Here are some pictures of the nature weaving that we completed yesterday at Suzoo’s Wool Works in Bandera, TX!
The boys had fun and they practiced their knots – a lot of knots! We also made drop spindles and practiced with “practice spinners” while theirs dried.
At the end of class we made a wet felted canvas that will be used for wool painting next week.
Well, I finally tried nature weaving! It was fun and easy and is a good project for kids. It is very good to combine a nature walk and plant identification with the basics of weaving. Supplies? You ask. Not many! Nature pieces, scissors, cotton crochet thread or yarn, and sticks.
I tied the sticks together with the crochet thread and then put the warp on the sticks. (The plants act as the weft.) The most difficult part was keeping the tension as the sticks wanted to slid up and down a little bit. Once done, add nature! (My boys collected the “nature” and we discussed the plants as they brought them to me!) * Be very careful if you let children out to collect that they know what is poisonous and harmful if touched or cut! Such as poison ivy, etc!
You can add a hanger on the back by attaching another piece of crochet thread in which ever direction you like. The “frame” can be used multiple times!
Viola, unique wall hanging!
The boys made some felties! Their sewing skills are growing!
My youngest was going for the more crazy, spooky, creepy look as he put it!
I will be teaching at Suzoo’s Wool Works in Bandera, TX!!
We have teamed up to create a Kids Fiber Arts Camp that will teach students the various mediums in Fiber Arts and provide a foundation of skills that can be built upon!
For a printable PDF click here!
What fun! I recently participated in a Mystery Knit Along and Walk Along via Ravelry – it was hosted by The Healthy Knitter. This was for the month of April – one clue came out each week and was a surprise but each clue contributed to the theme. On top of the clues a daily email was sent with encouragement, inspiration, or items to look for while you walked.
Not only were you knitting, which I love, but it also provided a community and accountability for your “Walking Contract.” The Healthy Knitter acted as a type of life-coach and provided a template contract so you could decide your walking goals and identify what would be the barriers to those goals. I chose to walk 15 minutes each day for the month and my barriers were the weather and finishing this house! And solutions were identified to help overcome the barriers.
Now, I am sure you are wondering the meaning of the title she chose! Coddiwomple – v. to travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination.
I actually finished the knitting on time and enjoyed the repetition of the clues. Well, I still need to block, but that is for tomorrow! Thank you The Healthy Knitter for hosting!!
A couple of close-up teasers:
Lately, I have seen a trend of posts and articles about why I should learn to knit faster. By telling us knitters that we must knit faster, the implication is that we do not knit fast enough! Let me expand on this idea.
For many, knitting (and crafting in general), is about the process: picking the perfect pattern, finding just the right yarn, picking up needles that are old friends, and putting hours of love in the form of knits and purls into a project! So, why must we knit faster? Can’t we just enjoy the process and use the soothing repetition for our meditation? Take time to enjoy your skills and teach others. Progress for the sake of progress is not good and faster for the sake of faster is also not good.
“Slow down, you will get a more harmonious outcome!” – Crossfire Trail (Movie)
Just some food for thought! Happy Knitting!
This blog will be the musings of a homeschooling shepherdess and a Fiber Artist! Topics will focus on knitting, books, homeschooling, homesteading, and a well-rounded life! Plus, whatever strikes my fancy! Enjoy!
