What age for various fiber arts? Felting, Crochet, Knitting, Dyeing, Spinning,Weaving

[Chocolate Lover]

At what age do you involve your children in your fiber arts interests, including: Felting, Crocheting, Knitting, Dyeing, Spinning, Weaving, Embroidery/Colcha, Sewing.
As I think about these activities they benefit knowledge and experience in math, chemistry, art and design, fine motor co-ordination, becoming project oriented, animal care for fiber animals, possibly small business skills, anatomy for making socks, mittens/gloves and hats.
I always make sure I take DS to the state fair to see the Sheep to Shawl demonstrations, and I learned to crochet at 8, while my mom, grandmom and great aunt were knitting a new baby's things that came that fall. Please don't give me a message that boys don't do fiber arts, because some of the best and most productive kids I have known in fiber were homeschool boys. But, what age for what activity?
Thanks for all input and suggestions!:001_smile:

[Scuff]

My DD just started knitting and she just turned 6. She *loves* it and is doing well. (according to MIL, who's an avid knitter. I don't know how) HTH

[mamamoon]

just wanted to chime in because i went to a fiber arts festival today. i am so insprired. i saw walls and walls of roving, and yarn. i even took my first indigo dye workshop!!
~ my 7 year old already knits, and we just did a wet felting project last week where we made pumpkins. just felted over a tennis ball, dried them, and cut the ball out. we then filled them with acorns, too cute,
fiber arts offer a wonderful world of craft options. just lovely for the fall as well.
lisa

[Peela]

I think it really depends on what level they are doing it, and how interested they are. My kids both learned how to knit about age 7 or 8 but neither knits now. About age 11 or 12 my mother taught my dd to weave on her large loom, but my mother lives on the other side of Australia, we don't see her often. I spin on and off- I would say some kids can do that younger, some later- it takes some amount of fine motor control.
I want to learn felting myself, and when I do, I will teach my kids.
I am not sure you could put ages on those things- all could be done in some capacity from age 6 or 7 upwards- very simple knitting, sewing on buttons, felting and dyeing with much supervision. As kids get older, they can tackle more complex projects or have less supervision. My teen girl picks up things very easily and I hope she will learn all those skills, but we just havent had the opportunity and I havent wanted to pay big bucks for workshops- I would rather wait until some inexpensive opportunity came along.
I also find that my own enthusiasm for fibre arts doenst necessarily translate across to my kids- sometimes they are interested, sometimes not, and as they get older I feel less like making them do something they have no interest in. My son is not so interested, though he could benefit most from the fine motor control they encourage...that is hard and frustrating for him so he tends to avoid it.

[Alessandra]

Felting, Crocheting, Knitting, Dyeing, Spinning, Weaving, Embroidery/Colcha, Sewing.

My ds -- age 8 -- got interested in weaving at about age 6 at a Japanese festival where he tried saori weaving -- I could not pull him away from the loom! At home we started with potholder loops, went quickly to a peg loom. Since his interest persisted, I got him an Easy Weaver loom (which we love). He is now 8 and still loves weaving. There is a saori class near us that has a fair number of boys in it; one of ds's friends (a boy) exhibited in a craft show.

I taught him how to knit when he was 6, because I like Waldorf stuff. I am not a knitter and used Melanie Falick's book -- it has lots of pix of boys knitting. It is hard to find book that aren't full of pix of simpering pre-teen girls --- not the role model I want for ds!!

He has tried embroidery on his own and wants a sewing machine for Christmas; and I have just ordered a crochet book. Just in case you are wondering -- he is a real boy type -- just loves doing things with his hands. And also, in case you are wondering, I am not a sewer-knitter myself (except for really basic sewing), so this interest from my ds just came out of the blue!

I'd like to try the other things you mention -- I've looked at some titles at waldorfbooks.com, but I'd love books, sources, ideas from anyone who knows about all these things. What is colcha? We just love handicrafts (as opposed to crafts) in our house!

ETA
That is so interesting that you mentioned business skills -- my ds does spreadsheets to figure out how he could sell his creations and make a profit. He also makes jewellery (glass bead necklaces - did this at age 7) that are truly beautiful and has begun using a beading loom. And does carpentry (my hobby) -- began this year, at age 8. We were at a historic fair yesterday and saw spinning and dying. DS wants sheep -- but we live in a suburb -- no farm animals.

[sagira]

My local arts and crafts shop is going to start classes like sewing, crocheting, etc. As soon as ds is 7, I think I will sign him up for a class. I believe at 7 he will be more coordinated and patient, as he's so busy and running around right now, trouble sitting still. And 7 is the age of reasoning, right? He can pick the subject.

[Karin]

My eldest started weaving potholders with loops at 6. My second started weaving about the same age (but 3 years later in real time). I remember doing crewel embroidery in ps in gr. 3, so c. 9. I also took a knitting course with my mother & sister when I was in gr 4, but kids can knit younger than that.

My girls tend to tire of this stuff quickly, with the exception of my 10 yo who loves weaving.

[King Alfred Academy]

My ds7 started "knitting" on a circle loom last year and has weaved several pot holders on the peg looms. He enjoys it and I have him do it during his quiet time as he listens to a book on tape or something.

[jenadina]

My 5yob wants me to teach him to spin, and I think he could do it on a spinning wheel (which I have; I spin for a living!) but probably not on a spindle yet because of the motor control. However, it definitely varies by child. I have a cousin (girl) whom I taught to spin on a spindle at the tender age of 3...and she made quite respectable yarn!

Spindles are cheap and easy to make, give it a try! The only reason I haven't taught my son to spin yet is because I always have work on the wheel.

As for weaving, I think rigid-heddle weaving is best for the younger kids, especially perfectionist kids, because there is not so much chance of skipped threads. There is a GREAT book available called Kids Weaving by Sarah Swett http://www.amazon.com/Kids-Weaving-Projects-All-Ages/dp/1584794674 that includes plans to make a loom from PVC pipe. I made some adjustments to the plans and made up a larger one for myself, and it works quite well.

[gamommy]

I'd say as soon as they begin to show serious interest. I started my girls off on a circle loom (knifty knitter) at around age 6. My oldest (12) is now beginning to knit more seriously and has also tackled a few easy sewing projects. My girls always work side by side with me when I sew so they're helping to piece patterns, pinning, and basting.

[Martha in NM]

Hello Chocolate Lover,

We always enjoy the sheep to shawl exhibit at the state fair too. Have you ever attended the Fiber Festival in the East Mountains? I think it is usually held in June. One of the features offered is a list of local fiber producers who open their farms to the public during the festival. Some of the farms who participate in the festival also exhibit at the fair, but it's more fun to see the animals in their usual environment.

Bethe Orell from Good Fibrations in Edgewood offers classes in the store and publishes an online newsletter which always has news about the local festival as well as others in the region. Her store is fabulous.

http://www.goodfibrations.net/index.php

Martha

PS I'm sorry it took me so long to reply to your earlier message. I haven't been spending much time online.