the blue blog archives: mommy, where does yarn come from?

Time for first grade knitting again! This week I thought I'd take a break from forcing all my first graders to sit and try to knit and instead talk to them a little bit about all the different places yarn comes from. And who better to help me out with the question of where yarn comes from than Clara Parkes, author of the most excellent book, The Knitter's Book of Yarn!

Last year Clara played a little mystery yarn game with some of us, sending us teeny mini-skeins of mystery yarns and leaving us to test our knowledge of yarn and guess their content.

I'll be bringing in some of those wonderful yarns to show the girls in my class, so they can see the wide range of fibers that are used to make yarns. With a few additions from my stash, we can play a guessing game of our own, trying to match up each yarn with the picture of its source.

I'll have Clara's book for back-up, in case they want to know why sheep's wool is the most common and popular source of yarn (it's hygroscopic - look it up in Clara's book! - flame retardant and very resilient), whether angora comes from angora goats or angora bunnies (it's bunnies; the goats produce mohair), why alpacas spit so much (possibly self-defense against all those squealy, touchy school kids that visit them in the petting zoo), how on earth we can get yarn from a worm (the worm can secrete 800 yards of fibroin in one continuous thread!), and why you might ever want to get yarn from a yak (his rugged, warm coat can be spun into a rugged, warm coat for you too). I'll also bring my little mole book with the story of how little mole gathered up flax and washed it and combed it and found other animals to spin it, weave it and cut and sew it into trousers.

I hope it's cute enough to entertain the kids for a few minutes at least. If not, I've just got to hope that the snacks hold out long enough to get us through the period!

posted by alison at 10:22 am | in blogging about reading about knitting , first grade knitting

Comments

hi alison,
this class sounds great! you have put so much into it. adding the fiber info is so great for expanding the knowledgeof knitting , so much more than just the stitches. the little mole book will be good for bringing it down to a kid's level, but as an adult, i do love clara's book. i have learned so much from it.

i wish i could take your class.

Posted by: rachelle at January 30, 2008 11:26 AM

Actually, Alpaca and Llamas very rarely spit. If the animal is well socialized and well kept, you are unlikely to ever see a llama/alpaca spit. That being said, if they are scared, hurt, or just a very not nice animal, you're a lot more likely to see some spit (which is not in fact spit, but stomach contents...ewww). For reference, I've been collecting llama paraphernalia for about 10 years and know a few people who own llamas and alpacas (it' a funny story...one family owns a christmas tree/alpaca farm).

Posted by: Elizabeth at January 30, 2008 11:31 AM

When I was learning about knitting, I found the source of yarn fiber to be incredibly interesting, so I'm hoping your class will too. I think it will be especially effective if they get to touch the fibers and see pictures of the animals.

Posted by: Janis at January 30, 2008 12:08 PM

You're right, Elizabeth. Clara is merely speculating how the alpaca might have gotten the reputation for being so spitty. Poor maligned, cute little alpacas!

Posted by: ALISON at January 30, 2008 12:18 PM

The other great thing about that book is that it also includes knit-worthy patterns. Mega-info and patterns all in one location--yowza!

Posted by: Sarah-Hope at January 30, 2008 12:54 PM

Sounds like you're really having fun with the class. Are you finding that they have the coordination necessary to knit? My 4 year old DGS expressed interest in learning but it was clear from the onset that he just doesn't have the coordination yet. (The 6 year old is just not interested at this point.) Don't you love the Clara Parkes book? I got it for Christmas & have spent a goodly amount of time snuggled up with it.

Posted by: Donna at January 30, 2008 12:55 PM

They'll love it. I did a presentation to the second grade, and one of the highlights for everyone was the fiber show and tell. I knitted up samples of different fibers to pass around and showed pictures of the animals and talked about how we get the fiber off the animals. The kids were enthralled.

Posted by: Suzanne V. (Yarnhog) at January 30, 2008 1:10 PM

Krtek! As an exchange student, I learned Czech by reading those books to my little host brothers. I love the story where he grows flax.

Posted by: Gwendolina at January 30, 2008 2:01 PM

LOL. Love the mole book!

Hey! I know you're one busy gal but I gave you an award and didn't want you to miss it. :-)

Posted by: Laurie at January 30, 2008 4:45 PM

Have you read "Farmer Brown shears his sheep" or "Red berry wool"...sorry I can't remember the author of either off the top of my head, but these are two of my favorite titles to use when introducing kids to knitting and/or wool.
Happy class!

Posted by: Anie at January 30, 2008 4:50 PM

Great idea! Hope the kiddies have a good time guessing the sources of different fibers!

Posted by: Jen at January 30, 2008 5:47 PM

Thanks so much, Laurie - you made my day! :0)

Posted by: ALISON at January 30, 2008 7:44 PM

The kidlets might be interested in the people who spin/knit dog and cat hair, too!! Or dryer lint.

Posted by: PainterWoman at January 30, 2008 9:38 PM

The kidlets might be interested in the people who spin/knit dog and cat hair, too!! Or dryer lint.

Posted by: PainterWoman at January 30, 2008 9:38 PM

I think those are great books for first graders! I hope it went well! Sounds like fun.

Posted by: cactusneedles at January 30, 2008 10:04 PM

This sounds like a great game!! Wish I had a teacher like you.

Posted by: LizKnits at January 30, 2008 10:27 PM

Oh my goodness - the little mole book. I used to read that in the late sixties when I lived in the Czech Republic. I still have the original book in Czech and it is a prized possession. I used to translate the stories to my children.

Posted by: Raina at January 31, 2008 9:24 AM

How wonderful the children want to learn and that you have such a creative, tactical, connection. What about Kristin Nichols blog "Getting Stitched On The Farm" it is lambing season...she is awesome at real life pictures and storytelling...she lives the life you are teaching - right here on the border of Massachusetts and Vermont.

Posted by: coffeechris at January 31, 2008 9:55 AM

those photos are lovely, your class is really lucky

Posted by: juliet at February 1, 2008 5:59 AM

Hi, I couldn't believe my eyes this morning when I opened this page. The little mole book on your web site. I love this book. I grew up with it in Czech Republic. I reminded me how much I miss my country. We have beautifull books for children. I'm so happy that you have one of our books. Enjoy . Martina

Posted by: martina horvath at February 1, 2008 11:11 AM

Awww, Martina. I'm glad seeing Krtek again brought back some happy memories for you. We know the little mole from the cartoons which are shown on the German tv show, Die Sendung mit der Maus. And we got the book on a trip to Prague one summer. He's so cute! :)

Posted by: ALISON at February 1, 2008 12:59 PM