Friday, May 10, 2013

Happy Mother's Day, and a Friday Contest

Even though we crocheters are a diverse lot with different personalities and preferences, when it comes to our crocheting  I think there is one thing that we all agree on. We love  crochet, and want to pass that love on to future generations. So many folks have told me that they learned to crochet from their mother, grandmother, aunt or other family member. So many put in the time and effort it takes to teach their children or grandchildren to crochet. It is a link that ties the generations together. 
I learned to crochet from my mother, who did not have a lot of patience when it came to teaching (I like to think that she just had a high opinion of my ability to learn!) I wrote about this experience a few years ago:

http://bellacrochet.blogspot.com/2011/05/learning-to-crochet.html

I have 6 children and 15 grandchildren, and so far, the only ones that have learned to crochet anything more than a chain are my youngest daughter, Bethany, and my granddaughter, Ana.
But, I have hope that more of them will learn someday. 

My daughter Bethany, learning to crochet by making granny squares.

But,  it is Friday, so how about a contest? I will give one person their choice of any PDF pattern on my site, bellacrochet.com. 
I will select the winner at random, and send out the patterns in the morning (Saturday.) I will post the name of the winner here, so be sure to check back in the morning to see if you won. 
Also, if you post anonymously, please be sure I have a way to identify you (at least give your first name or a nick name in your comment; I have no way of knowing who is posting.)

To enter, just leave a comment answering this question:
Did you learn to crochet from a family member, or have you taught any younger generations of your family to crochet?
This contest is now closed. 
Please check back next Friday for my weekly contest.

37 comments:

  1. I learned to crochet a granny square blanket from my Mom, it was 1 big granny blanket and I teach everyone who wants to learn. The last person I taught was my son.:) He wanted to make a ninja ami.

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  2. I taught myself from books I purchased. It was very tedious UNTIL the Internet and then Facebook came along. Several of my grand kids wanted to learn, but none of them have stuck with it.

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  3. My mother taught me how to crochet when i was younger.. My mother was a perfectionist so we did not get to far.. I ended up putting down the hook and anything crafty for many years.. I picked up my hook again about 20 years ago. It was like I had never put it down. I was flying through patterns left and right could not get enough of this wonderful world of yarn and thread., I do thank my mother for teaching me and even for her perfectionist ways because I now as as an adult I take pride in everything that comes off my hook.

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  4. I taught myself to crochet and knit. I have been blessed in that my two older daughters requested to learn and now my 4 year old wants me to teach her too.

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  5. the women on my mother's side all had hooks in their hands for as long as I can remember. My great grandma taught me how to make my first chain, and from there it was just me watching and learning. I have 3 daughters, none who have shown an interest yet. Six grandkids, my oldest grandson is the only one who has shown an interest, and has learned how to chain.

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  6. I taught myself to crochet using a book. I am now teaching my 8 year old daughter how to crochet and she just loves it! Of course my little ones have always pretended to crochet by holding the hook and playing with the yarn. :)

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  7. My Mom was a really talented crocheter...but I am self taught. I have shown friends how to crochet and more importantly how to read a pattern.

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  8. I learned to crochet alone (I was 11 years old) looking at magazines and wrong ... several times, but eventually I did. Now, I think it could work quite well because they are now more than 30 years have passed since then. Here in Italy the girls do not want it to learn crochet, knitting, embroidery ... But I was soon asked to teach at a school friend of my daughter.The problem is that the girl is left-handed and I do not know if it will be possible .. Happy mother day for all. marid88

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  9. I learned from my Mother and I've taught my niece!

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  10. I taught myself to crochet even though my mom and grandma crocheted. I'm teaching my niece to crochet, I tried to teach my daughter but she said she doesn't have the time :(

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  11. I LEARNED SOME BASIC FROM A FRIEND OF MY MOM WHO HAD THE PATIENCE..SO I LEARNED THE GRANNY SQUARE AND A COUPLE OF THINGS SIMPLE ... MY PASSION WAS TO LEARN FINE THREAD DOILIES BUT NO ONE HAD THE PATIENCE TO SHOW ME EXCEPT ONE LADY IN L.A. TOLD ME YOU CAN DO IT .. SO I BOUGHT A NEEDLE WENT TO THE SALVATION ARMY PURCHASED A SQUARE DOILY..AND STARTED COPYING IT BACK AND FORTH..IT WAS DIFFICULT AT FIRST BUT I LEARNED. I CAN'T READ DIRECTIONS TO WELL I GET CONFUSED WITH IT..SO I TO THIS DAY CROCHET BY WHAT I SEE. I HAVE A CROCHETING BLOG NOW @ beedoily.blogspot.com Please come visit. There was several great crocheters in my family but no one could find the time to teach me. One lived to far away and I'm sure she would have taught me.. Have a wonderful Friday and a great weekend with love Janice

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  12. I learned to crochet and knit from my grandmothers when I was six or seven. One of my five children crochets and knits. My mother in law taught her! One of my six grandchildren (five years old) likes tying things up with stray pieces of string and straps, etc. I was thinking recently that it may be time to teach him to crochet or knit. I have to do some research on it. Have a good weekend, Ann!

