Hooked

As I have a friend who is currently trying to learn how to crochet, I have been thinking about what is the right way to learn such a craft?  Is there a right way?

I personally learned from a book, the Boye “I Taught Myself to Crochet” kit.  I know from my shopping experiences that there are also many other crochet teaching books.  The methods are more or less the same: give the name of the stitch, show a picture/diagram or two, and explain in words how to do it.

Of course, with YouTube as popular as it is, there are plenty of videos on how to crochet.  These are a bit more interactive than the books, in that they show the person slowly doing the stitch, and sometimes explaining each step as they go.

Then there is always the age-old face to face method.  You find someone else who knows the craft and they show you and explain each step.

Each method’s got it’s own positives, of course.  You can consult a book anytime, even if you’re alone or without internet connection.  You can rewind videos and view the same step over and over again, without irratating the person.  With face to face interaction, you can have the person explain things that you may be confused about.

However, each also has it’s downside.  Books and videos can’t answer your questions.  Watching someone else do it doesn’t give you the same angled view as looking at the work in your own hands.

I suppose it depends on whether you’re a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner.