1. hobbies and interests
2. arts and crafts
3. knitting

Craft Club Handbook:
Table of Contents
Project Outline & Aims
p.03 The Volunteer Job Description
p.04 Using the Website
p.06 The 6 Week Craft Club Plan
p.08 Extra Project Ideas
p.10 Welcome to Your Club
p.11 Week 1: Casting On
p.14 Week 2: Knit & Purl
p.16 Week 3: Combinations of Knit & Purl
p.18 Week 4: Increasing & Decreasing
p.20 Week 5: Crochet
p.22 Week 6: Finishing & Photographing
p.24 Examples of Projects
p.26 Problem Solving
p.27 Diary/Notes Section
p.28 Going into Schools
p.29 Planning & Evaluating
p.30 Equipment & Materials
p.31 Craft Club Volunteers: Training Days
p.32 How to Hold Your Own Cascade Training Session
p.33 Sources for Further Research
p.34 FAQs
p.36Forms
p.02
1
Project Outline & Aims
Welcome to Craft Club: the national campaign that enables craft.
The Crafts Council promotes the value of craft to develop future
makers and audiences. Craft Club’s Knit1, Pass It On campaign has
shown how much children enjoy yarn crafts. Knitting and crochet
for example provide not only a sense of achievement but boost
co-ordination and improve dexterity, as well as developing core
skills such as maths and handwriting.
Craft can help to create links between school,
home and work and between generations and
communities. Engaging young people in craft is vital
to encourage innovative and creative thinking and
to open up career progression routes. Working with
the hands is a life skill that can be useful in all
walks of life, from becoming a designer and maker,
to being a surgeon or baker, and even to sewing
on your own buttons.
Knit 1, Pass it On was the first project for Craft
Club now joined by Hook 1, Pass it On. Clubs offer
good value, accessible and creatively limitless craft
projects for schools. Members are able to sign
up to the website and upload their own patterns,
plans and ideas, so with your help we will collate
a library of resources.
Vocational and practical learning are too often
cited as the poorer relation to academic studies.
Practical hands-on learning is about much more
than learning how to make a living and the brightest
young people benefit as much as much as their
peers. Haptic learning is stimulating to more
of the senses and more of the brain, delivers more
cognitive development than other types of learning
and improves levels of achievement across all
subjects. A narrow subject curriculum that limits this
kinaesthetic learning is a barrier to achievement for
specific groups of pupils, particularly boys.
This Handbook will give the volunteer all the
information necessary to set up a Craft Club,
what you will need to do and who to contact
and a six week plan.
Delivered by the Crafts Council in partnership
with the UK Hand Knitting Association (UKHKA)
and the National Federation of Women’s Institutes
(NFWI), Craft Club helps to give young people
access to a full range of fun and rewarding craft
projects as part of their cultural learning. We aim
to unite skilled and enthusiastic volunteers with
schools through after-hours clubs and with young
people and their families in museums,
libraries and galleries.
2
Using This Handbook
This Handbook outlines the practicalities for fulfilling
your role as a volunteer. However, please regard
it as a guideline, as circumstances will be different
for each group, and each set of individuals. It is
designed so that pages with how-to information
are photocopiable for you to share with the rest
of your club, as well as the forms which you will
need to copy.
The Volunteer Job Description
Volunteers play a key role in the successful implementation
of Craft Club in our local schools and venues, and for that
we – and the children, young people and families you are
supporting – are very grateful! As a Craft Club volunteer,
you will already be equipped with craft skills such as knitting
or crochet, and you will be passionate about passing on these
skills to others.
Volunteers of Craft Club include: parents, carers,
siblings, school governors, local craftspeople,
community volunteers, WI members, yarn shop
owners, knitting group members, teachers, school
support staff, student-teachers, teaching assistants,
and other people managing clubs in venues such
as museums, libraries or galleries.
Volunteers can attend our free training days, and
receive information about how Craft Club works and
what they need to do set up their own club. We teach
trainers about what they can expect when working
with young people, bring them up to date on the
legalities of safeguarding children, Health & Safety,
and provide a place to share creative ideas.
