Tag: sustainable

Posted in Intermediate, Middle Grade, Non-fiction, Non-Fiction, Teen, Tween Reads

Knit, Hook, and Spin teaches kids the fun of making

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

knit hook spinKnit, Hook and Spin, by Laurie Carlson, (June 2016, Chicago Review Press), $14.99, ISBN: 9781613734001

Recommended for ages 8+

If the kids in your life – or you – want to be crafty but aren’t sure where to start, this is a great book to have handy. Knit, Hook, and Spin is an easy-to-follow primer that includes over 70 projects for beginners. Clear instructions and illustrations teach you how to knit, crochet, spin yarn, tie dye, weave, and even make your own plarn (yarn from plastic bags). Big on making and recycling, there are instructions and invitations to repurpose clothes; unravel an old sweater to get some yarn for a new project, or tie dye a t-shirt to give it a new look. Weave a rug out of brightly colored plastic bags that you brought your groceries home in last week.

Fiber facts and tidbits about fiber art and crafting history are included throughout, giving kids an understanding of the long-standing history of handmade clothes and everyday accessories that they’ve now become part of. The emphasis is on practice and developing a love of the craft, rather than unnecessary, expensive gadgets: Carlson teaches readers to make weaving looms from sticks or paper plates; knitting needles from chopticks, if that’s what you have around. She notes when adult supervision is suggested, and I hope this gets parents and kids crafting together. There’s no downside to together time or crafting time.

This is a great book for kids and adults, who want to learn to craft but aren’t sure where to go. When I first learned to knit and crochet, I went straight to the children’s section of my library, because I wanted simple, step by step instructions. The wealth of different crafts here makes this a valuable addition to collections where there’s an interest in crafting.

Laurie Carlson’s blog is rather new at the moment, but does include a nice post on the benefits of kids crafting.

Posted in Middle Grade, Teen, Tween Reads, Uncategorized

Sticky Fingers – Duct Tape Fun for All!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

sticky fingersSticky Fingers, by Sophie Maletsky (2014, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), $16.99 ISBN: 9781936976546

Recommended for ages 8+ with an adult

I’ve been trying to get back into crafting for a while now, and being a kids’ librarian is helping in a big way. My latest fascination is with duct tape crafts – I’m a public librarian in an urban community library, so this is an affordable craft that kids can create really useful things from, and have you seen the wild duct tape that’s out there these days? Hit up your local big box store, or craft store, and see for yourself – there’s everything from wild colors to licensed characters on duct tape.

Sophie Maletsky’s Sticky Fingers is a perfect craft resource for beginners and for far more advanced duct tapers than I. There’s a MESSENGER BAG in here, for heaven’s sake, and it’s fabulous. There are nine chapters, featuring crafts for home, school, to wear, wallets, even ideas for using the end of the roll itself.

Ms. Maletsky provides tutorials on creating duct tape “fabric” – the basis for many crafts – and goes from there, creating simple pouches, wallets, and even gets magnets and Velcro into play, creating clutches and purses. There are crafts for guys, too – belts, ties, sunglass and smartphone cases, wallets – it’s an equal opportunity craft, and it’s totally sustainable. Heck, if you check your parents’ toolbox, you’ll probably find a roll to practice with (just ask first, please).

Many of these crafts call for a pair of scissors, and some call for an X-acto blade – younger users need some adult supervision to work on these projects; no one wants a trip to the hospital marring their craft session. It’s a great way for parents and kids to create some fun projects and memories together. I’ve not only bought this book for my library, I’ve built a program around it.

Sophie Maletsky’s website offers even more craft ideas, including a whole section on recyclable material crafts. (I’ve bookmarked this site – I see many programs in my future!) You can also find party ideas, games (some, with a focus on Science, STEM people!), information about the author, and the ability to enroll in online crafting courses led by Sophie.