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Dawn
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And if so, what kinds? Knitting, sewing, papercraft, clay? Do you do it yourself or with your kids? What handcrafts do you find most appealing to children?
I've been thinking about handwork a lot lately. I found an intersting article on Charlotte Mason and handicrafts the other day.
I think it's a nice thing to have some simple projects to be working on during the colder months - and if they can be made into gifts so much the better!
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Dawn, mum to 3 boys 
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jdostalik
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Dawn,
I love the idea of handwork. I even took a beginning sewing class to start learning the basics. I do not have any basic skills in this area! 
I have really been wanting to learn how to knit. Now that fall is approaching and I have my 6th blessing due in January (plus 2 daughters eager to learn, as well), you have inspired me to sign up for a knitting class. There is a beautiful shop 2 minutes (yes, I am not exaggerating!) from my home, called The Wooly Ewe. It has oodles of fabulous yarns and talented ladies who teach you how to knit! I mean, how lucky am I?
And Dawn, you're right--this could be a great source of handmade, special gifts for the upcoming holidays !
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Jennifer in TX
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Genevieve
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Do you count jigsaw puzzles?  I used to do many of them... all of fine art. I love doing them. Since it's harder now with the little ones, I stick to the easier 500 pieces. For now, handicrafts is doing whatever my 3 year old is capable of. As you know, Dwan, I LOVE Earthways!
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Betsy
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I am glad that you asked this question. I am considering these things for my 6 & 4 year old boy.
Some of my ideal include learning to tie knots, knitting mushroom, weaving, cross stitch, pot holders....
These are still in the idea stage, sometimes it's hard to get boys focused on handy crafts but I think these might work...what have other done?
Betsy
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lapazfarm
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I have been yearning to do some of this with my dc, but, sadly I don't have any skills or anyone to teach me. So, I am starting out with the Klutz kit for making potholders that dd got for Christmas and we have not broke into yet. We will see how that goes and progress from there!
I do know how to do some very simple macrame (how 70's of me, I know!) and could do some of that with dc. I also plan to do some of the sewing with yarn on burlap that Dawn suggests on her blog (thanks for the reminder, Dawn!) I do remember liking that as a child. I also think I remember how to make a simple loom from a picture frame so I might give that a go. Everything just needs to be low cost this year so it also will depend on supplies. Those websites with the wonderful natural fibers look fantastic, but are sadly out of our budget this year. Maybe I can make a friend with a sheep?
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saintanneshs
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I love cross-stitch and my m-i-l has given me a few lessons in crochet. I'd like to have more time for both but am usually busy reading! 
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hylabrook1
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I knit on a very simplistic level. My 5 girls do the same. The youngest 2 (others are in college) often knit during read aloud time, which they claim actually helps them concentrate better on what we're reading.
Nancy
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MichelleW
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Betsy wrote:
I am glad that you asked this question. I am considering these things for my 6 & 4 year old boy.
These are still in the idea stage, sometimes it's hard to get boys focused on handy crafts but I think these might work...what have other done?
Betsy
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At about 6/7, dh introduced my sons to woodworking and whittling (I don't think I spelled that right...). My eldest son likes to hand sew. We all like to rubber stamp and draw.
Michelle
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Kim F
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The girls and I learned to crochet two years ago. My oldest who was 10 at the time really took off and made lovely baby clothes and blankets. I do best with square shaped things lol!
We sew very basic things. Mostly skirts and hems.
We have done embroidery. They prefer the printed pictures you do in french knots and stemstitch over cross stitch which really does demand a high level of attn. Meredith] has a nice post on her blog that has pics of the embroidered quilt she and her daughter made a few months back.
The little ones like the projects at MWEI handwork
And then there is the scrapbooking. Ah the scrapbooking! The hobby that ate the house. No seriously, it's my handwork of choice. Any papercraft really. Something about manipulalating images that makes me very happy. I am a much nicer person if I have a project going. Or three <g>
Kim
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Dawn
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Speaking of handwork (and paper crafts) I got my Hearthsong catalog today which has lots of ideas and kits for children. I wanted to mention that Rose Windows & How to Make Them is on sale, greatly reduced. I thought it would be a fun project for our Middle Ages unit this year. Ds loved making Window Stars last year. 
