Cassie Stephens - Stitch and String Lab for Kids: 40+ Creative Projects to Sew, Embroider, Weave, Wrap, and Tie

40+ Creative Projects to Sew, Embroider, Weave, Wrap, and Tie

CASSIE STEPHENS

WHEN I WAS A KID, I didnt have art class. Instead, I attended all the vacation Bible schools that they had in Joliet, Illinois where I grew up in the 80s. It didnt matter the denomination of the church: if they had Kool-Aide and crafts, I was going to be there. It was during those summers that I learned yarn crafts like straw weaving and how to make pompoms. I also spent a lot of time with my crafty grandmother during those summers. She, like me, loved all forms of fibers arts. Her small home was filled to the brim with her embroidered pillows and wall hangings. I remember the summer I spent, sitting on her porch, embroidering my very first image of a dog at play. Once it was complete, she stitched it into a pillow for me that I cherished, with pride, for years.

Fiber arts has always resonated with me for a couple of reasons: its tactile and, often, functional. Its all about the feel of the fabric, the softness of the yarn, the slick shiny look of embroidery floss. I also love being able to create a useable, practical object like a woven bookmark or a handmade pillow. Art that can serve a purpose beyond being a thing of beauty has always been important to me.

When I became an art teacher 20 years ago, I wanted to bring projects to my students that went beyond beautiful things to put on display. I still want to teach life skills such as sewing and weaving. I want to share my passion for fiber arts and the creation of functional objects. I want to bring back the wonderful skills that our grandmothers regularly practiced.

Through fiber arts, you can learn about history, geography, math, science, and art. In this day and age when we almost constantly have a phone in our hand, I want to teach the skills and inspiration that will make you want to set down the phone and pick up a needle and thread!

FIBER ARTS ENCOMPASS every form of creating with fiber and yarn. Thats a huge spectrum of sewing, embroidering, knitting, weaving, and felting fun! Because there is value in all forms of fiber arts, theres a bit of everything in this book. The labs can be accomplished in any order. However, they are presented in an order that allows readers to learn along the way and build upon knowledge previously gained.

Before starting any of the labs, it is important to carefully read this opening section, which covers all the basics about creating a fiber art space, collecting stitching tools and fiber supplies, and basic stitching techniques, to get you and your fiber art enthusiast started. For example, in many of the labs, you will need to thread a needle, the Know Before You Sew section provides step-by-step instructions for threading a needle, as well as how to make and use a needle threader. This section of the book should be referenced often while working through the labs. If you struggle with a lab, it might be helpful to complete preceding labs first or refresh basic knowledge.

creating a fiber craft space

It is important to establish a designated and well-organized work and storage space in which kids (and adults) can stitch, weave, and sew. Unlike painting or working with clay, working with fibers is a lot less messy, which is great for creating with kids. The space should have good lighting and a desk or kitchen or even a dining room table for children to use for stitching and creating. Some supplies, like pins and needles, are small and sharp, so it is important to provide a tray or other surface with a bit of an edge to keep needles and pins from falling off the table.

Once you establish space for your artist, youll have fun starting a fiber-filled sewing and embroidery kit. You dont need to buy all the supplies at one time, but its hard not to! Add to the fiber kit over time as your child develops skills and the desire to create. Creating alongside your young artist can be a wonderful opportunity for them to see you as a lifelong learner. Even if you have never stitched before, thats okay! It will be a fun-filled fiber exploration for you both.

preparing a fiber arts kit

The best way to get started and create enthusiasm for working with fibers is to make a sewing or fiber arts kit. Keeping all the supplies contained within an organized box makes it easy for your artist to find, and store their sewing tools and favorite threads, floss, and yarns, and put them all away with little mess. The box itself can be something from around the house: a small clear plastic tub, a metal cookie tin, even a lunch box makes a great sewing kit. Baskets, or anything woven or with holes, are not suitable for the supplies that might fall out, but they are great for yarn and fabric. Craft and fabric stores sell a variety of sewing boxes. If younger siblings are nearby, keep the kit stored high on a shelf when no one is using it.

Lets start with a few basics that every fiber arts kit needs. Of course, youll need a basket or shelf to store the yarn and fabric, but keeping all your supplies in one place will keep your artist organized and ready to create.

You need the basic sewing tools to get started: needles, pins, scissors, and embroidery hoops, and a selection of thread, floss, and yarn to add to the excitement.

needles

There are a wide variety of sewing and embroidery needles, all slightly different to best serve specific purposes. The differences are the size of the eye for the thread to go through; the length of the needle; and the sharpness of the point. For the labs in this book, you only need chenille, embroidery, and tapestry needles.

Chenille needles for sewing If you only purchase one kind of needle, make it a chenille needle. Chenille needles are ideal because they have a large eye, for easy threading, and a sharp point. These needles come in different sizes; the higher the number, the smaller the needle. To complete most of the labs, chenille needles sized between 18-24 are ideal.

Embroidery needles for embroidery Embroidery needles have a smaller eye than chenille needles, which can make threading a little more difficult for young artists. However, embroidery needles are nice to have in your fiber arts kit. They are often sold in a variety pack of different sizes between 1 and 5; the largest needle size is 1.

Tapestry needles for weaving and beginner stitching Tapestry needles are ideal for beginning stitchers. They are a bit larger than embroidery and chenille needles, with a large eye and a blunt tip, perfect for young artists with smaller hands. Tapestry needles are found in either metal or plastic. Young artists seem to like the metal ones because they feel as though they are using the real thing. Tapestry needles also come in different sizes. A size 13 is perfect for burlap stitching or weaving, while size 20 is great for smaller stitch work.