I was thinking too of something small to start...like a pot holder. I think it's great that a MIL wants her DIL to teach her something. You must have a great relationship. I was never into crocheting. Hubby, myself and our 2 kids went to FL (Disney and JFK space center) back in the late 70s with his parents and my MIL sat in the back seat of the car with me and crocheted the whole time. By the time we came home she had loaned me a hook and yarn and had taught me to crochet.
Friends of ours...HE wants me to teach his wife how to quilt. I said...I'm new at quilting myself but I have sewn since I was a kid. She doesn't know how to sew. I told her she would HAVE to learn some sewing basics before she would tackle quilting. They are going to come her for a "make our own pasta day/night" between Christmas and New Year's as he wants to see how my hubby makes homemade pasta. He said...while the guys are doing that you can teach Valerie how to sew. LOL