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mary
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i so wish i were talented in this area. i dream of making crafts, but my reality is that i have so many half finished projects. i have a hanging quilt that i began in a sewing class. you were supposed to finish it during class time - my second child came early and so i missed that last class. that kiddo will be 6 in sept and the quilt is still unfinished.  i took a knitting class and was supposed to make a scarf. what i made looked more like a skirt for a barbie doll. i have dish towels and want to embroider the burgess figures on them but have yet to do it. i'm afraid to buy any more items because they just end up sitting in a drawer half finished. . .
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ladybugs
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I crochet - like Kim - square things are best..but I've made some great scarves and blankets!
I recently bought the knitting mushrooms for my children so we'll hopefully be able to do that, soon.
I also make summer nursing blankets for my friends who get pregnant and have babies. (These blankets also double up as park blankets for the park - when you want to lay baby down in the shade). I recently thought I'd start making some and trying to sell them at craft fairs. I don't know if I need a business license for this kind of stuff but I've already thought of my company's name - CHUNK OF LOVE DESIGNS!
I've sewn some dresses for my girls and we're working on some quilts, aprons and skirts. I'm a self-taught seamstress and work about as quick as a turtle...but hey, that turtle eventually finished the race.... 
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Dawnie
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I love handiwork, myself. I can cross-stitch, sew, knit, make simple bead rosaries, and make folded paper stars (with this kit from Hearthsong). I don't have as much time for that stuff as I used to, though.
I have taught my 7yod to knit, and she can do it fairly well, I think. I tried to do the folded paper stars with her last Christmas, but it was really too intricate for her. Maybe in a year or two. I've also begun to teach her simple hand-sewing, like a running stitch and sewing a seam. I used a few of the lessons in Sewing With St. Anne. I plan to work more on this with her next year, along with simple embroidery (which will be new for me, too!). Grandma has taught my 7yod to crochet a chain stitch. I don't crochet, so if she wants to learn more, Grandma will have to teach her!
One thing I've learned is that my dd doesn't have to be making anything to enjoy the process. When she was beginning to learn to knit, she was happy just to knit swatches. She's been happy to sew running stitches until she runs out of thread on a piece of scrap fabric. Now, she has almost finished a knitted headband for Grandma. It's funny, b/c you can see the progression from sloppy knitting to tighter, more consistent stitches in the headband--but Grandma will be happy because her dear granddaughter made it!
Knitted dishcloths are fun and quick to make--here is a site full of FREE patterns, ranging from simple to difficult.
I learned to knit just from a simple how-to-knit book I picked up at the craft store. I've also checked out LOTS of knitting books from my local library. A good one for beginners is The Complete Idiot's Guide to Knitting and Crochet. I also really liked Knitting for Baby.
Both my older daughters (they were 6 and 3 at the time) helped me to make simple bead rosaries for family and friends last Christmas. They couldn't make the knots, but they really liked stringing the beads onto the cord. They also helped me sort the different colored beads into an organizer box (you know, the kind w/ lots of little plastic dividers?). We learned to make the Rosaries in a workshop through our homeschool group, but here is a site where you can download free instructions and order supplies. You're supposed to donate the rosaries you make to the missions, though--that's why they offer their supplies at such a low cost. You can make Rosaries as gifts for family and friends--read the website for the details. They just don't want people ordering their supplies and setting up a rosary-making business. I have a few other links for Rosary-making supplies, if anyone is interested.
Gotta go!
Dawn
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Wendi DeGrandpr
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I knit - more sporatically than I would like but in the summer the garden takes priority. I also enjoy cross stitch but haven't done any for quite a while. I find knitting very relaxing and absolutely love knitting in the evenings during the fall and winter. I think it feeds my instincts to be inside and cozy during the cold nights. I am not quite ready for the cold nights yet so I will stick to freezing veggies in the evenings.
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Wendi
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Meredith
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I love handiwork too and have always sewed, just recently took knitting back up and can embroider as well. My dd loves to do all these too, so it's fun to share that with her. My ds 7 learned to knit this past winter and he's pretty good.
I do think it's very important for the dc to see mommy doing "her" handiwork/crafts as it motivates them as well. Hope to do lots of arts and crafts this fall as well as we settle into a new learning routine!
