Teaching my First Crochet Class Help

[missnevermind]

Hi Crafters, Im after help from crocheters. I am quite a confident crocheter with a few years experience.
I have been asked to teach a class of women, mostly absolute beginner's next week.
And I have no idea where to start!!!
They seem to think that they will be taking home a completed blanket by the end of the 2 hours
I need a quickie thing for them, I was thinking bookmarks or head bands. basicly a small rectangle that could be put to use?

And I had it in my head that we would do straight line crochet rather than granny squares, as I think the corners and the counting might be overdoing it the first day.
So we would chain a length then DC into each chain which I would help with. Then just grow the rectangle with DC rows.

Help meeee Lol Have I bitten off more than I can chew?

I have been trying to teach myself to crochet (without much success.) I agree forget granny squares, I have found corners really, really hard.
I would concentrate on just trying to get the tension right, how to hold the hook and wool properly and just creating a chain and growing a rectangle. I would have been pleased with that in a first lesson.
I am clearly not going to be a natural crocheter but I have found it much easier to start with a really big hook and chunky wool so whatever I crochet grows fast.
Be sure to explain the US / UK terminology- that caught me out early on.
Hope it goes well.

I'd do a rectangle using different stitches,when I learnt my Mum would make me do a chain, two rows of DC, one row HTR, one row treble etc just to practice.

You could give them an easy pattern to take away with them? A very simple scarf/cowl in one stitch?

I’d suggest having a more complex pattern up your sleeve just incase anyone arrives who can already do basic stitches.

Also something I’ve found is that some beginners are much quicker than others, so it’s good to have a second project for them to graduate on to once they’ve finished the first (while you’re still trying to help someone else get a foundation row done!).

Encourage those who’ve ‘got it’ to help those who are struggling so you don’t end up really stressed running from one person to the next.

Good luck, let us know how it goes!

Oh and this is probably obvious but pick a yarn that doesn’t split or go fluffy. I tried to teach DH once and I couldn’t work out why it looked wrong, but he managed to push the hook through the loose and chunky yarn several times.

I have a large selection of hooks but the centre is supplying the wool.
I’ve got some really basic patterns for if they get the hang of it quickly for little crochet bags big enough for lipstick or phone. And thought if any of them wanted to they could take away a hook and some wool and we could start a scarf for them to do at home.