Adventures with Yarn!

Can yarn really be adventurous? If you are a creative soul, then the answer is yes! (just ask Gandalf below about adventure!) Yarn is easy to come by and easy to work with and it offers many hours of crafty goodness.

This Adventure Box Theme is all about yarn. You’ll learn a few things you can try with yarn, where to learn about yarn projects, and what you need to put together a great Yarn Adventure Box. There are also a few benefits to using yarn to create and I’ll mention those as well. Enjoy!

Note: You might want to visit my Yarn Fun Pinterest Board for more ideas at any time and please follow along. We get so many fun projects from those pins! I pin mainly for R12 and though she is not a Pinterest member, she is a Pinterest consumer. I pin for her and she creates to her heart’s delight. It’s a great relationship we have going!

A few years ago, R12 decided to put together a “Knit Kit” for her younger cousins to enjoy using yarn. I thought it would provide an excellent model for your Adventure with Yarn.

What Goes into a Yarn Adventure Box?

• Yarn! All kinds of colors of yarn- acrylic is the least expensive and the most versatile (in my experience), but there are occasions when cotton or wool yarn is best. We’ll high light yarn choice if it’s important.
• Knitting needles– if you want your child to learn to knit
• Crochet hook– for learning to crochet
• Spool knitter– easy to learn and fun to do for younger kids
• Knifty Knitters– very easy to learn for knitting on a loom
• Weaving Loom and Bobbin– from cardboard
• Pom Pom Maker– made from cardboard
• Scissors
• Yarn needles– large plastic needle with a large eye
• Easter egg dye– if you want to try any yarn dying

R12 worked hard to provide printed tutorials and website links including good videos from You Tube for her Knit Kits.

So, what sorts of things can you do with yarn?

• knitting– the good old fashioned kind with two knitting needles
• crochet– also a long time staple
• finger knitting– great fun for beginners
• knifty knitting– requires the loom and allows kids to knit on a loom with great results. The looms come in different sizes and shapes depending on what you are making and what size.
• finger crochet– similar to finger knitting and neither require anything but yarn and know how
• weaving– on a loom but cardboard looms are pretty easy to make
• pom pom making– make little balls of yarn for all kinds of uses

If you can read these, feel free to use the directions for your own Adventures with Yarn!

Online Resources for Learning Yarn Crafts:

Craftsy– This website is dedicated to teaching crafts via video classes. We love Craftsy classes! There many class on crochet and knitting from beginner to advanced skill levels. The great thing about a Craftsy class is being able to watch it anytime from anywhere and as many times as you’d like. It’s very cost effective especially if you purchase the classes on sale. Sales happen often so I usually wait for a good one before buying. Once you purchase the class, you have access to it forever.

Crochet School– R12 learned to crochet some basics from a book, but her crocheting really took off when she was given the link to Crochet School. The videos have been really helpful to her and she reads patterns well now too.

Other Online Sources– Obviously any search on You Tube or other favorite spots will give you tutorials and resources, but the first two I mentioned have been invaluable in our home.

Books on Yarn Crafts:

• Klutz Crochet
• Klutz Knitting
• The Jumbo Book of Crafts– this was R’s source for weaving and the homemade loom

Have you ever dyed yarn?

We did a project a while ago now where we dyed yarn using Easter egg dyes. This is a definite do again! R12 has used many of her dyed yarns in projects. In fact, the orange flower below made with a knifty knitter is one we dyed together.  This project was so much fun to do and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. You’ll need wool yarn for this project because it will take up the dye- synthetic yarns do not take up dye well. If you’d like directions on how to dye yarn, click through for more specifics.

What about Yarn Crafts for Younger Kids?

There are a variety of ways you can encourage yarn fun with young kids who don’t have the dexterity yet for knitting and crocheting:

• weaving– the cardboard looms can be large and easy on little hands
• Knifty Knitters– are a large loom and even little hands can work them easily. The process is easy too. J7 is a great Knifty Knitter!
• Lacing cards– with a yarn needle and a lacing card. Or you can put tape on the end of the yarn instead of using a needle
• Plastic Canvas– You can make tapestry art with yarn, a yarn needle, and plastic canvas. Good times for little fingers.
• Finger Knitting/Crocheting– easier to get the hang of and doesn’t require manipulating needles or a hook

How about Some Cool Patterns?

• Gandalf– I bet some of you are wondering about the Gandalf at the top of the post. He’s a fine example of amigurumi (sort of 3D crochet) and she made patterns for his clothes (the subject of another post). You’ll find many Lord of the Rings characters on that blog. Have fun!
• Crochet Pattern Central– a source for lots of cool patterns
• Crochet Flower– by Eggbird Designs
• Little Stuffed Owl– at Crafty is Cool
• Owl Crochet Patterns– including the one you see in the pictures. R12 has made a ton of these which is so fun. A few people have purchased them from her and she likes to put one of the bags in with the sewing jobs she does- with her business card tucked inside.
• More Owls– did you know owls are huge right now? Who doesn’t love a cute little owl?

These are all crochet patterns that R12 sent to me for this post. She adores crocheting! You can’t find her anywhere without her yarn! Don’t forget to visit my Yarn Fun Pinterest Board for more ideas and patterns for all sorts of yarn fun.

Benefits of Yarn Crafting:

• Portable– you can take your projects anywhere from dr’s offices to long car trips, you can have your yarn with you for working.
• Keeps Hands Busy– R12 listens much better when her hands are moving. She will crochet anywhere where she needs to be still. It’s amazing how much more attentive she is when her hands are busy.
• Satisfying– you can make some really wonderful things with yarn. It’s an inexpensive endeavor which provides many hours of fun
• Improves Fine Motor Skills– you’ll need to have some fine motor ability to start, but once you get going, your skill improves all the time

This is a lovely Adventure Box Theme for a child who loves to work with her hands. My boys like to work with yarn too and do projects on occasion when they are inspired. So, it’s not strictly a girl adventure if you are looking for something a little different. Or perhaps yarn could be part of another adventure for a boy. Think outside the convention!

Yarn is inexpensive and readily available. There are tons of resources online and through library books. Yarn is easy to use and it’s very portable. Kids on a yarn adventure could go anywhere and still work with their yarn. So, how about putting together an Adventure with Yarn and see what creativity blooms!

Be sure to check out the other bloggers who are sharing a series this week through iHN’s Spring 2013 Hopscotch.