Crochet teacher too expensive for me

[Dolly Elliott]

I really don't mean to insult any crochet teachers here.  But I was going to get some one-to-one crochet help.  I checked at a local shop, I live in British Columbia, Canada by the way and they charge $25 per hour.  I'm sorry, I worked at a local college as support staff for Accessibility Services and counseling - I had to register students, refer students to AS specialists and counselors, do multiple tasks on the computer, deal with upset students and parents, etc.  When I left last year my pay per hour was about $23.00 per hour.  I think a crochet teacher charging $25 per hour is too much.  What do you all think?

[Lacycrochet]

17 minutes ago, Dolly Elliott said:

I really don't mean to insult any crochet teachers here.  But I was going to get some one-to-one crochet help.  I checked at a local shop, I live in British Columbia, Canada by the way and they charge $25 per hour.  I'm sorry, I worked at a local college as support staff for Accessibility Services and counseling - I had to register students, refer students to AS specialists and counselors, do multiple tasks on the computer, deal with upset students and parents, etc.  When I left last year my pay per hour was about $23.00 per hour.  I think a crochet teacher charging $25 per hour is too much.  What do you all think?

I teach crochet and you didn't insult me.  I think $25per hour is to steep.  I don't charge for teaching crochet, I do it for the love of the craft.  The only thing I ask is they buy their own materials.  Michaels stores sometimes offer lessons.  I would keep checking around your area for someone who will teach you for a more reasonable rate or free.  In the mean time, youtube is a great option for self teaching.  It is too bad you are at the other end of the country from me, I would have loved to teach you and of course not charge you.  If you have a local provincial library close by, check if they have stitchery groups there.  My libraries do and everyone meets twice a week, lots of people there to help you with your crochet.

[Dolly Elliott]

4 hours ago, Lacycrochet said:

I teach crochet and you didn't insult me.  I think $25per hour is to steep.  I don't charge for teaching crochet, I do it for the love of the craft.  The only thing I ask is they buy their own materials.  Michaels stores sometimes offer lessons.  I would keep checking around your area for someone who will teach you for a more reasonable rate or free.  In the mean time, youtube is a great option for self teaching.  It is too bad you are at the other end of the country from me, I would have loved to teach you and of course not charge you.  If you have a local provincial library close by, check if they have stitchery groups there.  My libraries do and everyone meets twice a week, lots of people there to help you with your crochet.

Hi Tina,

Oh I wish you were living close to me, you sound so nice!  Anyways, I did check with my Seniors Centre but (sorry it is true) the crafts group does what I call "old lady crochet" - baby clothes, hats, scarves, but not at all anything fashionable.  I'm doing an uptown sweater by Lena Skvagerson at:   http://www.lenaskvagerson.com/classes.html

Dolly

[Bailey4]

That's funny I generally have the opposite problem.  Our local Crochet Guild chapter is only interested in fashionable crochet and I tend to do doll clothes and toys.  It wasn't a great match.

Is there a Crochet Guild in Canada?

As for what people charge it like most things it is a market and if you want a private class that means you are the only person paying for that time slot and if that is how they earn money $25/hr doesn't sound crazy if you want someone highly qualified to teach you rather than someone who does old lady crochet.

Edited February 14, 2023 by Bailey4

[Lacycrochet]

13 hours ago, Dolly Elliott said:

Hi Tina, Anyways, I did check with my Seniors Centre but (sorry it is true) the crafts group does what I call "old lady crochet" - baby clothes, hats, scarves, but not at all anything fashionable.  I'm doing an uptown sweater by Lena Skvagerson at:   http://www.lenaskvagerson.com/classes.html

Dolly

Hi Dolly, I understand your concern with "old lady crochet", but it doesn't mean they are not experienced crocheters.  Just a thought, these people might be just doing those things you mentioned now, for various reasons, doesn't mean they didn't once do fashion pieces.  Case in point, I use to make clothing but now I just work with lace because Lupus has destroyed the nerves in my hands and I cannot handle the weight of yarn projects. One of my friends just crochets baby hats for the local children's hospital, she use to make all sorts of clothing, but she is now 86 and wants to simplify her projects. She still knows how to read a pattern and how to crochet clothing.

[Granny Square]

I second what Lacycrochet said about 'old lady crochet'.  I'm retired so I guess that makes me an old lady, I've made a lot of clothing items but I mostly make doilies nowadays - because thread is cheap, and I enjoy making doilies, they are pretty and can be complex and challenging (way more so than most garments), and I also sometimes redesign parts of them on the fly; I have the experience to know what is likely to work or not.  I learned to crochet (before the internet, and I didn't have anyone handy to ask questions of) using hand-me-down vintage patterns which can be surprisingly innovative and interesting, but terse.  Modern patterns are for the most part comparatively dumbed down IMO.  

I'm sure those ladies in the group have the knowledge to help you if you get stuck on a spot in a pattern, they just happen to enjoy doing certain types of  projects, and donating them to charity makes them happy.  A sleeve is a sleeve, and a buttonhole is a buttonhole,  whether on a baby sweater or a 'fashionable' adult one.

Link to Ravelry page with a photo of your pattern, I think?  This is something that should be do-able for a beginner, and I'm sure the ladies in the group could have helped you if you had a question on the pattern--or you could ask here in the help section if you get stuck on a spot.