A few finished Treasure Bags

1st and 2nd Grade treasure bags

Almost finished with our first handwork!

Almost all of the students at Prairie Moon are almost finished with their first handwork project!  Yay!  They are so eager to sew together their treasure bags and Gnomes.  Not yet I tell them.  I am waiting for everyone to be finished with the knitting part of their work.  Those who have quick fingers are knitting a square or two for a quilt.  This will hopefully be contributed to the Winter Light Faire. 

Thank you to are volunteers for 3rd/4th grade for the beautiful handwork bags!  (photo soon!)

Next up in our 1st/2nd and 3rd/4th handwork classes we will try to incorperate purl and stocking stitch by knitting small animals!  5th/6th will be exploring knitting in the round possibly by making a hat! 

Thanks again to our handwork volunteers.  Parents please feel free to contact me if interested in volunteering in our handwork classes I am at school on Tuesdays and Thursdays until the end of the day. 

Ms. Raven

handwork progress at Prairie Moon

So the year is going by so fast.  It's already the middle of October, wow!  Like I needed to remind everyone that the busy holidays are approaching. 

Well teaching handwork has been rewarding.  I feel I am learning more than the students.  I am constantly learning about  how the classroom enviroment works best and how students learn handwork.  Some students are quicker at knitting than others so I have been on my toes with the keeping them interested.  Students who are finished making their treasure bags are knitting a square for a blanket.  A few have finished their first square and will be starting a second.  The more squares the better! 

So 5th and 6th grade Gnomes are coming along!  I have realized that I might be doing some knitting for a few students just to help them.  Their are several pieces to knit for Mr/Ms Gnome, so I will be doing some Gnome knitting at home. 

I am realizing that I need to set a goal for some students.  Maybe this will help with are knitting progress!

Well tell next time!

Ms. Raven

Prairie Moon School handwork for August/September

In every class we greet at the door, say our beginning verse, are given simple instructions sometimes a story and then our work begins. Then we close with a verse as well.

In 1st and 2nd grade handwork we have been making simple Treasure bags which hang around the neck. These small bags consist of the knit stitch, changing colors, and simple sewing (overcast stitch) and finger knitting a long chain for a beautiful matching strap. We have also been finger knitting long chains for future projects. Finger knitting helps the students with their knitting with needles.

In 3rd and 4th grade handwork we have also been working on making Treasure bags which are the same as the 1st and 2nd grade bags. Some students have been learning how to purl too. We have also been working on finger knitting to help students with their knitting dexterity.

In 5th and 6th grade we are making adorable Gnomes. To make these Gnomes students must count stitches, learn to bind off, change colors, purl and do some simple sewing. We have been working on documenting and drawing out our patterns for our work as well.

For our next projects in all classes we will be incorporating and exploring felting.

First projects with Ms. Raven at Prairie Moon

I just counted up the weeks that I have know been teaching handwork at Prairie Moon School and was surprised that it has only been three weeks. It feels like I have been their twice that long. Well it has been fun. All classes 1st- 6th are remembering or just learning how to knit. You know its like riding a bike, once I reminded them how to cast they were ready to knit. Those whom are just learning are picking up quickly.

We are beginning our first projects right away. I realize how important it is for many to have that quick satisfaction. I must admit I can be like that sometimes.

First through fourth grade will making a small treasure bag to keep special
treasures in. I have changed the pattern for the 1st and 2nd to be just a simple rectangle knit to be about eight inches and folded and sewed up on the sides with a little flap in which we will add small round wood buttons to close.
I told the first and second to make to finger knit chains for keep and for our "future project". We will use one of those chains for our treasure bags.

Photo to come!

Fifth and Sixth will make a Gnome. I wanting to finish mine this weekend to show the class to get them excited. I am excited! I am using a pattern that I found on MaeheGirl blog. Thank you! This pattern is a sew up pattern not in the round. I think our next project I want to explore handwork in the round.

Photo to come!

The teaching path

Long time no post! I started a new job. I am a part-time teacher, handwork teacher at Prairie Moon Waldorf School in Lawrence Kansas. I was extremely scared about this new job. I was so nervous the week following my interview at Prairie Moon School. My fear was more so, cause I have never taught, plus at a school that has a curriculum that is about creating well rounded creative, able, individuals. I think I knew I was supposed to do this job. Their were so many signs not only that, I really have been following a certain path.

I teach combined grades 1st and 2nd, 3rd and 4th and 5th and 6th. Twice a week the students learn handwork at Prairie Moon. Prairie Moon is growing and I realizing that is going to be much different teaching handwork than those Waldorf schools which have been established much longer. I have many challenges ahead of me and am really excited to meet those challenges.

I really love getting to know and grow with the students at Prairie Moon. I hope to be able to post more often about the our progress with handwork to help others like me who are new to handwork in a Waldorf school.

adding a link to Etsy

So I have not been so good about updating this blog, but no knows I am keeping a blog. I am adding a link to my etsy so those of you who enjoy what I do can enjoy the posts that I write.

So I will do that now!

Ok, so sorry I did not get to post as soon as I wanted to. Now here is the hard part trying to figure out what to write about. I Know, I will possibly be volunteering on a small farm. Pin Wheel farm is the name. At this farm their are several sheep and a Llama. I am so excited to be able to have this opportunity learn what it takes to have a small farm.

I can say that I know a little about gardening. I am apart of Faith Community Garden located at 1020 Kasold Dr. We are heading into our second year and I am more excited this time around cause I know what to expect. So now that I can grow my own food would like to learn about how and what it takes to take care of farm animals. Sheep means wool. Wool means yarn! Although that means I will have to learn how to spin, that's fine though I have a friend that will teach me.

Their seems to be a theme here, right. I am really learning to enjoy a more simplified sustainable life. Let me say its not easy but, it is so much more enjoyable.

I do have a part time job. I work in retail and do really enjoy the people I work with. I was a full timer at this job but when I was finishing up my last semester of school at KU I decided I need to just start doing what I love. I started Only One Hook, my shop on etsy. I can't say that I have really been successful at it when it comes to selling handmade crochet items but I needed to just jump right in and figure out what I love to make and how this business of selling art works.

I really feel blessed to be able to garden, crochet and volunteer. I can't wait to get my first payment of wool from Pin wheel farm. Yarn is expensive, if you buy good quality wool yarn. I really want to incorporate recycled and sustainable yarns into the different lines of crochet items sold at Only One Hook. I care deeply about the environment and want to do my best to not add to the mess.

If you live in Lawrence area and care about community and sustainability looking to garden? We have lots of room, hands and knowledgeable friends to help you start. Gardening is the easiest way to make a difference. Oh and so is buying local and handmade products when possible. This one of the other reasons Only One Hook began.

Thanks and until next time
Raven

Only One Hooks 1rst blog

I am very excited to be able to have outlet for my creativity. I am able to do that now that I have a shop on Etsy. You can find my shop by clicking on this link onlyonehook.etsy.com. I am going to be able to have an outlet for some of the other crochet items that I design and make via this blog.
This blog will also be a way for me to write about my inspirations and the other reasons I like to create.

First let me tell you what you will find in my shop. I create pillow, cowls, and berets. I will have some other items that are kinda random but that is how you know I experimenting with a design. As I write this I realize that this is going to be very helpful for me. This blog will help brainstorm and will act as a sorta sketch book for me.

Well I am going to try and not spend to much time on the net as I feel I have a lot of crocheting to do but I will add more before the weekend.
So until next time, goodbye!