After the training day, our new Craft Club
Champions then return to their local areas to “pass
it on” to others so that this learning can be spread
to as many interested people as possible. This role
is invaluable as the more volunteers we have the
more people there are to share craft skills
with others.
What You Can Expect
Volunteers usually give a few hours of their time
on a weekly basis to make a club happen. This
involves travel time getting to and from the school
or venue, as well as time to prepare materials and
the activities before each session and the session
itself which may be between 1 and 2 hours. The
more help you garner from fellow crafters, parents,
and teachers at schools, the easier it will be for
all involved to make clubs run smoothly.
Of course the young people will love learning from
you, but there may also be benefits for the volunteer.
Connecting with your local school opens doors to
new social situations and links with your community,
giving a sense of purpose with rewarding results.
‘Recycled Rainforest at the NEC’,
Adrian Burrows, 2009
‘Learning to finger knit’,
Adrian Burrows, 2009
3
Using the Website
www.craftclub.org.uk
The Craft Club website, is the place for students, volunteers, and
teachers to find out more on how to get involved and set up Craft
Clubs and access some great resources. Simply sign up.
Using the website
Competition
Anyone can browse the site but to contribute you
have to log in. By clicking on the ‘Join Up’ button,
you can follow the simple steps to sign up with
Craft Club. Read the descriptions to find out what
kind of member you are: a volunteer, a teacher
or professional educator or a young person.
Once you’ve joined you can access everything
that the website has to offer.
Every term a well-known maker or celebrity
crafter is invited to select their favourite Craft
Club image from the gallery. Each winning snap
will feature on our website for the duration of the
half-term, next to a Q&A with the maker about their
choice, and the winning club will be awarded
a great Craft Club goody box as a prize. We will
also highlight other national schemes through
the website so your club can get involved.
By clicking on the Community tab, you will
discover a wealth of resources to tap into! This
is your hub for all things craft. Members have
free-reign to show off their great projects, ask
for advice and support others when they need
a helping hand. The site is moderated so that
it is a safe place for young people and we ask
everyone who signs up to respect other members.
If you’re not joined up yet, then have a browse
of the site and simply sign up to join in!
Capture It
With mobile phones and media devices making
it easy to record video clips, why not record your
making process to teach other Craft Clubbers
– or simply to show off your work! Upload all of your
craft-related videos here – it could even be a video
of you and your friends chatting about a project
you did recently. Images won’t be uploaded straight
away: as a safeguard they need to be moderated
by the team before they are posted.
Here is what is available to you: Gallery
This is an ever-expanding online showcase
of Craft Club creativity. All Craft Clubbers are
invited to log-in and share images of their craft
projects, or upload step-by-step pictures
of making techniques.
4
All images need to have the permission of the people
in them in order to be shown. You’ll find a ‘consent
form’ at the back of this book which you can fill
in and send back. Many schools will have a broad
permission policy which most children are already
signed up to. If you are in doubt stick to images
of the creative work, and people’s hands only.
If you have any questions or need help
getting started contact : knit1@craftclub.org.uk
Forum
File Transfer
This is your space to chat and socialize with other
crafters. Perhaps someone has knitted a phone
cover… so how did they do it? What inspired their
designs? This is the place to share ideas and ask
questions. You can also put out announcements for
what you are doing, any events or calls for
volunteer help in your local area.
This is the place to find all the forms for
downloading as well as guidelines, project
plans and ideas. If you are a volunteer that
is ready to set up a club, everything you need
to start is here! You’ll find knitting patterns,
teaching plans and ideas, along with the Craft
Club poster to print out and put up in your
school/venue.
Upload Area
This is the one-stop station for uploading all
of your files to share with others. You can
share a pattern, picture or film here.
Craft Map
Get your Craft Club on the new map. If you
are looking for a club or school you can search
by postcode for all things crafty: events, schools,
clubs, shops, museums, and much more.
www.craftclub.org.uk
www.craftclub.org.uk
5
The 6 Week Craft Club Plan
It is always a good idea to have a plan in place when you are
starting something new. We have outlined some project ideas that
will last up to six weeks to complete with your pupils just to get
you started. Craft Club welcomes all kinds of craft, but we will
use knitting as an example as it is a great yarn craft to begin
with as it is so popular and accessible.
