Are you going to try out the patterns with the boys? That way you won't have to wait for L to start kids crafting.

You're devoted! Good work.

I may have to get a copy of that book to sock away for "someday" -- whether it's kids of my own or teaching or whatever.

I bought this same book for my niece last summer and then bought my own copy because it was so good. She picks out a project and I get the supplies for her and off she goes! The craft felt badges with sequins were a big hit. She's 11 and at that magpie stage.

I know I'm off-track on this, but I always hated anything 'cutesy' or frilly or lacey. I fought the world (my Mom) about wearing anything with lace or pink or anything like that. Maybe your window dreamer just wants a project that isn't 'girly'?

Cute book! I have a 5 yr old - that would be a great thing to do with her. On the knitting class front, have you thought about finger knitting? I think Knitty has a tutorial on this - they could make necklaces or bracelets for themselves... and this would equal less icord time for you.

Forget crafty little girls, I want it for me!!! That book looks awesome. I will be putting it on my ever growing Amazon wish list! :D

You definitely get the persistence prize. Teaching young kids is a special kind of art form. That child looking out the window sounds like my younger son. Poor kid. He's a type B kid in a type A family.

Before my kids (and 4-H Cloverbuds) were ready for knitting spools, they enjoyed finger-knitting - making I-cord on their fingers. I don't know why this appealed to them more; the finished product from the spool is far neater-looking. Maybe because finger-knitting yields a looser cord, they could really see it grow and that held interest. Maybe it was because they were literally tethered to their project! They just could not get enough. One other tip - I bought really wild, garish variegated or ombre yarn. Watching the colors change also held interest. As far as using the finished product...they make necklaces, belts, things for dolls, garlands, and the more motivated coiled and stitched them into mats.

That looks like a great book. Me and my 5 year old did som sewing a couple of days ago, she got a brand new plastic sewing mashine. The result is pictured in my blog :)

ick. Endless I-cord....

Incidentally, I have been considering that book for my sister. She is fourteen and has Down Syndrome, so I think it may be a little over her head....

I wish I knew! I-cord is the mindless monotony that I treasure. Let me know next time!

You are doing really well.... engaging preteens/teens can be hard.... wait till they finish something and you actually see them wearing it.... bliss....
luv Abby

don't forget friendship bracelets...girls love friendship bracelets....

You are a saint! Lucky students.

All that i-cord looks like a big pile of colorful worms! So fun! And... even as a girl, I liked the worms and picked them up and scared the other girls with them. ;-) (I grew up with brothers)

I just found your blog and I wanted to tell you I love your book! I've already made myself Ron's Ragg Raglan, my kids got the Mini-Weasley Sweater Ornaments for Christmas and the Weasley Sweater is on my list of things to knit soon- before my son outgrows it! Thank you so much for all the great projects you designed. You rock!

How funny that a group of girls would be uninterested in spool-knitting! I made miles of i-cord on mine when I was that age, and my not-quite-8yo son has about 2 metres of garishly-coloured cord hanging out the bottom of his. Two or three afternoons a week he will spend an hour or so working on it, and then it goes back in the drawer until the next time he feels like it. I've told him when he gets a long enough cord I will teach him how to sew it into a coiled hat. He's really excited about it.
See, I'm trying to indoctrinate them now, before they realise that crafty pursuits aren't cool. Bwahahahaha!

What about for the boys-make crazy legged monsters or octupus'? I am sure some of the other commentors have soem good suggestions - I am still a year or so off on kids crafts.
*Could they insert pipe cleaner or craft wire in the i-cords to make them 'poseable'?

Those I-cords can get a "little" tiring, but that pile looks really fun-great colors. I hope it all turns out great.

Don't you wish we had books like these growing up!
Your patience really shows when you're working with kids (other than your own) I bet they're having fun.

I agree finger knitting seems to hold some kids attention longer. Maybe because the results are faster with the larger loops. My son's room has everything from me teaching knitting, loom knitting and lots of finger knitting icord. They have a huge ball that they entered into the book of world records. Sometimes just the cord is enough. Good luck!
( I had the kids make needles from chopsticks and fimo and taught knitting starting with the knitted cast-on so the kids only had to pick up one thing)

Have you tried the Bond Embellish Knit for cranking out i-cord? It claims to work only on sport weight and lighter, I believe, but I have forced mine to work with dishcloth cotton in worsted weight. I think you can usually find them at JoAnn's and the like, although i bought mine on-line.