During winter we don't have so many outdoor activities because temperatures here are constantly below zero. But luckily there are tons of winter crafts and arts activities to make with kids and have cold winter days amusing. I especially love seasonal Waldorf activities inspired by nature, followed by Waldorf books that are helping us understand

We’re excited to share the third and final guest post from author, educator, and all around amazing human, Elizabeth Seward! Elizabeth brings decades of experience, and is sharing her insights into Waldorf handwork.

We’re excited to share the first of 3 guest posts from author, educator, and all around amazing human, Elizabeth Seward! Elizabeth brings decades of experience, and will be sharing her insights into Waldorf handwork.

I think this pattern is widely know but I thought I would share anyway. I like my animals to have some heft to them so I adjusted the normal pattern to reflect that. Good luck. If you are too busy to knit (or don't know how) I am putting is lamb and several horses up on my Etsy page for sale. Just in time for Easter baskets if you like :) . Sewing & filling the animal is what really takes the time. Remember to roll your wool filling around a pencil (very tightly) for the legs and let it come up and be part of the hip bone too - that will make the animal more stable. Don't forget to give him a nice round plump tummy. If you knit a dark animal - don't forget to fill and shape him with dark colored wool.

We’re excited to share the first of 3 guest posts from author, educator, and all around amazing human, Elizabeth Seward! Elizabeth brings decades of experience, and will be sharing her insights into Waldorf handwork.

We’re excited to share the third and final guest post from author, educator, and all around amazing human, Elizabeth Seward! Elizabeth brings decades of experience, and is sharing her insights into Waldorf handwork.

We’re excited to share the third and final guest post from author, educator, and all around amazing human, Elizabeth Seward! Elizabeth brings decades of experience, and is sharing her insights into Waldorf handwork.

We’re excited to share the second of 3 guest posts from author, educator, and all around amazing human, Elizabeth Seward! Elizabeth brings decades of experience, and will be sharing her insights into Waldorf handwork. (Missed part one? Click here !)

Discover the power of Waldorf Handwork in early childhood education and experience the transformative journey of creativity and growth in it.

Part of the richness of homeschooling with Waldorf is the philosophy of teaching the whole person - head, heart, and hands. One of the subjects which is taught every year from kindergarten all the way through high school is handwork. Handwork is a key subject, and not just an extra, because it is so

This is a fabulous knit horse with a wakeful spine that third graders can do in Waldorf schools. Its a great project with counting / division & with close attention to detail with that great spine. I did one at school and then I had this supper thick wool yarn that I had no idea what to do with - voila. Some folks use felt for the feet pads - you can also crochet them and I might be putting leather on the bottom of the white horse. I do think a unicorn might appeal to some as well. There is a lot to shaping the horse after it is knit and mostly sewn together. It was brought to our attention that "stuffing" an item isn't as nice as "shaping" an item. Rolling the wool in a tube before placing them in the legs - and making sure that the leg roll goes up into the horses back side/shoulder to create strength - (the look of the muscles). Here is a shot of all the projects done this past summer - 3rd and 4th grade. The hand puppets are for another post - and they are fantastic too. I love that I am apart of a program (being a handworks teacher) that teaches useful artistic and beautiful items. Our kids can do so much and are so capable and I am glad that I am not dumbing them down.

This tutorial is a perfect first loom building and weaving experience for young children, typically around age 6, who are ready to be introduced to handwork or for an older child/adult who is new to weaving.

Handwork is a subject area in you’ll find in Waldorf schools. Just like you would find math or science in traditional school settings, handwork is a staple in a Waldorf setting as well as his…

Take a little peak at some of my favourite Waldorf Inspired Spring Crafts from The Sewing Circle....Springtime SnailsThese little springtime snails are

The Handwork Curriculum at the Waldorf School of Atlanta is led by Lisa Roggow. Her loving care of the children is evident in these letters to parents of each grade. Dear Fourth Grade Parents: W…

Children will learn the in’s and out’s of weaving throughout their years at a Waldorf school, but weaving at home is just as fun and simple. Today we’re creating a DIY woven bag and exploring the different looms available at Bella Luna Toys.