Using the 6 Week Plan
In each session you should have available
some cardboard or plastic rings for making
pompoms and a couple of sets of knitting already
cast on and started for people to pick up and
practice on.
This plan is designed so that each week you teach
a new knitting stitch or technique. However everyone
in your Craft Club will work at different paces and
enjoy different things so you will find that some
people want to practice knitting stitches each
week whereas others will zoom ahead to moss
stitch and cables.
If anyone in Craft Club is having a difficult time
perhaps encourage them to take a break from
whatever they are doing and have a go at something
else. For instance try crochet, making pompoms
or finger knitting. Some people like to crochet more
than knit and vice versa. It’s really important to
present all your materials so that they look really
inspiring. If you do this it will make everyone want
to knit – they will not be able to resist. Take some
time at the beginning of each session to arrange
your yarns and needles by size or material.
Whatever you think looks best.
6
A well planned session at the
Craft Revolution in Brighton
Photo: Helen Pillot De Chenecey
Water keeps everyone’s brains sharp and bright
and a biscuit or snack will maintain energy levels
– as knitting can be quite tiring – so provide
refreshments if possible.
Before you begin put up a poster in a prominent
place in your school. You can find a downloadable
Craft Club poster in the file transfer area
of the website.
Craft Club Knitting Basket:
What You Will Need
• Selection of needles
• Crochet hooks
• Yarn selection
• Needle gauge
• Pompom rings
•Scissors
• Darning needles
• Paper and pencils for counting stitches
and drawing out ideas
• Pins and pin cushion (pins with colourful round heads are good)
• Knitting books (see books list)
• A good picture book of whatever takes your fancy (nature, circuses, animals, portraits, beautiful knitting examples
of Fair Isle is always a favourite)
to take inspiration from
There are many choices of yarn available to you – but as Elizabeth
Zimmerman says wool is a pretty good choice. “Soft wool from the
simple silly sheep can be as fine as a cobweb, tough and strong as string,
or light and soft as down. There are scientific reasons why wool is the best
material for knitting, and into these I will not go. I only know that it is warm,
beautiful and durable. Woollen socks never become cold and clammy,
however wet. A woollen sweater is so water-resistant that when dropped
overboard it floats long enough to give you ample time to rescue it.”
(E. Zimmerman - Knitting without Tears p.2)
What Yarn to Knit With?
You could choose plant fibres like cotton and linen;
animal fibres from sheep and silk worms; man-made
fibres; acrylics and other synthetic fibres. Check
the ball band or ask when you are buying your
yarn what kind it is.
To gather materials for your club you can ask
if the school has a budget for yarns, but the chances
are you will have to improvise. Charity shops and
scrap projects are a good source of inexpensive
needles and yarns. Old curtains are great for cutting
up for large scale projects. There is a lot of scope
in asking parents to donate materials from home.
Many of us are guilty of having a huge stash
of yarns that could do with a good home.
If you buy brand new wool it will often recommend
a size needle to knit with – but you can knit with any
size needle as it will just change how loose or tight
your knitting is. Play around and see how you would
like your knitting to look.
Real wool comes from real sheep
Photo: The Campaign for Wool
From left to right, Wills and Kate
souvenir gloves, Berry, and Mono Cat
by Donna Wilson
Photos: Gareth Hacker
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Extra Project Ideas
If your group’s skills have advanced enough, this is a great
project to try! If you want your club to make something
together – try a knitted web. The idea is to knit together
places, people, objects, and link things together to make a knitted
installation. You could be really ambitious and try and knit
buildings or trees together or it could be as simple as knitting
lines to join up windows or even each other.
A Group Project - The Knitted Web!
Find a space in the classroom or in the playground
that is out of the way where you can establish your
web. Start off by making the framework and invite
the group to add to it.
It is a very free form project and every club will
produce a different web. The beauty of the knitted
web is everyone, from complete beginners to the
more experienced, can contribute.
