Discover Waldorf Education: Knitting and Intellectual Development

[Nyree]

A lengthy but interesting read...

Knitting has recently become remarkably popular among college students and celebrities -- but it has been a pillar of the Waldorf school curriculum for ninety years. We examine the many ways in which knitting and other handwork activities stimulate intellectual development and instill a sense of achievement in the child.

Read the rest @ http://knol.google.com/k/eugene-schwartz/discover-waldorf-education-knitting-and#

[Harmony]

H wants to learn to knit. I figure if she can't tie shoelaces, knitting would be a bit hard, and once she fails at something it takes a really long time to build her confidence and get her to try again (hence she can't tie shoelaces at 6!)

[mama_bel]

I recommend a knitting helper (aka knitting nancy, french knitting tool etc) first, maybe simple crochet chains - then move on to 2 needles to knit! I have one knitting addict child who is 13 and has knitted since around 5 years old. She designs and creates all manner of toys, clothing, etc - very clever!

Personally, I can't knit! But that's a good article, thanks. :)

[Ethereal]

The girls were at a 'Steiner inspired' school this year and crafts inc kntting are a massive chunk of the curriculum. I love it :heart.

They fell in love with french knitting then moved on to knitting needles.
They all get the story version & then follow from start to finish where the wool comes from, cleaning, carding, dying etc etc. They also learn to felt.

I cannot do any of it personally :2lol.

[SeaStar]

My eldest 2 knit and I love that they do. DD3 likes sewing scarps of felt together and finger knits and I guess dd4 will be joining in soon. They all felt!

[Rinelle]

Ezri was totally fascinated with knitting during winter, when I was knitting. She tried a few times, and 'knows' how to do it, but making her fingers do it is another matter. She also gets bored really quickly, LOL, so never seems to finish a row. Finger knitting is cool though, and we made DH a scarf for his birthday with finger knitting last year.

[Aine]

ok thats it off to spiral garden to get 2 knitting nancy's willow is dessparate to learn knitting

[Harmony]

Same! We saw a nasty looking one in the local habby shop and I put off buying it, I'm sure Bel has nice ones though :)

[Harmony]

http://spiralgarden.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_3&products_id=278 and half the price of the plastic crap I refused to buy!!!

[Aine]

yep got 2 and some more gear as well a wooden teething rattle for zaan and Lyra coloured pencils and a 4 colour lyra coloured pencil sadly spiral garden could not help me with russian nesting dolls :(

[Harmony]

Ooh, russian dolls, I've seen them somewhere...try www.mywoodentoys.com.au (http://www.mywoodentoys.com.au) or www.honeybeetoys.com.au (http://www.honeybeetoys.com.au) or um something like dragonfly toys...another one I go to regularly is something like nature toys or something. eta I googled, they're at honey bee toys :)

I bought the wooden rolling pins, face painting pencils and the first issue of barefoot mag as well as the knitting helper :)

[Rinelle]

Honeybee appears to have them. Not cheap though, especially for something I think I would enjoy more than DD, LOL.

[Aine]

honeybee is over $100 drangonfly doesn't but will try first link

[Rinelle]

They had some for $50-$60 Mon? I still think that's a bit much, but still.

[Rinelle]

However, this place has them quite cheaply http://matryoshkastore.com/, and appear to be australian. Probably not as good a quality, but they have blank ones!

And this store in Brisbane http://www.matryoshkasandmore.com.au/ has some beautiful ones though they are a little more expensive. I'm sure there are heaps more on Google, and you've just convinced me I need some for Christmas too!

[Aine]

thanks for all your help. This are going to be a gift for one of willow's friends so i dontr want to pay the earth...

[mama_bel]

Thank you Mon and Nikki for your orders. :) I only have a couple of knitting helpers left now, till mid-Nov if I can even get them (they're imported from Europe as it's the only way I can get quality).

I haven't been able to stock nesting dolls because we have such strict standards about finishes (varnishes, paints) and I can't find anything which fits our criteria. One of the main reasons I bought Spiral Garden is because of all the recalls on toys with dodgy paint applied and the like... That said, we have some cute Babushka (?) Dolls at our place. But no one here eats toys anymore. ;)

However, those blank ones are a possibility! I wonder where they're made, if I can source them wholesale and what timber they're made from? Hmmmm.

[Aine]

good luck with the dolls Bel... the little girl that im buyin gfor is 6 so new eating of toys for her.. im sure i will find something even if i have to s=resort to ebay....

[Nyree]

I only have a couple of knitting helpers left now

Not any more :tongue_smilie

I'm impressing myself with my organisation for Christmas this year! :mfr_omg

[Rinelle]

That second link I posted has some blank ones as well Bel, and I think most of them are made in Russia from the Linden tree. I was reading a bit about them somewhere?