Waldorf Handwork Overview with Elizabeth Seward This 3 hour workshop will introduce you to an overview of the handwork curriculum. Come learn how it benefits children by accompanying their development … Continue reading "Overview of Waldorf Handwork"

I love fourth grade crosstitch! I love how the kids know exactly what they want to do and the colors they will use...their designs are just stunning! This project ends up as a pin cushion that they will need for 6th 7th and 8th grade sewing! The measurement are 5 X 5 ", and they lay out the design on graph paper first. I think we will have some finished very soon! If they finish, then they can make a needle book...this may be the first year I have had so many done this early!

Waldorf inspired summer solstice ideas and crafts. Sun catchers and weaving activities.

I think this pattern is widely know but I thought I would share anyway. I like my animals to have some heft to them so I adjusted the normal pattern to reflect that. Good luck. If you are too busy to knit (or don't know how) I am putting is lamb and several horses up on my Etsy page for sale. Just in time for Easter baskets if you like :) . Sewing & filling the animal is what really takes the time. Remember to roll your wool filling around a pencil (very tightly) for the legs and let it come up and be part of the hip bone too - that will make the animal more stable. Don't forget to give him a nice round plump tummy. If you knit a dark animal - don't forget to fill and shape him with dark colored wool.

updated: please go to https://www.facebook.com/knittingwithchildren/?ref=bookmarks to stay abreast of a new website, coming soon, that will give you everything you need to know to teach children to knit, and support you and your children in a developmental, imaginative, gentle way. Patterns and stories included. When teaching children to cast on, I usually tell a story the day or two before about a boy with a ship. Then, I retell the story, adding instruction and supplies. I give each student a rolled ball of white yarn and one knitting needle. There was a boy who found a treasure map one day. The treasure map had a curious inscription: If you would climb Thumb Mountain, then over to Pointer Mountain soar, Scoop up the gold , under vines, back home, then treasure will be yours. This boy, when he read those words, knew exactly where to find thumb mountain. It was an easy journey for him, and he knew it well. He had a ship, and he knew just how to sail it. This is your ship. Put your slip knot on the knitting needle, with pads of fingers touching the shaft. I tell the students to hold their needles 'birds on a wire' so their fingers are a bit looser. Some want to grip the needle in a fist...help them hold their fingers over the needle like so: Now you can sail your ship up, down, and through waves. The boy knew he was getting close because he could see the beach. He then set out to anchor his ship by grabbing the line hanging from it. Then, he split the line so the boat would be steady while he was gone. At this point in the story, the tip of the knitting needle becomes the boy. Now it was time for the ship to rest and for the boy to go to the island to find treasure. He landed on the beach. The knitting needle comes forward and down. The "mountains" stand strong. Now the boy crept up Thumb Mountain, under the vines, all the way to the top, and he never fell off. He remembered the writing: If you would climb Thumb Mountain, then over to Pointer Mountain soar, Scoop up the gold , under vines, back home, then treasure will be yours. From the top of Thumb Mountain, he could see Pointer Mountain. He flew over, because he was a very special boy and could do things like that. You will notice my hand has turned to the side here. The boy is on top of Pointer Mountain. Now he sees the gold and scoops it up, and flies back to the top of Thumb Mountain. The yarn coming from Pointer has been scooped and is on its way to Thumb. Now the boy is on Thumb mountain and is ready to go home. He slides down Thumb Mountain, under the vines with his treasure, and lands on the beach. He is back home on the beach! Now take your whole hand out and pull one of the strings to close the loop. You will have two stitches on the needle now. Congratulations! A continental cast-on. Start the whole process again to cast on the rest of the stitches (there's more gold in those hills!) Eventually, instead of taking out your whole hand, you can simply sweep your thumb across to close the last loop. See knittinghelp.com for a video of the Continental Cast-On.

