First Grade:
Almost all students in the First Grade are knitting independently! Following our knitting rhyme, the students look carefully as they go along so as not to lose any sheep (stitches) or accidentally get some from neighboring pastures (keep needles in the correct next stitch). It is fun to hear any of the students say, “Where is my sheep?” when they lose a stitch, or “How did I get this neighbor's sheep?” when they accidentally gain stitches.
Before the winter break, the class completed the first knitting project. In our school tradition, an older grade handcrafts something special for the first grader’s first project, a knitted pocket with a strap. This year, the Sixth Grade class hand-sewed small pocket babies. Each Sixth grader gave one to a First grader. This tradition is special to both the students and the teachers. It also deepens our connection and feelings of community in the grades. Next, we are taking a short break from knitting, and the students are sewing flute holders for their flutes used in Music class.
Second Grade:
The Second Grade class is working hard, and all are establishing their knitting skills, learning new stitches, and making new projects. With our gnome and fingerless gloves projects, students develop their knitting skills and learn the purl stitch. We look at the difference it makes when you knit one row and purl one row, creating a flatter pattern like in many machine-knitted products.
Before winter break, the class took a break from knitting, and the students were busy sewing finger puppets. They really enjoyed this project. In early January, we found lots of yarn that were all tangled up after the tangle fairies had a party! All students were excitedly helping to untangle the mess. Now we have happily moved back to knitting gnomes and gloves.
Third Grade:
Most Third Grade students are now crocheting our circle-shaped projects while other students continue to work on finishing last year's knitting project. Each student has developed their own work rhythm. They will work at their individual paces as they progress through the class projects: pot holder, pencil case, water bottle holder, and indoor frisbee.
During December, we paused our main projects and dedicated time to learning all about fibers. Each year, to complement our fiber study block, the Third Grade class takes a field trip to visit Angora goats on a farm. We are planning to have this trip in March; details to follow as we get closer to the spring.
Fourth Grade:
All our Fourth Grade students work so effortlessly that our lesson speeds past us, and we can not believe it is time to end. The students have all finished sewing and decorating their scissor holders and needle books and are now working on their handwork bags. For their handwork bags, they have to design their monogram or initials, which they will have to transfer onto their bags and finish the project by embroidering them. After our handwork bags, we will move to our cross-stitch projects.
Fifth Grade:
It is the time of year when the Fifth graders take a break from our main handwork projects and sew puppets from felted wool for our school’s annual Chinese New Year puppet show. Each student made their animal and helped each other finish them. It is a great opportunity to practice sewing skills. At the start of February, the Fifth graders will showcase their work as they present their puppet show written by them and spoken in Mandarin to the students at school.
In addition to their work on puppets, each student has now finished refreshing their knitting skills with their mini-me project. Many of them have started knitting socks. This project will last until the end of the school year. For some students, this complex project of knitting two socks may extend into the next school year.
Sixth Grade:
For the last few years, our school has had a tradition of an older grade’s class making a special knitting project gift for the First Grade class as they finish their first school knitting project of a pocket with a strap. This year the Sixth grade students made pocket babies, each making one for a first grade student. While this is the second year that they have made pocket babies for our younger students, we plan for it to be a gift from each Sixth Grade class moving forward. Thank you (twice), Sixth graders!
Students have also finished sewing a set of juggling balls which they are learning to use during their morning circle. The balls are formed from four triangles that, when sewn together, form a sphere. Some of the students also sewed a special bag to hold these juggling balls.
Currently, the students are working on sewing heavy babies (weighted dolls) to give to our Early Childhood classes. Many of them would like to make one for themselves, too! During the periods when we have some free time, the students work to finish the socks from our Fifth Grade year. Some students have completed knitting both socks! They were rewarded with a sense of achievement and a cute handwork sticker to acknowledge this important Handwork milestone.