I posted last fall about a childhood activity that apparently had far-reaching effects on me, even though I didn’t really remember it from that young of an age. Do you recall the article about the “Cotton Sheep”? I had titled the article childhood memorabilia for a fiber-y future.
Anyway, I have wanted to revisit with you about thoughts of how we can help our children and grandchildren to be instilled with a love of the fiber arts and crafts at a young age.
Do you remember crafts that you were introduced to at a young age? My earliest recollection was playing with sewing cards while my grandmother guided me in various stitches I could do. I am going to guess that I was 3 – 4 years old at the time because prior to 3 years is a blank memory. And I could not have been older than that because I remember that I was not yet attending kindergarten.
I don’t have any of those sewing cards around any longer to take a photo, but I did find this link for some that were similar to mine.
How to Make Simple Practice Sewing Cards for Children
And even if your roots were not in fiber-y / crafty things at a young age, do you have favorite children’s crafts that you like to use in encouraging the fiber arts now?
Another suggestion I have for when motor control and attention span is established well enough (usually 7 – 8 years), is to introduce children to knitting or crochet. Here’s my favorite for a knitted bunny.
The instructions are for beginning with a stockinette stitch square. But the bunny can also be made with a simple garter stitch square so that even the most basic beginner knitter can enjoy. My “chocolate bunny” below is an example in garter stitch:
Children can be so creative, so don’t squelch that by limiting the color or size. Even flopppy ears or crouching bunny are all welcome and give each little bunny its own personality.
Adults have a lot of fun making these bunnies, too. So, if you know someone who is just starting to learn to knit, send them on over to the HeartStringsFiberArts.com website to get the free pattern.