That post title is really a mouthful, isn’t it? One of my many professional gigs is Master Teacher for the Craft Yarn Council’s Certified Instructors Program. According to the Craft Yarn Council’s website, “since 1982 more than 15,000 students have completed the course and gone on to teach in retail stores, adult education programs, and to share their knowledge with friends, co-workers and family.”
If you have a strong basis in basic knitting and crochet skills, the Certified Instructors Program helps you become a better teacher of those skills. As a matter of fact, if you want to teach knitting or crochet at Michael’s you need to have finished (or be working on) Level 1 of the program in your discipline.
You can read more about it on the Craft Yarn Council’s website, and I’ll be talking more about it in the future, as some changes are in the works.
Frequently Asked Questions
As a master teacher, I have found that many of the students enrolled in the program have questions. They are worried about how to complete the assignments. They stress over being tested. (Hint: There is no “test”.) Because I get the same questions over and over again, and to allay the fears and anxieties of students, I’ve shot a video that addresses these most frequently asked questions. I was actor, producer, camera person and sound engineer on this one, so it’s not as professionally produced as some of my videos, but I hope it gets the job done.
If you want to sign up for the Certified Instructors Program, register here.
Hi My name is Debbie. I started the certification program thru Michaels and completed the first part,but have not finished the second part. That has been several
Years ago now. Our store manager would not allow me to ask for there address or phone numbers .. So could not complete the program.. I have over 150 hours of teaching in now .. I teach privately and at our church.. Is it to late to get certified? And do you have a Masters program for certification too! I love to knit and to teach it as well!! Simple love it !! What is the cost to get certified for teaching and for the masters program as well?
It’s never too late! You can go to the Craft Yarn Council (CYC) website, where you can sign up for Level 2. If you have questions about the program, you can also reach the CYC through that website. The Craft Yarn Council sponsors the Certified Instructors Program, while The Knitting Guild of America (TKGA) has what they call a “Master Hand Knitting Program”. You can read about it here.
How is the CYC different than The Knitting Guild Association? I would like to become a certified instructor.
I am proficient in knitting, up to but not including color knitting (entrelac and fair aisle) . I am comfortable following charts and patterns, and making sweaters and / or accessories. I have taught several people socially how to knit, but would like to work in a shop, such as a Michael’s, although I am particularly interested in working a local yarn shop, either helping people pick out patterns or luscious yarns to work with or teaching (or possibly private lessons).
Great question! The Knitting Guild Association Master Knitters program is focused on knitting techniques and skills, while the Craft Yarn Council’s Certified Instructors (CIP) program is focused on helping you gain teaching skills, while making sure you have a good foundation in the basic knitting techniques. Check out https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/teach.html for more information on the CIP program.
Hello,
I just registered for the level I crochet certification class. I could not find anything that pointed me to the next step. I am excited to get started!