How to teach a class of new knitters

One of the most challenging issues with teaching very young new knitters is how to give your full attention to each student until s/he can practice those first stitches alone. Follow this guide to create an environment where children are occupied and motivated through a circuit that is so much like a game that everybody wins!

The goal for your first meeting will be to train each student and progress toward a rewarding project. This class format will have everyone working together, while they individually acquire the skills of the craft.

As the teacher you will need:

• Knitter's Kid's FREE Monster Mitt Wrist Muffs pattern

• a room with few distractions, like a classroom, a reading nook in the library, a Fellowship Hall, or a family room, with a chair for each student. Download the FREE PDF pattern to sew your own Knitting Circle, for an instant knitting nook, and carry-all, to use anywhere your class meets!

• a minute timer

• a needle with 20 cast-on stitches, from a bulky yarn about 2 yards long, for each student. (Learning casting on is better left to a later lesson. It is more important to get right to the fun of creating stitches.) These cast-on needles will be used on their first row, and then they will kick into full gear with both of their own needles on row 2. The concept of ownership is great for creative bloomers. It will give them an added dimension of personal investment and responsibility.

• 2 yard sticks, tape measures, or pieces of rope, knotted at the ends so they won't fray, about 2 yards long each.

• At least 360 twist-ties to bundle each student's 30 two-yard segments. Don't worry, they will be doing this during the class.

• A camera, digital would be great, because then you can easily email me a shot of your class, but a disposable will work for the class purposes. You will want to be able to print a pic of each student, as described below.

• Markers or crayons, and pens

• Half-sheets of white paper

• 2-3 pairs of scissors, or safety yarn cutters

• Extra yarn butterflies from your stash, to even out the Monster collection.

• The Student supply list downloadable PDF for this class project, which is slightly different from the "You will need" list on the Monster mitt pattern. It includes yarn choice hints and needle tips.

Although you can adapt this format to accommodate any number of knitters, it is recommended that you tackle 12 or fewer the first time. Ideally, plan for an assistant for each additional 6 students.

The Circuit

The class progresses in a continuous flow. Each ring of the timer will have everyone moving one space, like musical chairs. Tape numbers or arrows to the floor or chairs so it will be clear where, and which way to move. To get everyone through the initial knitting steps, the timer should be set for about 3 minutes for an hour class of 12 students.

The timer can either stay with one student, or it can be connected with a chair. If you have a challenging student, you may want to use the timer an enticement to join in the "game" of the circuit, allowing that student to take the responsibility of the timer. Explain both the mechanics, and the importance of the job. Offer this privilege to another student at the next class.

Spots #1 and #12 This is where the knitting happens (you're the big red dot). Assure the students that each one will have their own personal private lesson for 3 minutes. Spot #1, is for learning, Spot #12 is for watching. The student at your left (#1) will have your full attention for 3 minutes, the student on your right (#12) will get their cast-on needle, and will observe.

Spots #2 and #3 With a yard stick for each seat, or with a piece of rope as a pattern. (Check to see if an arm-span is close to the right length for your size of knitters, it's quicker than measuring against anything else!) These students will cut 30 pieces of your yarn, total, from their ball or skein, each about 2 yards long. Exact lengths are not important. It makes the finished Wrist Muffs more fun if the segments vary in length. For fun, the segments can be all put in the middle, until it is time to make twist-tie bundles at spots #7, #8, #9, and #10. The kids can watch the growing assortment of yarns. As long as the yarn is not stirred too much the tangling should not be a problem.

Station #4 Have this student turn a digital camera on herself for an impromptu first day of knitting shot to be used with the first entry in her knitting journal (more on that later).

Station #5 Knitting Journal. Have each student begin a knitting journal with a page describing why they want to knit, how old they are, and who they know who knits. In future classes you can prepare new questions for new entries, one question per class. Leave space for progress photos, and design sketches, like the one in spot #6...

Spots #6 Draw a picture of what you want to knit when you learn the stitches. Use half-sheets of paper that will be able to be mounted in the Knitting Journals.

Spots #7, #8, #9, and #10 Teach the kids how to make "butterflies" by winding yarn around their thumb and finger in a crazy-eight pattern, then twist-tieing them. All the butterflies go into a box or basket until next week.

Spots #11 Use this spot to catch-up if you need another twist-tie spot, or another yarn cutting spot.

Snack Spot (not in the circuit) This can be an incentive spot for anyone finished with bundling her yarn segments, or for a break—but watch the time! Have the kids sign up to bring group snacks.

Next...

After each student has had basic instruction, focus everyone on the butterflies in the middle, and go around the circle having each girl choose 5 different butterflies at a time until each has 30 butterflies.

By the end of the first class each student will have knit stitch basics, 30 twist-tied yarn segments, a knitting journal with it's first entry, and a growing excitement of the Monster Mitts already growing on their needles.

At the next class use the same format to keep the students focused, but use your individual time to catch problems, or have a technique of the week, for instance, Week 2 could be casting on, or purling. Adjust the Spots to reflect the activities. Have every other spot be a KNIT-spot, with the ones in between for Knitting Journal, pictures, or string games like Cat's Cradle.

You may move away from the structure of the circuit, but you may find a help line can be a good thing. A few chairs in a line leading to you, may control knit questions, and dropped stitches emergencies, and keep quieter knitters from being overlooked. Look for your stronger knitters to help out with some of the questions, if they seem eager.

For more ideas on easy kids knitting projects and class ideas, see all
Knitter's Kids links above. Monster mitts by Natalie Sorenson.

Updated September 14, 2005