What I Do (and Don’t) Care About as a Crochet and Knitting Teacher

Every teacher has their own way of doing things—and their own priorities. In my years teaching crochet and knitting, I’ve learned what really matters when someone is learning a craft, and what doesn’t. Some lessons are essential; others can wait. Some mistakes are opportunities; others just aren’t worth worrying about.

I’ve written this post to give you a peek into my teaching philosophy. It’s a mix of encouragement, honesty, and a little bit of tough love—all meant to help you enjoy the process of learning and crafting at your own pace.

What I DON’T Care About → If You Make Mistakes

I once heard another teacher say, “In order to be a great knitter, you have to first be a great ripper.” Ripping means unraveling a project to fix a mistake—or even start over completely. Mistakes are part of the learning process. Recognizing them means you are learning. Being able to spot errors, even if you don’t yet know how to fix them, shows that you truly understand how all the pieces fit together. So yes—I will often praise and congratulate students for their mistakes.

What I DO Care About → That You Understand Your Stitches

I want you to be able to recognize each stitch and understand how they work together. The ability to “read” your stitches is what will help you become an independent crafter.

What I DON’T Care About → If You Didn’t Practice Between Classes

We all know the importance of practice. I’d be a poor teacher if I didn’t at least remind you that practice leads to progress. The more you practice, the better crafter you will become. 

But let’s be real for just a moment. Life is busy, messy, and chaotic. When things get tough, what’s the first thing to go? Hobbies. Sad, but true. As much as I love to hear students talk about working on their projects at home and showing off their progress, it’s okay if it just didn’t happen this week. The great thing about knitting and crochet is that they will always be there for you when you are ready. Something that I always say, “There is no such thing as falling behind in my class.” This is not a race; there is no finish line to cross in crafting. 

What I DO Care About → That You Are Present and Meet Yourself Where You Are

When you’re in my class, this is your time. Forget the day’s stresses, forget your to-do list. This time is for YOU—and only you.

If you had a rough day and only have the energy to review a single basic stitch, go for it! Who cares if your neighbor is almost done with their project? Be kind to yourself and enjoy the process.

What I DON’T Care About → What Method or Style You Use

It doesn’t matter if you’re right- or left-handed, knit English or Continental, hold your hook with a knife grip or pencil grip. There’s more than one way to accomplish nearly every technique in knitting and crochet. As long as your stitches and fabric come out the way you intended, how you get there doesn’t matter.

What I DO Care About → That You Craft Comfortably

Knitting and crochet can strain wrists, neck, shoulders, and back. I encourage all my students to take breaks. Long sessions can lead to injuries like carpal tunnel. Protect yourself. If something feels off, consider adjusting how you hold your materials.

What I DON’T Care About → What Fiber You Use or How Much of It You Have

Some people collect yarn as a hobby in itself. These folks often have impressive stashes—and that’s perfectly fine. Exploring colors, weights, and fibers can be fun.

Others may wait to buy more yarn until they’ve used up what they have. That’s fine too. It doesn’t matter how much yarn you have or what type—acrylic, natural fibers, big stashes, tiny ones. All approaches work.

What I DO Care About → That You Choose the Best Fiber for Your Project

Think about the project you want to make. A dishcloth should be absorbent. A baby sweater needs to be soft. A hat should be warm. A market bag needs strength. Choosing the right yarn for the job makes all the difference in the final outcome.

What I DON’T Care About → If You Skip the Gauge Swatch

I preach the importance of gauge swatching, but I’ll admit—sometimes I skip it myself. It can feel boring or even like a waste of time, depending on the project. In some of my classes, I may say outright that we won’t worry about gauge so we can focus on a specific technique instead.

What I DO Care About → If Your Project Doesn’t Turn Out as Intended Because You Skipped the Gauge Swatch

It’s fine to skip gauge swatching—but if your project doesn’t turn out as intended, my advice is simple: make a gauge swatch next time. If you did swatch and it still didn’t work, then we can investigate further.

What I DON’T Care About → If You Don’t Want to Take Another Class With Me

Many students just need a starting push before continuing on their own. While I love seeing students return, it warms my heart even more to see them become confident and independent. Spread your wings, my baby birds—I’ll always be here if you need me.

What I DO Care About → That You Enjoy What You’re Doing

Knitting and crochet are meant to be fun. For some, fun is diving deeper into the craft and challenging themselves with advanced techniques. For others, it’s enjoying one stitch, one pattern—something they can pick up and work on mindlessly. Whatever your version of fun, enjoy it fully.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, my classes aren’t about perfection. They’re about growth, curiosity, and, most importantly, joy. I want you to understand your stitches, craft comfortably, and have fun doing it. I don’t care about mistakes, skipped practice, or your yarn stash—what I do care about is that you feel confident, inspired, and free to make the craft your own.

Knitting and crochet are journeys, not races. So take your time, meet yourself where you are, and enjoy every stitch along the way.