How Your Child Can be an Environmentally-Friendly Crocheter

For the past couple years I have spent almost every week in the summer teaching online crochet camps to beginner crocheters. I will be doing it again this summer, too, and am looking forward to it.

I got an interesting question from a student in one of my private classes a couple weeks ago. We were chatting about yarn during class, and she asked me, “Christine, how big is your yarn stash? I know crocheters have HUGE yarn collections.”

I thought about it for a minute, then told her I am NOT your stereotypical crocheter and crochet teacher. I don’t have a huge yarn collection. She then asked me, “why not?” I explained that I am a minimalist who cares deeply about the environment, and I’m intentional about the choices I make when it comes to yarn.

This question got me thinking of all the ways your kid can be a more environmentally-friendly crocheter. I came up with 6 tips to set you on the right path.

1. Have a crochet project in mind BEFORE buying the yarn. – This could be a hard one for some kids. You’re in the yarn store with your child and they fall in love with a ball of yarn, and then they’ll decide what to make with it later.

This method of buying yarn can lead to waste, both financially and in terms of the physical stuff in your home. The yarn may just sit there and never actually be used. As a minimalist crocheter, this is something I’m always working against in my life. I don’t buy yarn unless I have a specific crochet project to make with it. This mindset really helps keep my yarn collection from getting out of control.

2. Choose natural yarn fibres. – In a previous post I talked about how yarn is made of many different materials. These fall into plant-based, animal-based, and synthetic categories. Each of these have their own advantages and disadvantages.

A lot of crocheters use acrylic yarn for their crochet projects. Yes, these yarns are beautiful, and come in lots of fun colours. But they do have environmental consequences. Acrylic, polyester, and other synthetic yarns are made of different forms of plastic, and as a result, release microplastic particles, which is not something we want to expose ourselves to or release them into the environment.

I recommend choosing either plant-based (cotton or bamboo) or animal-based (wool) for your child’s crochet projects. This is something I am working towards this year. I will be transitioning to using only natural yarn fibers from now on.

3. Crochet hook material matters. – Crochet hooks are made of either metal (typically aluminum), wood (or bamboo), and plastic. Wooden crochet hooks are the most expensive option of these three. Plastic crochet hooks, on the other hand, are easily-accessible, come in fun colours, and are available in a wide range of sizes. That being said, however, they are the least durable crochet hook material. Plastic crochet hooks break easily, and aren’t always easy to dispose of in local recycling services.

I recommend going with metal or aluminum crochet hooks. I have had my collection for most of my time as a crocheter (30 years at this point). A lot of my collection has been passed down for generations through my family, and they are still going strong. They are durable and come in a variety of sizes and colours. If your child struggles with grip or wants a more comfortable way of holding their hook, you can get silicone grips that go over the handle of the hook to help them.

4. Make reusable crochet projects for your house. – There are a lot of single-use items that are frequently used in your household. Things like dishcloths, coasters, gift bags, and so much more. If your child makes crochet versions of these items, you can save so many disposable products being thrown out. I have made more crocheted dishcloths than I can count at this point. I like my pattern for this so much that I included it in my Crochet Made Easy! course for beginner crocheters.

5. Save those yarn scraps! – As a crocheter, your child will produce a lot of yarn scraps. Don’t throw those scraps away! There are a lot of different uses for them. Yarn scraps, especially those synthetic fibers, end up in landfills and release microplastics into the environment.

If your child likes to crochet stuffed animals or other amigurumi, they can replace most, if not all, of the fiberfill material with yarn scraps. I started collecting my yarn scraps almost 2 years ago and have used them to fill several stuffed animals.

6. Give old yarn and crochet projects a new life. – This can be a hard one for kids (and some adult crocheters too). It is inevitable that your child will make something they don’t like, or get halfway through a crochet project, then stop for a couple months and not want to pick it up again. Rather than just wasting that yarn, have your child take the project apart (it’s called frogging), and turn it into something new.

I did this recently. Earlier this year I took apart an old (and honestly ugly) scarf I made for my mom a few years ago. I turned that yarn into hair scrunchies that I donated as part of my crochet club that makes things for local charities.

Please let me know if you have any questions about the materials I covered in this video in the comments down below. Don’t forget to subscribe to this Substack, as new articles are released every other Tuesday. If your child would like to learn to crochet with me, check out the link to my course Crochet Made Easy! below. Click on the image