On this page: felting kits, knitting kits, braiding
kits, toymaking with children books
Teaching your children (or yourself!) the hand-eye
coordination skills involved in crafts has so many benefits.
Besides the satisfaction of actually creating something new,
it increases our interaction and understanding of the world on
a number of levels (see article  on
curriculum). It has been shown to increase intelligence in seemingly
unrelated areas. Recent brain research has shown that knitting
and crocheting actually produce much of the same beneficial stress
reductions physiologically in the body as meditation or yoga
practice. Wow!
It doesn't have to be hard to start. On this
page, we've compiled in one spot what we offer for kids and beginners.
Pick a simple knitting or corking kit (Corking is the British
word for spool knitting). Many of our books offer wonderful projects
to do with your children. "Toymaking with Children",
and "The Children's Year" are especially good
and are below, as well as on our 'Books' page to the left. We
have some new titles in on felting with kids.
I'd recommmend starting
with any of the felting kits, or the knitting spool and "Corking"
book. By second grade age, your child is probably ready to knit
and do simple sewing projects. Our knitting book and yarn kit
is a good start - offering explicit knitting directions, project
ideas, and a starter pack of yarns. For more yarns, we recommend
our worsted wool yarns, also listed below.
Felting kits and books
RAINBOW JEWELRY KIT:
Colorful roving, yarn, soap and a tapestry needles
(all included in kit) are all that's needed to make this lovely
necklace and bracelet. For ages 7 and older. By Feltcraft.
#972 - Rainbow jewelry kit - $13.99
LITTLE FELT PEOPLE KIT:
This award winning kit uses a simple technique
to create little people from all over the world.. Three skin
colors and five hair colors are included in the kit along with
colorful wool for clothing. The kit makes 12-15 people. You will
need water, scissors and one of the following: sewing needle
and thread, low temperature glue gun, or craft glue. Winner
of 1999 Parents' Choice Gold Award. By Feltcraft. Ages 7
and up with adult supervision.
#973 - little people felt kit - $14.99
FELTMAKING PROJECTS FOR CHILDREN
by Anne Vickrey
Designed for teachers for grades preschool through fifth, the
book can also be used at home. Six projects allow children ro
make one-of-a-kind felt items: felt beads, felt ropes, felt figures,
felt vessels, felt balls and instructions for a group felt blanket
proiect. Also included is a summary of the educational component
for using feltmaking with a group of children in a classroom.
More ideas are given for fun, group as well as individual projects.
24 pages, spiral bound.
#715 - Feltmaking Projects for Children - $14.95
click here to
see all the book titles
 BRAIDING
BOARD KIT
Notched high density foam board for making kumihimo braids.
Includes instructions for various braids. For ages 7 and older.
#1110 - Braiding board - $3.95
Option: add a color palette to play with. 36
ten yard skeins of pearl cotton, perfect for braiding card projects
- $5.50.
 Also available with pack of 25 plastic bobbins to
keep your threads from tangling - add $1.50.
Or add a set of eight EZ Bobs to hold thread - $3.00
Or add an instructional book: Beautiful Braiding
Made Easy - a wonderful new book with all you'll need for beginning
to advanced braiding - $26.95 (Click
here for kumihimo book information).
Or add an instructional book: "Beginning
Kumihimo" - $7.50. (Click
here for kumihimo book information).
The book is in Japanese,
but the illustrations are good enough that reading the text is
not necessary.
Knitting kits and books
The first two kits include
"how to knit" instructions, knitting needles, and all
materials to complete garter stitch projects for beginners. The
spool knitting kit introduces the principles of knitting in a
traditional way.
RAINBOW BALL KIT:
(click on picture for larger image)
The Waldorf version of the nerfball. Kit makes six
small balls and one larger multicolor ball. For ages 7 and older.
#990 - Rainbow Ball Kit -$15.95  
POUCH PALS KIT:
(click on picture for larger image)
Makes two simple dolls and a carrying pouch. For ages 7 and older.
#994 - Pouch Pals Kit - $16.95
KNITTING SPOOL & YARN:
Painted wooden spool
knitter with 4 pegs and six 1/2 ounce balls of worsted wool yarn
in bright colors. Knits a long 'tail'. For ages 7 and older.
#991 - Knitting spool and yarns - $12.95
CORKING:
from Kids
Can Easy Crafts
Corking is the English word for spool knitting. An idea book
for the knitting spool with simple finger puppets, hair scrunchies,
and much more. 32 pages, softbound.
#707 - $6.95
KNITTING:
from Kids
Can Easy Crafts
Complete knitting instructions with large illustrations. Explicit
directions to make, hats, scarves, mittens, a book bag, headband,
socks, and blanket. 40 pages, softbound.
#712 - $6.95
KNITTING BOOK & YARN KIT:
Everything you need to begin knitting: the above knitting book, along with
a set of knitting needles and six colors of brightly colored
worsted wool yarns to knit projects from the book. For ages 7 and older.
#992 - $16.95
TOYMAKING WITH CHILDREN
-by Freya Jaffke. A wonderful book addressing
the meaning and progression of play through childhood development
as well as instructions for many toys and playthings. Projects
cover a wide range of toys from play stands, play clothes, woodcarving,
making a variety of dolls, dollhouses and doll accessories, knitted
animals, working with roving and nature items. 159 pages, softbound.
#706 - $17.95
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