Stitch Camp: 18 Crafty Projects for Kids & Tweens - Learn 6 All-Time Favorite Skills: Sew, Knit, Crochet, Felt, Embroider & Weave

by Nicole Blum, Catherine Newman

Overview

In today’s thriving maker culture, kids are hungry for hands-on guidance in creating stylish wearables and practical objects, or hacking and customizing existing ones. Authors Nicole Blum and Catherine Newman get them started with complete instructions for mastering six favorite fiber crafts. Step-by-step photos teach kids ages 9–14 the basics of how to sew, knit, crochet, felt, embroider, and weave, plus how to make three projects for each craft. From woven patches and a knitted backpack to embroidered merit badges and a crocheted bracelet, the fresh, kid-approved projects encourage creative variations and build confidence along with valuable life skills.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781612127507
Publisher:	Storey Publishing, LLC
Publication date:	10/17/2017
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	401,200
Product dimensions:	8.05(w) x 10.05(h) x 0.65(d)
Age Range:	9 - 14 Years

About the Author

Nicole Blum and Catherine Newman are the coauthors of Stitch Camp. They are longtime friends and cocreators who have been crafting for many years with each other, their families, and groups of kids at home camps and studio workshops. Blum is the coauthor of Improv Sewing. Newman edits ChopChop, a nonprofit family cooking magazine, and is the author of One Mixed-Up Night, Catastrophic Happiness, and Waiting for Birdy. Blum and Newman live in western Massachusetts.
 

Table of Contents

Introduction: Get Ready!
Getting Started
Solo or Social
Helpful Resources

1: Sew
Getting Started
How to Thread Your Needle
How to Knot Your Thread
How to Tie Off the Thread
How to Sew a Backstitch
Project: Beanbag That Is Also a Handwarmer
How to Sew a Whipstitch
Project: Felt Envelope
How to Sew a Running Stitch
How to Sew on a Button
How to Sew a Buttonhole (or Blanket) Stitch
Project: T-Shirt Alchemy

2: Embroider
Getting Started
How to Use an Embroidery Hoop
How to Separate Your Floss
Project: Mandala Sampler
How to Sew Embroidery Stitches
Project: Art Pillow
How to Write with Thread
How to Transfer Your Drawing
Project: Scout Badge

3: Felt
Getting Started
How to Get the Sweaters
How to Felt the Fabric
Project: Arm Warmers
Project: Cut-and-Sew Mittens
Project: Monster Coin Pouch

4: Knit
Getting Started
How to Wind Yarn into a Ball
How to Make a Slip Knot
How to Cast On
How to Knit Rows
How to Cast Off
How to Weave in Ends
Project: Phone Sweater
How to Change Colors
How to Knit an I-Cord
Project: I-Cord Jump Rope
Project: Cord-Slung Backpack

5: Crochet
Getting Started
How to Chain Stitch
Project: Beaded Chain Bracelet
How to Single Crochet
How to Change Colors
Project: Pencil Roll
How to Increase Crochet Stitches
How to Decrease Crochet Stitches
Project: Hacked Sack

6: Weave
Getting Started
How to Over and Under
Project: Woven Patch
Project: Beaded Key Fob or Necklace
How to Cut a T-Shirt into a Continuous Strand
Project: Jar Jacket

Glossary
Additional Reading
Acknowledgments
Metric Conversion Chart
Index

Editorial Reviews

Teach your kids and tweens how to sew, knit, crochet, felt, embroider, and weave with the new book Stitch Camp by Nicole Blum and Catherine Newman. Each technique is broken down by chapter and has a list of materials plus step-by-step instructions with plenty of pictures to guide. Once kids have the basics, they can try fun crafts like a crocheted hacky sack or a knitted Tom hat with a pom-pom. Grab some yarn, and craft away!” — FamilyFun

“Using mostly inexpensive materials and recyclables, this colorful and well-formatted craft book introduces the basic skills of sewing, embroidery, felting, knitting, crocheting, and weaving in a peppy conversational style. Although these techniques have been around for ages, Blum and Newman utilize them in fresh ways. Projects progress from easy to difficult; examples include a beanbag hand warmer, a cord-slung backpack, and a phone sweater. Excellent close-up photos of kids and tweens, girls and boys, augment the well-written directions... VERDICT A worthy choice for libraries looking to update their crafting materials for young people. This is also a good book for older teens in need of a simplified approach.” — School Library Journal

“Accessible skill-building over a range of needle-crafts — and the delight with which the authors encourage readers to upcycle, improvise, and break the rules is utterly contagious.” — Margaret Bloom, author of Making Peg Dolls and More
 
“An endlessly joyful and captivating crafty adventure! With a warm and inviting voice, Blum and Newman empower kids to be confident and bold makers. Their projects are attainable, fun, and perfectly imperfect.” — Emily Neuburger, author of Journal Sparks and Show Me a Story

From the Publisher

10/01/2017
Gr 4–7—Using mostly inexpensive materials and recyclables, this colorful and well-formatted craft book introduces the basic skills of sewing, embroidery, felting, knitting, crocheting, and weaving in a peppy conversational style. Although these techniques have been around for ages, Blum and Newman utilize them in fresh ways. Projects progress from easy to difficult; examples include a beanbag hand warmer, a cord-slung backpack, and a phone sweater. Excellent close-up photos of kids and tweens, girls and boys, augment the well-written directions. However, the instructions are written for right handers. (The authors suggest lefties look at illustrations in a mirror.) VERDICT A worthy choice for libraries looking to update their crafting materials for young people. This is also a good book for older teens in need of a simplified approach.—Lynn Vanca, Freelance Librarian, Akron, OH

School Library Journal