Lunchtime Knitting Club
Hels Bels 27/01/12
Just launched a lunchtime knitting club at our primary school in Brighton. Following on from the success of the lunchtime knitting boxes we set up in each classroom for finger knitting, we decided to try teaching needle knitting on mass too but in a club setting! 40 children signed up (yr 3-6) and 10 parent helpers. We asked for donations of wool and needles (left a box in the school entrance area). I have posted pics of how we set up the room, for anyone interested and our initial letter to parents and pupil sign up sheet posted in the corridor. We have split the group in 2 so we have a ratio of 2-3 children per adult to start with as most are new to needle knitting. (Thanks for the tips in the New Craft Club Handbook!) It worked really well, we had 20 sets of needles with 30 pre cast on stitches and a few rows of knitting already done for each child, that way we didnt have to start by struggling with casting on. Even within a half hour slot children went back to their classrooms having learnt the knit stitch- brilliant and all parents involved left feeling chuffed to be part of such a positive half hour! We have got a little funding from P&F funds to buy small calico bags (21x26cm) so the plan is when the children are up and running we will issue each child with a bag (to personalise), needles and ball of wool. They can then carry on with their projects outside of knit club - at lunchtimes and at home. (Safety advice will be given!) Its taken a while to come up with the best way to run the club so we thought it might be helpful to share the detail of our plan, will keep you posted if it works!
Hi. Good luck with your finger knitting tomorrow. We started with finger knitting and it worked really well - they pick it up really quickly and to be honest if they have access to wool in the playground they will be able to teach the other 50 children themselves! Its a real pass it on skill. The only problem is they use up wool like nobodys business! The bags were have used for our club were from thecleverbaggers.co.uk, they were about 80p each. I think Craft Club have some you can win though! We made an iron on transfer to put on ours which looks really effective. Ive uploaded the instruction sheet we put in our bags if they helps at all.
I'm starting a lunch time knitting club at Portswood Primary tomorrow! Eeek! It's just me and about 10 year 3s, they all wanted to do it (60 children) but I thought I could only manage 10 at first. We're starting with finger knitting tomorrow and then we'll progress onto needles next week hopefully - I love the idea of starting a few rows and will certainly use it, thanks. How do I get hold of the Craft Club calico bags as I'm sure the children would love to have somewhere special to keep their knitting?
Your club sounds fabulous. Well done. I particularly like the idea of the stitches and a few rows being done already I shall try that with some of our younger knitters. Thanks. Claire
I've just ordered the 40 we will need so far but thank you. If we could take you up on your kind offer if the knitting club expands!
Hi there! Your club sounds great, and we're so glad the information in the handbook was useful. We actually have small Craft Club calico bags to give out, they are not quite as big as the ones you have stated, but you are welcome to some if you would like them?
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