With all the knitting paraphernalia in my house, it was no surprise that my daughter wanted to learn to knit. She’s not the only one–suddenly, a handful of her friends, and their mothers, would also love to join in the knitting fun. What could go wrong with a group of women, their daughters, and one of the best hobbies around? Plenty, if you’re not prepared.
DO purchase the items for your participants.
When I teach adults to knit, they usually bring their yarn and needles over and we work with what we have. Any time you have a large group, this can get a bit tricky, especially with children. Have the knitter in the group collect money and purchase the yarn and needles for everyone. This way you’ll be sure that everyone has what they need when your knitting group meets. Make sure to select a worsted or chunky weight wool so that the project moves quickly.
DO have a plan for your first meeting.
You can fly by the seat of your pants when you’re teaching one person to knit. Any group lesson requires more organization and planning. Will you focus on the knit stitch only during your first lesson? Do any of the mothers in the group already know how to knit? Be ready to ask them to jump in and help. Know what you’re going to knit as a first project.
DON’T be afraid to be flexible.
Just because you have a plan doesn’t mean you need to be rigid. Expect that one child will pick things up quickly while another has difficulty. Be prepared to change your plans if the whole group has an idea that you hadn’t thought about. Teaching children will never be predictable, so expect the unexpected and roll with it. If you don’t, what you can expect is to finish the meeting with a major headache.
DON’T choose a pattern without instant gratification.
Scarves are a popular choice for a first project because they are straightforward and basic. Scarves are long though, even for the smallest of necks. Long scarves mean lots of stitches. Lots of stitches mean lots of practice. Lots of practice means lots of time. Lots of time means lots of opportunity for your audience to lose interest, especially when you’re working with children.
Instead of scarves, consider washcloths, pillows you can sew together and stuff, a headband, wristbands, or a knit-flat baby hat.
DO offer modifications to keep mothers interested.
Don’t forget that you’re teaching mothers and daughters to knit at the same time. Plan a first project that offers modifications for various ability levels. If you’re working on a baby hat, teach the mothers how to work in the round instead of flat like their daughters. Teach them how to correct mistakes so that they can help their daughters at home. Make sure to teach them how to cast on (practice it several times and provide a link to a good video online) so that they can help their daughters (and themselves!).
A mother/daughter knitting group is a fun twist on some quality time with your little girl. If you’re the knitting teacher, these five steps can help you prepare for your first lesson.