In our homeschool, ‘handicrafts,’ or, ‘practical skills’ are just as important as academics. Now that our oldest two are in high school, I can say with confidence that I don’t regret a moment spent on developing their woodworking, knitting, cooking, fire-building, or the other skills they learned over the years.
The skills have given the children confidence. They will be able to help others who need their skill. And our 15-year-old daughter is creating a little business based on the practical skills she learned.
To get you started in crochet, I found a free Crochet School online with 23 lessons (video tutorials, written instructions, and graphics).
Love this lady! I’m using her program at my co-op this fall. It’s so wonderful that she took the time to put this on her blog for free use!
From an avid crocheter I think this is just awesome! My oldest daughter has learned how to crochet & has also taught herself how to read the patterns. Some of the other practical skills that our kids learn are cooking, gardening, canning, hunting…..we also do our own meat-processing too & fishing. We have a wood stove so the boys learn all that goes along with that including the wood-cutting, etc. They are learning grilling skills, they do lawn-care, we raise chickens & the kids tend to them & also the egg-gathering…….my list could go on & on.
thank you. my daughter is basically self-taught, so this is wonderful
Thank you all so much for taking the time to comment. I love reading your words!
My 13-yo daughter, from around age ten, taught herself to crochet and knit. She will appreciate this website! Thank you, Lori! I can’t help her much, with fingers affected by fibromyalgia; however, I can weave, and have taught her as much as I know about that. I also can “spool knit” and, using a large bore tool, am making my niece an old-fashioned rug (albeit in hot pink tones!). My daughter is watching the results with interest, so she may add that skill, also.
Excellent! Thank you!