Teaching my SIL

[mama4ray]

This past Friday my SIL was over for dinner. I was working on an afghan for my sister. I just recently taught her how to do cross stitch and shes doing really well. She now wants to learn crochet. So I gave her a ball of yarn and my crochet hook my grandma gave me when she taught me. I taught her how to do the slip knot and then I showed her how to do the chain. Problem is she's not getting how to hold the hook the yarn and the chain all at one time. I was taught so long ago how to do this I cant really remember not being able to do all three. Is there any tips on teaching her. I tried putting her hands in position and showing her mine but shes not getting it. I gave her a size G Hook too is that too small to learn on? When I was little it was perfect for my little hands. Thanks for any advice. :D

[lilmari]

awesome! i get excited when people want to learn to crochet :D
when i was first learning, i used a steel 00 hook so i dont think size matters THAT much, although its probably true that bigger is better for beginners..
also when i first started it was long enough ago to be told i held the hook "wrong" (overhand like a knife instead of like a pencil)
let her find the 'flow' i guess of the yarn, theres no wrong way as long as theres progress :)

[paperflowers]

That's great. I used to hold everything funny when I first learned and the ones I've taught do the same thing. I think it's hard to get everything down in the first sitting. If they get the general idea of how to ch and sc, they're off to a good start. As long as they keep practicing, they can pick it up later.

[Julia from NorCal]

I learned on an H hook with verigated cotton yarn, think it was sugar and spice. I was looking at the sampler yesterday and it's a good reference for me on all the basic stitches. Have fun teaching! :)