Nothing connects hands, heart, and head quite like the Waldorf practice of handwork. Its importance is woven into the very fabric of the Waldorf curriculum and is a practice that nurtures not just skills, but the development of well-rounded individuals. The fact that through making beautiful and enduring objects, children are at the same time learning math skills, spatial understanding, developing their dexterity, all while problem solving, makes handwork one of the most important parts of Waldorf education and one that children will use for their entire lives. Benefits of Waldorf Handwork Through knitting a scarf or crafting a wooden toy, students learn to channel their creativity into tangible forms. This hands-on approach allows them to explore colors, textures, and shapes, developing a keen aesthetic sense while gaining confidence in their ability to bring their visions to life. In a world filled with distractions, Waldorf handwork instills the values of focus and patience. The rhythmic movements involved in crafting require a child's full attention, teaching them the art of concentration. Whether it's threading a needle or carving a piece of wood, the process itself fosters a sense of calm and mindfulness. Children also learn to correct their mistakes, value hard work and develop patience. As children complete increasingly difficult tasks following small steps, they begin to feel the joy of accomplishment which creates the self-confidence needed to tackle much bigger and more complicated tasks as they progress through life. As if those overarching benefits weren’t enough, there are still more! Handwork allows a connection to the environment and helps children develop a sense of gratitude for the earth as they craft with natural materials like wool, plant dyes, wood, and cotton. Children also develop appreciation and an understanding of how to care for and use tools safely, from knitting needles to tapestry frames to early woodworking tools. And finally the big ones in the Waldorf philosophy, handwork helps children develop a sense of reverence and wonder and builds their “sense of life,” an inherent component of becoming a whole-hearted and integrated human being. Simple Ways to Introduce Handwork to Young Children With all of those big benefits, handwork is surprisingly simple to introduce at home. For young children, handwork encompasses a wide range of simple everyday activities that get children working with their hands, both through doing practical activities and more artistic ones. Examples include: kneading bread, playing in sand or mud, modeling with beeswax, drawing, wet on wet watercolor painting, and introducing seasonal crafts. Adding fiber work into handwork play, also called “soft handwork” is another way to engage little hands while promoting sensory learning. Simple ways to introduce soft handwork to young children are helping them learn how to roll balls of wool, making pompoms, learning how to finger knit, and rolling beeswax candles. As they grow and develop more dexterity you can introduce simple sewing projects, nature weaving and simple potholder loom weaving, and wet felting. Keeping a variety of handwork materials available will allow children to incorporate them into their play and continue to develop their skills. As they begin to master these early handwork skills, they are then introduced to more advanced and complicated crafts like knitting, woodworking, crochet, and candle making. Why Knitting is More Important than Handwork Every child learns to knit in a Waldorf school and they are taught to knit even before they learn the alphabet. Knitting perfects fine motor skills, has been said to improve memory, works both sides of the brain, and prepares children to be better readers when they are ready for that important step. The rhythmic repetition of knitting and crocheting enhances a child’s concentration and develops hand-eye coordination. Knitting can also help enhance math skills through counting rows and stitches, measuring out patterns, and through making three-dimensional items. As children pick out their yarn and plan their knitting projects, they develop a relationship to each color and they learn to “play” with each color and learn about contrast, tone, and shades. And when they have finished their first hat, scarf, or mittens, nothing is more joyful than the feeling of accomplishment and knowing they can work through hard things to get to the end. This simple act gives children the confidence to achieve even more challenging projects as they grow up. At Bella Luna Toys, we celebrate the deep impact that handwork makes on children. Our curated selection of handcrafting materials and kits reflects our commitment to providing tools that inspire creativity and support the holistic development of every child. From all of us at the Bella Luna Toys Team, we hope you have many days filled with crafts, love, and fresh cups of tea! Tag us in your handwork adventures @bellalunatoys for a chance to be featured!

We’re excited to share the third and final guest post from author, educator, and all around amazing human, Elizabeth Seward! Elizabeth brings decades of experience, and is sharing her insights into Waldorf handwork.

We’re excited to share the third and final guest post from author, educator, and all around amazing human, Elizabeth Seward! Elizabeth brings decades of experience, and is sharing her insights into Waldorf handwork.

We’re excited to share the second of 3 guest posts from author, educator, and all around amazing human, Elizabeth Seward! Elizabeth brings decades of experience, and will be sharing her insights into Waldorf handwork. (Missed part one? Click here !)