Key elements of the web are finger-knitted cords.
Imagine you are a spider spinning your web…
these cords form the basis of the web, then you
can add in any other bits of knitting you want
to make. You can add pompoms, French knitting,
test pieces of knitting, a long scarf, pictures,
knitted letters or whatever you like – let it all get
trapped in the web so that you create a whole
environment out of your knitting that links
together all the members of your club.
Extra Ideas
Detail of a knitted web garland
South Hill Park
Photo: Shane Waltener
8
Modular projects are great for working on as a whole
group. If everyone knits a small square they can
be joined together to make a blanket or a tree cosy
for the playground, encouraging a little yarnbombing,
and making the club visible to the wider school
or community in the process.
Finger knitting and pompom making are
alternative activities that are especially good for
very young children or those who are finding it hard
to get to grips with needles. They are also good if you
don’t have enough needles to go around.
Detail of a wonder web
Photo: Shane Waltener
Creature by Donna
Wilson Photo: Gareth Hacker
You should keep the materials out for these
activities each session so members can have
a go or pick it up when they want a break from
knitting. Or you might find that some club members
just love making pompoms and finger knitting
and they become really good at it and that is what
they want to do each week, which would be good
because then you would have loads of pompoms
to accessorise with. Long bits of yarn are great
for making pictures. Having lots of pompoms is great
for accessorising simple knits and lengths of finger
knitting are good for making pictures or decorating
the room.
Finger Knitting
This is really quick and easy knitting and highly
addictive. Finger knitting makes long chains
of knitting that can be great to use in your knitted
web or simply to make lovely strands for braiding
or using as decoration.
Pom-Poms
These are so easy to make with scraps of yarn.
Cut the templates out of stiff card, two per person.
If you make them in the shape of a large C with
a gap, rather than a whole circle, it is much easier
to wind. Wind the yarn around the 2 halves until
it is good and fat. Then cut around the edges
and tie the 2 halves together, then you will
have your pompom!
Pom Poms
Photo: Crafts Council
Recycled Rainforest Project
Lindens Primary School
Photo: Adrian Burrows
9
Welcome to Your Club
Welcome to the first week of Craft Club: Knitting
• The atmosphere should be fun and friendly.
• If you can provide refreshments great!
• Lay out all your materials
(see Craft Club Knitting Basket)
so that they look exciting to work with.
• Make members name badges or get them
to make their own badges or stickers.
Finger knitting is really quick and easy to pick
up. It is probably the easiest type of knitting. You
can make chains and scarves with it and it is great
for beginners getting started.
Finger Knitting
There is a lovely film about finger knitting
on the website. (See www.craftclub.org.uk/video)
Start them off with chunky yarn and set them
on a race to knit the longest length of knitting.
After your make-the-longest-scarf competition,
there are plenty of fun things to do with the results:
• Use as a super chunky yarn to knit with ‘broomstick’ needles
• Weave the strands of knitting together
to make a rug for the classroom.
A general recommendation for working with
all children is to provide lots of opportunities
to change task. Short goals are a good idea – for
example to complete 2 knitted rows and then build
up to more. A change of scene or task can also help,
so have different projects laid out so they can pick
and choose. Practice taking breaks and exercising
wrists and hands and shoulders and finally having
exciting books and resources on hand. Have fun!
Start by finding out who is experienced and who
is a beginner. Unless you have a lot of volunteer
help see if you can partner up experienced
knitters with beginners.
The first week is about beginners getting started
and the experienced knitters helping them along.
If everyone is a beginner in the club you will
be teaching each other, discovering what
is difficult together and problem solving
dropped stitches and tight tension.
The aim of the first session is simply to get
knitting – not to worry too much about what
you are making, though what you begin might
become the basis for a scarf or blanket.
Club members should chose yarn and
needles to work with or they may have
brought their own.
• Make a picture for the school
• Wrap a tree or a lamppost in the playground
However many volunteers you have you will always
need more for beginners. If there are children who
are more advanced, they will be good teachers too.
