It's easy to learn to crochet, plus crochet uses inexpensive tools and materials to create beautiful handmade gifts to wear or for the home. Find out why young and old love to crochet.

Crochet has become a nearly-forgotten art in this age of computerized sewing machines, non-stop working moms and Zumba classes. Perhaps with the decline of the economy and a return to simpler things, the silver lining will be the comeback of crochet.

Mastering the techniques of this intricate yet simple handiwork offers the opportunity for the soon-to-be-accomplished crocheter to become known far and wide for the fabulous handcrafted gifts that can be created from a few skeins of yarn and one little hook. Crochet is not a complicated process once the new crocheter understands how it builds from a basic chain into a beautiful afghan or garment.

Create Unique and Useful Handmade Gifts for Family and Friends

Crochet is a fabulous way to create unusual and personal handcrafted gifts for loved ones. Even if the giftee receives two sweaters, if one of them is a handmade crocheted sweater, it will never, ever be the same as the other sweater. Why? Because a crocheted sweater was made by hand, from the heart, with love.

Connect to Grandma with a Shared Passion for Crochet

Many ladies in bygone generations were avid crocheters. By learning to crochet, today's moms and daughters are finding a unique way to establish a connection to past and present generations of fellow crochet enthusiasts. Sharing a love for this true art form brings women of all ages closer together.

Learn to Crochet for an Opportunity for Relaxation

Most who crochet will learn very quickly what a calming effect the act of crocheting has on a person. The simple acts of counting stitches, turning the work, or completing a stitch and then moving on to the next one, is the perfect way to calm nerves jangled by a less-than-perfect day.

Enjoy an Inexpensive Hobby

Crochet is really quite inexpensive. For less than $3, a crocheter can purchase a perfectly lovely, new aluminum crochet hook, available in an array of shiny colors and good for at least the next 20 years of crocheting. Add some yarn and a pattern book for around $35, and the crocheter is ready to sit down to many happy and serene hours of stitching great handcrafted gifts for others and herself.

Crocheting Lets Anyone be a Multi-tasker

Keeping the hands busy while watching TV or sports, riding in a car, or even participating in a conversation, is a priority for many. For those who crochet, it's not necessary to feel that time spent watching TV is wasted since crochet can be done while doing a myriad of other things!

Learn to Crochet and Satisfy Those Creative Urges

Many people are not happy unless they are creating something with their own hands, heads and hearts. For these people crochet is the perfect solution. When the urge strikes to make something, whip out that little crochet hook, grab some yarn, and enjoy the satisfaction of making something useful as well as beautiful.

Take Crochet Along for the Ride

Tote bags are for sale in every grocery store (or crochet one!) across the nation these days and what better way to transport that favorite hobby? Stick those hooks and balls of yarn in the tote bag and creating on-the-fly is as good as done.

Use Crocheting as a Workout to Keep Fingers Nimble

It isn't necessary to be able to do 25 push-ups with one hand tied behind the back to learn to crochet. Being able to bench press 300 pounds, run 5 miles a day or bike 10 miles without breaking a sweat is not a prerequisite for crochet happiness. Crochet itself is a good way to help hands and fingers stay limber and in good working order as they "mature".

There are certainly more than eight great reasons to learn to crochet, but as soon as a new crocheter has that hook in one hand and the yarn in the other, she'll probably no longer care which reason compelled her to learn to crochet. She'll just be glad she learned!

Read on to learn about the history of crochet.