Marie Segares provided a copy of Make Money Teaching Crochet for my review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. This page may contain affiliate links, which help support me, but don’t cost you anything extra.
One of the questions I get asked most frequently is: How did you get started in your career?
There are many variations on this question, but the meaning behind all of them is the same: How can I do what you do? The answer, of course, is multi-faceted, but there are some resources you can use to turn your hobby into a money-making venture. One of these is Make Money Teaching Crochet.
A Success Story
Crochet and knitting teacher Marie Segares has turned her passion for yarn into a second career. As a blogger, she shares tips and projects on the Underground Crafter blog. As a podcaster, she hosts the Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show, which focuses on the many aspects of having a yarn-related business. In Make Money Teaching Crochet, she offers a workbook-style approach to launching a teaching business.
Asking and Answering Questions
Written in a comfortable style, each section contains explanatory text. Depending on the format you choose (see below), you may have space to fill in your own answers on blank lines and tables.
A series of questions helps you get started. Begin with examining your short-term and long-term goals, your technical skills, and your organizational and presentation skills.
Move on to the business of teaching, an admittedly less interesting aspect of teaching for many of us, but a crucial one if you are trying to make money. (Note the book title. Making money is why you are reading the book.) Have you considered how you are going to get paid? How much? What are your refund and cancellation policies? What about self-employment taxes? Marie takes you through each step.
The third section focuses on marketing your classes to your target audience, while a fourth section covers prepping for class. The final section, Resources, is full of helpful links to help get your crochet business off the ground.
The book comes in a number of formats and price points. You can get it as a Kindle ebook or Kobo ebook (without the worksheets), a printable edition with worksheets (the version I have), or as a pdf version with customizable worksheets.
Who Needs This Book?
If you have been considering teaching, or if you are already teaching a fiber craft, you’ll find Make Money Teaching Crochet a helpful exercise. Just be sure to actually do the workbook exercises to get the full benefit! Students currently enrolled in the Craft Yarn Council’s Certified Instructor Program may find it a helpful addition to their studies.
And don’t be mislead by the title! You can use the information here for any yarn-related craft class. If you want to teach knitting or weaving or whatever, there is a fount of information here. The workbook-style exercises allow you to use the book over and over again as your needs, interests, and teaching skills change.
Although I’ve been teaching crochet and knitting for years, I found the workbook a good review and check system. There were some questions that made me think outside my current box, and others that assured me that I’m on the right track. It also gave me some good ideas of new things to try.
Pros: Helpful exercises for all fiber arts teachers at many stages of their careers, as a jump-start, reality check or refresher course. Comes in a variety of formats and price points.
Cons: Unfortunately, I found the serif font used throughout the book difficult to read for long stretches. This may not be a problem for those with younger eyes, or those reading in digital format, but presented a challenge with my paper copy.
Additional Resources about Teaching
Craft Yarn Council Certified Instructors Program
Listen to the bHooked Crochet podcast, where Jenny Besonnette, Executive Director of the Craft Yarn Council and I talk about the program, or watch it on YouTube.
Crochet Guild of America Master of Advanced Crochet Stitches and Techniques
The book designer should be informed that one does not use a display font for all the body text. I agree it is a deal-breaker for some.