crochet hooks for newbies

As I've mentioned earlier, I will definitely be holding a Subversiv
syslöjd (subversive handcrafts) workshop at the rock festival this
summer. Since most of the festival visitors will be from either Sweden
or nearby countries, they will almost certainly have learned the
basics of crochet, etc. in school. I'm aiming less for "how to" in my
workshop than I am for a "let your creativity flow!!!" type
feeling! :-)

One idea I've had is for teaching hairpin lace making since it's
1. easy
2.came be done while listening to the festival music
3. the strips created can be combined in almost infinite ways to make
nearly anything. I figure I'll make an overskirt (hey, it is see
through!) and vest to wear that day to show some things that can be
made.

Anyway, I now turn to this group's collective wisdom and ask what size
crochet hook would be best? I'm thinking larger sizes would be best
(less fiddley at least). I use a 7 mm myself and my "hairpin" is 85 mm
across for most projects. This makes fairly wide strips that are
easily handled. Does this sound doable for others (who might know only
the very basics of crochet)?

Unfortunately, whether or not young people take up handcrafts depends
a great deal on how helpful and encouraging their teacher was. I've
already heard a few horror stories while discussing this workshop idea
with the festival planner!

Any input greatly appreciated!!! :-)

Erin
http://arkivarie.livejournal.com/

Erin wrote:

As I've mentioned earlier, I will definitely be holding a Subversiv
syslöjd (subversive handcrafts) workshop at the rock festival this
summer. Since most of the festival visitors will be from either Sweden
or nearby countries, they will almost certainly have learned the
basics of crochet, etc. in school. I'm aiming less for "how to" in my
workshop than I am for a "let your creativity flow!!!" type
feeling! :-)

One idea I've had is for teaching hairpin lace making since it's
1. easy
2.came be done while listening to the festival music
3. the strips created can be combined in almost infinite ways to make
nearly anything. I figure I'll make an overskirt (hey, it is see
through!) and vest to wear that day to show some things that can be
made.

Anyway, I now turn to this group's collective wisdom and ask what size
crochet hook would be best? I'm thinking larger sizes would be best
(less fiddley at least). I use a 7 mm myself and my "hairpin" is 85 mm
across for most projects. This makes fairly wide strips that are
easily handled. Does this sound doable for others (who might know only
the very basics of crochet)?

Unfortunately, whether or not young people take up handcrafts depends
a great deal on how helpful and encouraging their teacher was. I've
already heard a few horror stories while discussing this workshop idea
with the festival planner!

Any input greatly appreciated!!! :-)

Erin
http://arkivarie.livejournal.com/

It is a long time since I took a class for crochet Erin.

I always found that my pupils learned easiest using a 4mm (old UK size
8, US size 6) hook. We also used double knitting yarn (US sportsweight).

That size hook and yarn thickness seemed easier for them to handle than
a size 7 (UK old sizing, now 4.5mm) and Aran thickness (US worsted
weight) which they found clumsy as it was just that bit thicker.

It was basic crochet, however, and not hairpin.

Good luck with the project.

--

On 16 Apr, 22:53, "Bernadette" wrote:
Erin wrote:
As I've mentioned earlier, I will definitely be holding a Subversiv
syslöjd (subversive handcrafts) workshop at the rock festival this
summer. Since most of the festival visitors will be from either Sweden
or nearby countries, they will almost certainly have learned the
basics of crochet, etc. in school. I'm aiming less for "how to" in my
workshop than I am for a "let your creativity flow!!!" type
feeling! :-)

One idea I've had is for teaching hairpin lace making since it's
1. easy
2.came be done while listening to the festival music
3. the strips created can be combined in almost infinite ways to make
nearly anything. I figure I'll make an overskirt (hey, it is see
through!) and vest to wear that day to show some things that can be
made.

Anyway, I now turn to this group's collective wisdom and ask what size
crochet hook would be best? I'm thinking larger sizes would be best
(less fiddley at least). I use a 7 mm myself and my "hairpin" is 85 mm
across for most projects. This makes fairly wide strips that are
easily handled. Does this sound doable for others (who might know only
the very basics of crochet)?

Unfortunately, whether or not young people take up handcrafts depends
a great deal on how helpful and encouraging their teacher was. I've
already heard a few horror stories while discussing this workshop idea
with the festival planner!

Any input greatly appreciated!!! :-)

Erin
http://arkivarie.livejournal.com/

It is a long time since I took a class for crochet Erin.

I always found that my pupils learned easiest using a 4mm (old UK size
8, US size 6) hook. We also used double knitting yarn (US sportsweight).

That size hook and yarn thickness seemed easier for them to handle than
a size 7 (UK old sizing, now 4.5mm) and Aran thickness (US worsted
weight) which they found clumsy as it was just that bit thicker.

It was basic crochet, however, and not hairpin.

Good luck with the project.

Thanks! This is just the type of advice I'm looking for!

Erin
http://arkivarie.livejournal.com/