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  13. I learned from my neighbor when I was expecting my first daughter. I have taught my second daughter, my Mother(she had learned as a very young child but had forgotten), and one granddaughter. I am so happy to have learned the craft, and am currently working on one of the BellaCrochet patterns - hope to have it finished by the weekend.
    RJ Smith

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  14. I learned from my neighbor when I was expecting my first daughter. I have taught my second daughter, my Mother(she had learned as a very young child but had forgotten), and one granddaughter. I am so happy to have learned the craft, and am currently working on one of the BellaCrochet patterns - hope to have it finished by the weekend.
    RJ Smith

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  15. my great grandma taught me when i was 13. i think she would be proud of what i make now :)

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  16. My Mom taught me when I was 7. I can remember sitting on the couch next to her watching what she was doing and thinking I will NEVER get that good or that fast. No almost 50 years later I'm still at it and turning out things that my family and friends love and having people ask me to make things for their weddings and birthday gifts. This is such a rewarding and relaxing hobby and can't imagine what life would be like without it! I have taught all 4 of my kids to crochet and even taught girls when I was in grade school. I have taught my daughter-in-law and I plan to teach my grand kids too if they want to learn.

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  17. I learned to crochet from my grandmother Effie. She gave me a size 7 hook and thread and taught me to crochet a dishcloth. Then when I turned 20 having my first child a friend showed me how to crochet a granny square I was totally hooked by then.
    I have showed all my grandchildren (which is 3) but none of them shows the desire to crochet past a sc stitch:)

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  18. My friend taught me to crochet during 6th grade recesses. :) My grandchildren recently wanted to crochet, so I helped them. They are 3 and 5 though, so didn't get too far. LOL

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  19. My grandma taught me to make a chain. Years later I bought New Crochet Basics & learned from there. I took a class to learn to knit. I knit & crochet. I have a daughter who just crochets & is a master at thread as was my grandma. I also have a daughter who just knits as well as another daughter who knits & crochets. I've taught several classes on crocheting. Teaching left handed crochet can't be done the same way as right handed. There are great Youtube videos for left handed crochet. So glad for yarn, thread, hooks & needles!

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  20. My Mom taught all the Granddaughters when they were little. I had no interest back then, but always admired her talent and artistry. Now I'm a Grandma, myself. Mom taught me a year ago and I LOVE IT! What a blessing to have something so satisfying to be able to immerse yourself it. P.S. I LOVE your style and patterns!

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  21. My Mom showed me all the basic stitches and the rest I have learned from books, internet and my own experiments. My daughter is too young to learn crocheting but I have taught my friend to crochet.

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  22. My Mom taught me to crochet a granny square.

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  23. My mother started showing me how after I saw her crocheting an edge around a table cloth that she had embroidered. It was so interesting to me. My daughter never was interested in learning, but my daughter in- law wanted me to teach her. She was a fast learner and crocheted items for her home.

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  24. My granny taught me and i hope to teach my nieces

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  25. My grandmother taught me when I was 7 or 8 but I didn't get much further than crochetting hats at the time :)..As I got older I explored it further through books and now of course the internet.

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  26. I learned as a young girl from a friend but did teach my husband, 6 months younger than me to crochet. He crocheted for a couple of years and just stopped. Denise

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  27. I had to self-teach myself. The only ones I'd ever known who crocheted were 500 miles away, so I bought a little book at the dime store (remember them?)

    It was the best money I ever spent.

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  28. My Mother taught me when I was about 11. I've taught my developmentally disabled daughter and another daughter. Working on my Grandaughter now but she is only 8 and the eye hand coordination is still a problem. I want to teach everyone!!

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  29. At 8 years of age after a few years of begging finally got my Grandmother (Daddy's Mom) to teach me! My first project was a shawl and I still have it! I loved it and still do - it is my centering and my peace! I've taught some friends and co-workers, and my husband says if I could I would teach the dog!

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  30. My Mother taught me to crochet at a very young age. Unfortunately, I have not taught any other family members to crochet, they have no interest in it (which saddens me).
    Cynthia A.

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  31. We had to crochet a granny square for a craft badge in Brownies. Tough task for a 6 year old. Many years later my Gran reintroduced me to the granny square (no pun intended), then my mom took a crochet class and taught me how to read a pattern.

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  32. I am very thankful to my aunt for teaching me to crochet when I was about 10 years old. The first thing that I ever made was a doll skirt for my Barbie. I could only make a chain stitch, so I crocheted a LONG chain and sewed it together to make the skirt. I still have that skirt after 47+ years of crocheting. My aunt didn't read directions, so I taught myself years later. Thanks Susan N.

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  33. Yes, my dear late mother taught me to crochet when I was 8 years old.

    Gina Foster
    MRSGLFOSTER@AOL.COM

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  34. I am probably too late to participate. But just in case...
    I learned to crochet about 3 years ago. I was looking for a hobby so I started to crochet. On the internet I found lots of you tube films so that is how I started.
    My grandmother was a great knitter and she was also very good with a crochet hook. But when she was alive I wasn't interested. Now it's too late. She isn't here anymore to teach me.

    Groetjes, Monique

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  35. I am self-taught and then was able to teach my mum, who is a fantastic knitter, how to crochet. Kaylene

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  36. I learn to crochet at the age of 23!!! from my senior at the job. I was on diet and use my recess to learn. I tried to teach my daughter, but she can only do chains.
    Darshana

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  37. My grandmother taught me how to crochet when I was 8 years old. I taught myself how to knit, I'm currently teaching my other and daughter how to knit.

    Cropperhopper

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