In the World of Crochet
I am excited to introduce you to Mary Colucci and the Each One Teach Two initiative sponsored by the Craft Yarn Council. Mary Colucci is Past Executive Director of the Craft Yarn Council, the yarn industry’s trade association. She served as Executive Director of CYC for 20 years and continues to consult with the organization. She also serves as Executive Director of the Warm Up America! Foundation. Crochet World (CW): Mary, tell us a little about yourself. Did you grow up in a crafty environment? How did you end up in the needlework industry? Mary Colucci (MC): I received a How to Knit book and my first pair of needles when I was about seven and taught myself to knit. I also sewed a lot when I was younger and picked up crocheting later. I’ve always found it enjoyable to work with my hands and to make things for others. After college when I had an opportunity to join the editorial staff of a trade magazine that covered the OTC fabric market and the needlework industry, I jumped at the chance. That job started my career in the industry. CW: I know the work of the Craft Yarn Council has impacted the craft industry in many positive ways, but some of our readers might not be familiar with all the work you do. Can you tell us a little more about Craft Yarn Council? MC: Working with the Craft Yarn Council (CYC) has been a unique opportunity. The organization represents the leading producers of yarn, tools, publishers and consultants in the yarn industry who are working toward a common goal: inspiring current crocheters and knitters, teaching future generations and generally promoting consumer awareness through education and promotion. In its 35-year history, the Council has pooled the talents and resources of its members to change the image of our industry, to make it fun, fashionable and, along the way, easier for enthusiasts to find the projects that they want to make and to finish them.
A core program CYC developed after they were incorporated in 1981 was the Certified Instructors Program (CIP). This education program is targeted at current crocheters and knitters who have a passion for their craft and want to teach others. The program involves an extensive curriculum to strengthen students’ techniques while also focusing on how to teach the skills of crochet and knitting to others. CIP graduates have taught hundreds of thousands of people to crochet and knit and are an integral part of the Council’s educational program. CYC’s educational efforts aren’t limited to formal classes. For instance, in the late 1990s we took our yarns and designs to the streets, starting consumer fairs we called Knit-Out & Crochet events. Most recently, we created a viral initiative called I Love Yarn Day. Held in October every year, last year’s theme was “Stitch It Forward” with the call to action for current knitters and crocheters to teach at least one person their craft. Working with industry yarn and tool manufacturers, publishers and designers, the Council was also responsible for developing the first-ever Standards and Guidelines for crochet and knitting. The purpose: to bring uniformity to yarn, needle and hook labeling and to patterns, making it easier for consumers to select and finish a project. CW: How did the Each One, Teach Two program get started? MC: This program was the brainchild of two of the crochet industry’s leaders: the late Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss, who at the time were principals in ASN Publishing. They were champions of building awareness about crochet and for teaching our craft in general. Their idea was simple: If we all taught just one person and that person taught another and that person taught another, we could get the entire world knitting and crocheting. Leinhauser and Weiss created a program that provided helpful how-to illustrations, teaching hints and certificates of accomplishment, all of which can be downloaded from the website www.eachoneteachtwo.com. CW: Our readers love to crochet and they especially love to crochet for others. Many crochet for charities and make gifts for family and friends. Why should they take the time to teach others to crochet? MC: Why teach others? These crafts bring us joy, help us relax and provide a sense of accomplishment. It’s fun to be able to share our craft with others and it makes sense. CYC research shows that most people learn to crochet or knit from friends or family. You don’t have to be an expert to teach someone else to crochet or knit. If you are considering teaching, the hints included at the Each One, Teach Two website are a good place to start. There are basic tips like keeping the sessions relatively short, working with a light-colored yarn and medium-size hooks or needles. Sitting next to the person gives them the chance to better see how the stitches are created. Consider having your student’s first project be a 7 x 9-inch block for Warm Up America! It’s just the perfect size for practicing basic stitches and helps the person become comfortable holding a hook or needle and yarn. Plus, Warm Up America! would be delighted to receive the finished rectangles to join with others to complete afghans which are donated to people in need. Free patterns for the rectangular blocks can be found at www.warmupamerica.org. CW: Thanks so much, Mary. We are committed to encouraging our readers to pass on their love of crochet by participating in the Each One, Teach Two program. Don’t forget to check out their website, www. eachoneteachtwo.com, for free downloads, projects and certificates.