The experienced knitter should demonstrate casting
on for instance, then let the beginner have a go. Talk
them through it. If they find it difficult demonstrate
again slowly. The person learning should sit next
to their instructor and watch their hands from the
same angle that they will be casting on from. If one
of you is left-handed you can sit opposite each other.
Bamford Primary children displaying their finger knitting
Photo: Claire Hoey
10
Week 1:
Casting On
Making a Slipknot
The slipknot is the first stitch of your knitting.
1.
Make a loop by passing the right side
of the yarn over the left.
2.
Take the tail end and make a second loop
through the centre of the first loop.
3.
Pull the tail end to secure the slipknot.
Now put your left needle (or right if you are left
handed) through the slipknot and pull it tight,
but not too tight! Now you are ready to cast on.
11
Week 1:
Casting on With Two Needles
1.
Put the right needle into the loop so that it passes
under the left hand needle. You are forming a cross
with your needles, and the right hand needle
is at the back.
3.
Put this new stitch on the left needle,
next to the previous stitch.
2.
Wrap the yarn around the back needle coming
between the needles. Take the yarn through the first
loop with the back needle. This is your new stitch.
4.
Now you have two stitches. Repeat by putting the
right hand needle into the last stitch on the left
hand needle, and keep making stitches until you
have enough.
Knit – in knitting patterns this is abbreviated
to k (we will use this abbreviation from now on.)
12
Week 1:
Knit Stitch
Cast on the right amount of stitches for your project.
1.
Insert the point of the right needle, from front to
back, through the first loop on the left needle.
You are forming a cross with your needles.
3.
You have now made a new stitch, which is on the
right hand needle, and you need to drop the old one
down to the row below. Keeping the tension with your
finger, slip the old stitch off the left needle.
2.
Draw the new loop through to the front of the work.
Do this by pulling the left needle under the right
one, pulling the new loop with it.
4.
With your new stitch on the right hand needle, repeat
this whole process again until the end of the row.
Turn your needles around so all the stitches are held
in your left hand again. The right needle is empty
and ready to take on a whole new row.
Tip: With knitting the yarn is always held at the
back and your right hand needle goes through the
loop to the back. Have a go at knitting several rows
of knit.
13
Week 2:
Knit & Purl
Welcome to Week 2!
Stocking stitch
Set up and lay out equipment and materials, name
badges and any refreshments. Welcome the group.
This week your club members should be thinking
about their project.
Ask your club members whether they want
to knit a scarf or blanket. The scarf is recommended
for the complete beginner and the blanket for
a knitter with experience. But both projects can
be made simple or complicated depending on the
knitter, so if a complete beginner wants to try
a blanket that is ok!
Garter stitch
To achieve stocking stitch knit one row and then
purl the next row. It produces a flatter effect than
garter stitch (though the edges curl a little bit).
This is the easiest, just knit row after row.
It produces a ridged effect and is really stretchy.
This is what the reverse of stocking stitch looks like.
You can see that this side is slightly bumpier than the
smooth front side.
Experienced knitters can continue to support
beginners and at the same time begin their own
project. They may also need a refresher in garter and
stocking stitch and incorporate it into their project!
NOTE: at any point any club members can
do finger knitting or pompom making or French
knitting if they are not working on a project!
14
Week 2:
Purl stitch
Purl is done on the wrong side of the work when
you are doing stocking stitch (it is the right side
of the work if you are doing reverse stocking
stitch, of course!)
1.
Bring your yarn to the front of your work.
Insert the point of the right needle from back
to front, through the first loop on the left needle.
3.
Draw the loop through to the back of the work.
2.
Pass the yarn, which is held at the front of your
work, between the two points of the needles.
4.
Slip the old stitch off the left hand needle and
repeat to the end of the row. Have a go at knitting
several rows of purl.
15
Week 3:
Combinations of Knit & Purl
Set up as normal at this stage in the club
– you may find your materials need a bit
of a tidy up. Re-wind yarn to make it look
smarter; pair up all your needles and
organise your scissors.
Get a club member to lend a hand if you
need it to make all the materials look neat
and ready to use.
