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ABOUT THE
BOOK {from Goodreads}:
In Stitch and String Lab for Kids,
art teacher and winner of the Netflix bake-off show Nailed It! Cassie Stephens
presents 40+ inventive projects that explore everything from simple sewing,
embroidery, and weaving to string art, needle felting, and yarn crafts.
Stitch and String Lab for Kids leads children, step by step, through a
huge range of sewing and fiber art projects. As they go, they will learn a
variety of techniques, develop dexterity and coordination, and enjoy making a
variety of creative projects. Kids will employ simple embroidery stitches
to embellish a sun catcher, wall hangings, and an appliqué animal. Sewing
projects include a drawstring bag, a sketchbook jacket, and custom
plushies. Children will learn how to make custom looms to weave bookmarks,
bracelets, and even a mini rag rug. They will also experiment with string art,
needle felting, shibori dyeing, pompom animals, as well as finger
knitting, yarn art, and cool wrapping projects.
Each project includes a materials list and illustrated steps, and the
book is filled with useful tips, tricks, and shortcuts. Stitch samplers will
teach the basics, and templates are included for plushies and stuffies. Kids
are encouraged to make variations and personalize the projects to their own
style and personality.
These 44 creative projects offer a broad and rich sampling of sewing,
fabric, and fiber crafts—Stitch and String Lab for Kids is perfect
for keeping kids busy with educational activities at home, learning
techniques and experimenting at school, or having a ball at camps and
parties. Parents, teachers, homeschoolers, and facilitators will
appreciate the easy, illustrated instruction and the curriculum-friendly
format, with projects that can be completed in any order.
The popular Lab for Kids series features a growing list of books that share
hands-on activities and projects on a wide host of topics, including art,
astronomy, clay, geology, math, and even how to create your own circus—all
authored by established experts in their fields. Each lab contains a complete
materials list, clear step-by-step photographs of the process, as well as
finished samples. The labs can be used as singular projects or as part of a
yearlong curriculum of experiential learning. The activities are open-ended,
designed to be explored over and over, often with different results. Geared
toward being taught or guided by adults, they are enriching for a range of ages
and skill levels. Gain firsthand knowledge on your favorite topic with Lab for
Kids.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR {from Amazon}:
Cassie Stephens lives in Nashville and
teaches art in the Franklin Special School District. She has taught art to
children in kindergarten through fourth grade for the last 20 years. When not
coming up with fun projects for her students and sharing them on her blog and
YouTube channel, cassiestephens.blogspot.com, she's sewing up wild and wacky
ensembles to wear and enhance her student's learning experience. Cassie--who
was the winner of the Netflix bake-off show Nailed It! in Season 3-- also has a
podcast where she shares her experiences in and out of the art room. Her
podcast is titled Cassie Stephens. She is also the author of Clay Lab for Kids.
My Thoughts:
This book is filled with clever art
projects involving sewing and stitching, but the main reason I enjoyed it so
much is because of the multi-cultural projects the author shares with readers.
The book begins with an in-depth
introduction of supplies, tools, and materials and moves into the basics of
working with fabric and thread. There are lots of colorful photos and the
models include girls and boys from diverse cultures, which guarantees this book
will appeal to readers from many different groups.
The projects are divided into four
units: Embroidery, Hand Sewing, Fiber
Arts, and Weaving & String Craft. The projects are called 'labs'. In total,
there are 44 labs. The author has included safety tips and tips on how to use
recycled materials learners can find around the house such as toilet paper
rolls, paper cups, and plastic bags.
The projects include stuffies, personal
accessories, soft toys, home décor, and sewing accessories (pincushions). All
are colorful, whimsical, and appealing to middle-graders.
As I mentioned earlier, I really
appreciated learning about the multi-cultural projects in this book. Lab 25 is
a yarn wrapped worry doll based on a small hand-made doll from Guatemala. The
author shares with readers the origin of these 'healing' dolls and then
provides stepped-out photos and instructions for her adaptation.
Lab 28 is an ojos de dios (God's eye)
which originated with the Huicol people from Mexico. These indigenous people
created this project to watch over people who prayed. I remember making many of
these projects when I was a child, tween, and teen at Girl Scout camp, vacation
Bible school, and Young Life camp. It was fun to become reacquainted with the
meaning behind these vibrant yarn projects.
Lab 35 is colorful Shibori fabric which
is a method of folding, binding, and dying fabric originating in Japan. The
author suggests that learners approach this project like origami paper folding
which is also from Japan.
Lastly, Lab 44 is a lesson in Kumihimo,
a Japanese method of braided cord making. The term kumi-homo means 'gathered
threads'. The author mentioned that these braided cords were used to lace the
armor worn by the samurai—talk about capturing the attention of middle-graders!
Highly-recommended for teachers,
scout/youth camp/club leaders, and for families and adults who enjoy crafting
and learning something new.
I borrowed this book from the local
public library.
