woodwork, metalwork, electronics and that thing where you put powder on metal and heat it up extremely hot to form a sort of coating (does anyone remember what that's called?) As a result, I'm reasonably confident with any relevant techniques I need to use, even though my designs were universally appalling (the kneeler I made for my moher is still in use as a shelf).

Kirsten

Reply to
Kirsten Watson

WE can discuss this interesting subject more , i learn from it , mirjam

Reply to
mirjam

Wasn't that glazing on metal, similar to firing clay in a kiln? I think we did jewelry pieces(pins, etc. made of copper, I think) in junior high school (6/7/8th grades). Of course, that's probably not the right terminology...it's been a long time....

-- Carey in MA (going back to my corner of lurkdom...)

Reply to
Carey N.

Mary

Reply to
Mary Fisher

What an excellent post! Thanks,

Mary

>
Reply to
Mary Fisher

That's absurd. What is this, Zen teaching theory? Half the point of lessons is to learn how to be careful.

Bu then, I speak as one who was using woodworking tools before I went to school; I got all my early cuts and sore fingers at home. Daddy's method of babysitting toddlers was to give them a piece of wood, some common nails, and an adult-sized hammer.

We cooked a recipe, ate it, and cleaned up afterwards in one hour. Sewing took a little longer. Back in those days, no boys took Home Economics (they could have) and girls theoretically could take Shop but somehow the schedule was always such that Shop didn't fit in. My brother did take Personal Typing which oddly included half a year of Stenography; I took Typing I which was all typing, no steno. My brother spent much of his time repairing the typerwriters, but he did learn to type.

Enameling? I would have loved to take woodwork and metalwork even if I would have been bad at it. My niece did well when she took Shop.

My embroidery design was so rigid and unimaginative... I don't recall whether I finally discarded it.

=Tamar

Reply to
Richard Eney

InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.