You will be learning ribbing this week.
Some club members may want to have a go at this
but not immediately onto their project. A good idea
is to have some already cast on pieces of work
so that members can practice on these.
Ribbing
Ribbing is the elastic stitch you find on the cuff
or collar of a sweater. It is made by combining knit
and purl on the same row to make vertical lines.
Knit one, purl one, is the most elastic of stitches,
where as knit four purl one will be flatter and
not so stretchy. Move your yarn from front to back,
between the needles when changing stitch. On the
next row, knit a knit stitch on top of a knit and a purl
stitch on top of a purl. If you get this the wrong way
round, you will end up with another lovely stitch
called Moss stitch!
Simple 2 x 2 rib
(multiples of 2 stitches)
If you knit all the time you get garter stitch, but if you
knit and purl alternate rows, you have stockinette
(stocking) stitch. All the basic patterns and textures
are based on this principle of mixing knit and purl
stitches – the rough and the smooth.
R1: k2, p2
R2: p2 , k2
Tip: Watch out – make sure you always have
a k on top of a p stitch otherwise you will get
a moss stitch effect instead of a rib.
Ribbing
Photo: Crafts Council
Bamford Primary Craft Club knitting alfresco
Photo: Claire Hoey
16
Week 3:
Moss, or Seed Stitch
This is knitted like ribbing, but you place a knit stitch
on top of a purl stitch and vice versa. It is not elastic
like ribbing, but comes out strong, flat, wider than
stocking stitch and the same on both sides.
Simple moss stitch
(multiples of 2 stitches)
R1: k1, p1
R2: k1, p1
Moss or Seed stitch
Tip: Pompoms can be slow to make.
If you need to make a lot in a hurry try
this quick method: turn a chair upside down
on a table so the legs are in the air. Wrap yarn
around all four legs to make a square and keep
wrapping until your core is a few cm thick. Tie
this core firmly at intervals all the way around.
Now you can snip carefully in between the ties,
leaving one or two strands to hold your
garland together. Hey, presto!
Celia Pym, Crochet Bag
Photo: Crafts Council
17
Week 4:
Increasing & Decreasing
Set up yarns, needles, scissors, refreshments
– hopefully by now you will also have the
beginnings of club members’ work and
projects on display too. Lay out everyone’s
projects, this will look great and inspiring.
The aim of week 3 is to continue to work
on individual projects and to learn how to increase
and decrease knitting so that knitters can shape
their knitting – making it wider and narrower.
Having mastered increasing and decreasing
a knitter can make any shape they want.
Increasing
This method creates an extra stitch by knitting the
same stitch twice. Every time you do this your work
will be wider by one stitch.
1.
Some club members at this stage may have a vision
for their scarf or blanket and will happily get along
achieving their goals.
On a knit row, knit the first two stitches.
2.
Then knit the third stitch, but instead of dropping
this stitch off the left needle, place the point of the
right needle into the back of the stitch, knit this
loop too, then drop it off.
Creature by Donna Wilson
Photo: Gareth Hacker
18
Week 4:
Decreasing
Decreasing is easier than increasing. All you need
to do is have fewer stitches and you can do this
by knitting two of them together at the same time.
This is sometimes called Knit 2 Together or K2 tog.
Tip: Project bags are a great way for clubbers
to keep their work together. They can make their own
or you could provide some for them to decorate.
1.
Simply knit, or purl 2 stitches together into 1 stitch.
You can do this anywhere in a row, but if you do it at
the end of the row it may look a little uneven. This
may not matter if the edges aren’t going to show
in your finished piece.
2.
A Project bag
Photo: Crafts Council
To make a smooth edge, try decreasing 2 stitches
away from the edge. If you are on a knit row, knit
2, then k2 to g. Have a look at any knitted clothes
that you have, and sometimes you can see the neat
pattern made where the decreases have been taken.
19
Week 5:
Crochet
Set up as you would normally – making
a beautiful display of materials and laying
on refreshments. By now many members
of your club should be getting on with their
personal projects and you will be seeing
many exciting scarves and blankets emerging.
