It seems like, looking back about two or three generations ago, every woman knew how to do some type of hand work, but somehow very few passed these skills down the next generation and, like a fad, these skills faded into the background of our history. Now it appears as though these crafts are making a come back. Young people are eager to learn all about the fiber arts and are bringing with them fresh ideas and new techniques, but who will teach them?

I was fortunate enough to be introduced to the world of Fiber Arts at very young age. I did not learn these skills from my mother or grandmother, because these skills were not passed down to them by their mothers. Instead, I taught myself from books that I either purchased or checked out of the library. Learning this way was very hard for me because I'm left-handed and most of these books taught right-handed techniques. I have only taken one fair isle knitting class.

Now, 30+ years later I enjoy teaching children in hopes of passing on the torch, so to speak. I never thought about teaching fiber arts to children until I noticed when I would demonstrate spinning, the largest interest came from children. I also noticed the other demonstrators didn’t seem interested in talking to children. I guess that was mainly because spinning wheels are, for the most part, very expensive and not a play toy. Also, you wouldn't want a child messing up good silk or angora. Another spinner told me that they just don't have the patience for children because they lose interest too easily. About this same time I noticed on various homeschooling forums, parents were posting their child’s interest in knitting, quilting, or crochet, but the parent lacked the skills to teach same. It became very clear to me there was a need not being met so, I decided to fill that need.

In January 2004, I started Children's Textile Arts, a yahoo group for kids interested in learning anything about fiber arts. The response from my local community was overwhelming and within a week the site had over 50 members within a 30-mile radius of my small farm in Maine. At our first meeting we made a drop spindle from a dowel and two CD's. It was so much fun to see the smiles on the kid's faces when they discovered they could make their own spindle and then spin their own yarn. Our second class, the kids used their yarn to learn knitting skills. As word started getting out about our group and as the group grew, I found myself teaching once a week and loving it. Lessons were always free but the kids bought their own supplies. I did contact a few organizations about donating supplies with good response.

Although it greatly saddened me, our family left Maine. I hoped, though I would not be there as organizer, we could still keep in touch and share what we were doing but the distance made it difficult. Even with the yahoo group lack of physical meetings weren’t enough to hold the group together. I am now living in Virginia and though I no longer have a fun farm for kids to visit, I always have my eyes open for opportunities to teach young people the craft I love so much. The yahoo group is still active and always accepting new members from all across the world. We have one Brazilian member and I think that’s pretty cool.

More recently I started a charity group, Kids Knitting for Kids, where kids who are interested in using their fiber skills make comfort items for kids in need. Items include knitted and crocheted blankets, teddy bears, scarves, chemo caps, and more. These items are then donated to organizations such as Project Linus, Teddies for Tragedies, the Dulaan Project, and more.

Richard Braunstein said, "It's possible to give without loving. But it's impossible to love without giving." That’s the motto for our groups. I hope you will give of yourself and consider sharing your skills in the fiber arts with a young person at every opportunity. Show them how they can use these skills to bring joy and comfort to others in their families, communities and around the world.

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Michelle lives with her husband and four children near the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. She has been involved in the fiber arts since the age of 10 and is the founder of Children's Textile Arts, and Kids Knitting for Kids; she is a home educator and enjoys writing. Her goal in life is to be an encouragement to others and positively touch lives through her special interests.

Children's Textile Arts yahoo group

Kids Knitting for Kids group