Great thread here And thanks Kim for the mention, we really need to finish that project, and I just fixed my sewing machine so here's hoping...
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Cici
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I used to be a handwork-o-holic. I can crochet (but never moved beyond the zigzag afghan), sew (I had a cheapy sewing machine that broke a few months ago and that's on hold), cross stiching is fun, I remember doing some embroidery work with my grandmother when I was younger - I might need to pick it up again for a few Christmas gifts, of course the scrapbooks are here, too.
One thing I never learned but have always wanted to do is knit. I think I'll start out hand knitting with dd.
Oh - but do I DO this stuff? Not really since dd was born, especially not since ds was born, and I'm wondering how soon after this next one comes!
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Dawnie
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Cici wrote:
Oh - but do I DO this stuff? Not really since dd was born, especially not since ds was born, and I'm wondering how soon after this next one comes!
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Cici,
I've found knitting to be easier to do w/ small kids around than sewing. When you sew, you have to get out the machine, your box full of notions, your fabric, your pattern, etc., etc., etc...When you knit, you need a ball of yarn, knitting needles, and your pattern. You also need a few things like small scissors and a tape measure, maybe a yarn needle, and some stitch markers, but I carry all that stuff in a little cosmetics bag. My knitting stuff is very portable; my current project goes in a canvas bag. Not so for sewing projects! I can knit just about anywhere and can put the project down at almost any point. I usually like to finish the row I'm knitting before I put it down. Sometimes I knit during the kids' naptime--of course, now I'm napping with them since I'm pregnant! I knit in the car on long trips (while dh is driving, of course!). Once the baby is born, I'll knit while I'm nursing! This is a lot easier w/ circular needles or 8" double pointed needles than straight 14" needles, though.
I do have to make sure I put my knitting away, out of the dc's reach when I'm done, though--my toddler has been known to pull my work-in-progress off the needles and unravel the yarn!
Dawn
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Betsy
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+JMJ+
My very favorite handicraft is to make wire Rosaries. I have had this hobby/apostolate for some time now and I have mastered the craft of making beautiful wire wrapped Rosaries with gem stones that can't be broken (at least very easily).
The best compliment I have ever receive was from a newly ordained Priest whose Rosary I had made (it was bronze with tiger eye beads…very stunning), and he said, “This Rosary is great, if I am ever climbing Mt. Everest and someone falls I can let out my Rosary to help them!!!”
I get so discouraged with Rosaries that break!!!
Betsy
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Victoria in AZ
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Photo scrapbooking.
Years ago I did a large cross stitch of the Last Supper.
Failed at knitting, crochet and sewing, but still have them as goals in my life!
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Victoria in AZ
dh Mike 24 yrs; ds Kyle 18; dd Katie 12; and one funny pug
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Karen T
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I've always done some sort of handwork - I can't watch TV at all without something in my hands. I used to cross stitch a lot but once I had little kids around it was just too much trouble usually to have it out and have to pack it all up (I did BIG projects) frequently. About 7 yrs ago I got back into sewing, but it's mostly by machine, although I occasionally do some handquilting. I used to crochet also (my mom taught me at about age 7) but last year I finally taught myself to knit, and that's my usual handwork now.
Interestingly, I was learning while Pope John Paul II was dying and also Terri Schiavo was in the news, so now i can't pick up my knitting without thinking of both of them.
Here is what i used to teach myselfKnitting Help videos
along with a very simple book from Walmart (I can't believe I'm knitting)
I have taught all 3 of my kids to sew - my oldest ds, now 13, has pieced a patchwork quilt (never finished though) and can sew on his boy scout patches, etc. My 6.5 yo ds recently made a pillow from patchwork squares, and my 4.5 yo dd just finished a doll pillow from squares last week. Both of the youngers are so proud of themselves and have big plans to make something for their grandmother for Christmas, etc.
Dd wants me to teach her to knit, but i don't think she has the hand control or the patience yet.
for those of you who want to knit but are intimidated by holding the needles, etc. you might want to try the circular things with spikes on them - kinda like a large knitting mushroom and works the same way but they have lots of pegs vs. just the four. There are lots of patterns for them and they come in different sizes. I even saw a book from the library that was about making your own using large cans and nails, and had various projects for kids (wish I could remember the name)
Karen
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Topic: Do you do handwork?