Welcome a new woodland friend into the family with our knitted gnome tutorial. Traveling handwork teacher Chenoa Pelligra created this whimsical doll tutorial for us, ideal for children who have already mastered a garter stitch (a regular knit stitch) and are ready to learn to purl! This gnome is created in stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row). Learning to purl can present new challenges as it can feel like the opposite of knitting and requires a new way of thinking and new hand rhythm. Here's instructions on how to get started. Materials Worsted weight wool yarn- a couple of colors for clothing and a skin tone. Wooden knitting needles US size 7 or 8 A yarn needle for sewing Wool for stuffing Knitting The entire gnome is worked in Stockinette stitch, made in 5 parts and then stitched together. The body is comprised of (legs, torso, head), 2 arms, hat, and an optional backpack for crystals and stones. Body You'll start with the foot when creating the body. Cast on 10 sts and work 5 rows.Change to desired pants/leg colorWork 10 rows, cut yarn leaving a hand’s length and push leg down to bottom of needle.Repeat for the second foot and leg.Join legs, you should now have 20 sts on your needle and work 2 rows in leg color Change to shirt color and work 10 rows.Change to skin tone and work 9 rows. On row 10 purl every two stitches together so you finish with 10 sts on the needle. Cut yarn, leaving two hand's lengths, and push to the bottom of the needle. Arms *Cast on 10 sts in shirt color Work 10 rowsChange to skin toneWork 2 rows, cut leaving a hand’s length and push to bottom of needle*Repeat from *to * for the second arm. Hat Cast on 22 sts. Work 4 rows, then knit the first two stitches together only at the beginning of each row until you only have 1 stitch remaining. Cut yarn two hand’s lengths and send the end of the yarn through the last stitch and pull tight to secure. Optional Backpack Cast on 10 stitches and work until it is a square when folded, cast off. This completes all the knitted parts of the gnome. Sewing & Stuffing Body Start with sewing the head which is a part of the main body piece you knit. Thread the yarn you left two hand’s lengths long into your yarn needle, then slide out the wooden knitting needle and carefully collect the stitches onto your yarn needle. Next pull the yarn through, and all your stitches should gather/cinch up tightly closing the top of the head. Sew using the whip stitch down the back of the head until you reach the shirt color. Stuff head. Next, we will work our way from the toes up. Gather the cast on edge on your yarn needle and pull to cinch up tightly, very similar to how we did the top of the head. Sew the leg stopping at the top. Then repeat with the second foot and leg, stuff both legs. Next sew half of the gnome’s back together leaving space to stuff the torso and then sew closed. You can shape the feet and neck with running stitches around and then pull to tighten. Arms Follow the same process as the top of the head. Sew and stuff and then attach them to the main body piece. Hat Fold in half and sew down the back seam and continue using the same yarn to sew it to the gnome’s head. Backpack Fold in half and sew the sides. Finger knit the straps and attach. Many thanks to Chenoa for creating this beautiful tutorial. You can follow Chenoa on her Instagram here.

This tutorial is a perfect first loom building and weaving experience for young children, typically around age 6, who are ready to be introduced to handwork or for an older child/adult who is new to weaving.

This tutorial is a perfect first loom building and weaving experience for young children, typically around age 6, who are ready to be introduced to handwork or for an older child/adult who is new to weaving.

Hey guys! I recently posted a picture of my daughter's latest embroidery project -- a biome map of Africa -- on Instagram and I received a lot of questions about it. So I thought I'd

This tutorial is a perfect first loom building and weaving experience for young children, typically around age 6, who are ready to be introduced to handwork or for an older child/adult who is new to weaving.

Discover the power of Waldorf Handwork in early childhood education and experience the transformative journey of creativity and growth in it.

Teach kids how to sew running stitch by hand using burlap and yarn for an easy beginning sewing lesson for children. Learning how to sew a line using a basic running stitch develops the fine motor muscles of the hand to prepare the hand for writing and more detailed handwork projects.

During winter we don't have so many outdoor activities because temperatures here are constantly below zero. But luckily there are tons of winter crafts and arts activities to make with kids and have cold winter days amusing. I especially love seasonal Waldorf activities inspired by nature, followed by Waldorf books that are helping us understand