Here’s a Basic How-To For Crochet
1.
Let your club members know that you will
be demonstrating crochet in this week’s club.
Crochet can be really nice for making whole
projects or simply used to add edging to the
scarf and blankets that are already started.
As with learning to knit – try and pair up beginners
with more experienced crocheters. Bear in mind
some club members might be quite happy getting
on with their projects.
First of all, make a slipknot.
The main difference between crochet and knitting
is that crochet uses only one hook and you can add
crochet stitches anywhere into your work so crochet
can be a bit more free form than knitting. Choosing
hooks and yarn for crochet is exactly the same
as choosing needles and yarn for knitting
(see Yarn and Needles section.)
2.
Make a loop in the yarn. With your crochet hook
catch the ball end of the yarn and draw through
loop. Pull firmly on yarn and hook to tighten knot
and create first loop.
‘We were over the moon with the launch
of Hook 1 Pass it on just when we were
starting crochet anyway. The children
are loving crochet and some are
finding it easier than knitting’.
Photo: Claire Hoey
20
Week 5:
Making a Chain
1.
To make a chain, hold the tail end of yarn with
the left hand and bring the yarn over hook (yoh)
by passing hook in front of the yarn, under and
around it.
3.
2.
Keeping the tension in yarn taut, draw the hook aand
yarn through the loop.
Tip: A lovely way to spruce up any uneven edges
or just to make your scarf or blanket extra special
is a crocheted edge. Practice crocheting chains
first then have a go at hooking through the edge
of your knitting.
Pull the yarn and hook through the hole and begin
again, ensuring that the stitches are fairly loose.
Repeat to make the number of chain required.
As the chain lengthens keep hold of the bottom
edge to maintain the tension.
21
Week 6:
Finishing & Photographing
This is the last week of your club.
Set up as normal – refreshments, name badges,
yarn, needles, but before everyone gets knitting
or crocheting, take some time to look at all the
work you have made.
Take photographs of club members with
their scarves and blankets, pompoms and
finger knitting or whatever has been made.
Your photo shoot could involve club members
wearing their scarves, 2 scarf wearers together,
or they could be action shots of members mid-knit.
Make a really inspiring display of all the work.
Have a conversation about the work you
have made and achievements in Craft Club.
Finally they will need to cast off their project.
This is where the knitting is taken off the needles
securely so that it doesn’t unravel.
Recyled Rainforest project
at Lindens Primary School,
Sutton Coldfield
Photo: Adrian Burrows
Bamford Primary Craft Club
Photos: Claire Hoey
22
Casting Off
Casting off is a method to finish your knitting.
If you don’t finish it off properly it will all unravel,
and you don’t want that to happen!
Always cast off in the appropriate way for your work,
meaning knitted on a knit row, or purl on a purl row.
If you are casting off in rib, follow the same pattern.
1.
When you are ready to cast off, knit the first two
stitches of the row. With the left needle, lift the first
stitch over the top of the second stitch and let it go.
2.
You now are down to one stitch on your right needle.
Knit one more stitch and repeat step When the last
stitch remains, cut the yarn and pass the tail through
the last stitch.
Tip: Tip: If your work is not finished you can
still show your ‘work in progress’. Replace the
needle with a stitch holder, or tie a large elastic
band over the ends of the needle to stop the
stitches falling off, and hang it on the wall.
23
Examples of Projects
Ideas Over 6 Classes
These are a few ideas to use over the 6 week
classes. They are sample ideas that can
be as sophisticated as you make them.
Space-dyed yarn makes this scarf look more complicated than
it is. Find the pattern on the Craft Club website
Photo: Crafts Council
My First Scarf
A scarf is simple but challenging too! Every knitter
makes their first scarf – this is a very important piece
of work, as you will only get to make it once. Your
scarf can be for yourself, for someone you love
or a miniature scarf for a pet or soft toy.
You can change colour at any point by simply
coming to the end of a row and cutting your yarn
so it leaves a little tail and tie that tail tie to the next
yarn you want to use. This will create a stripy effect,
which can look really good.
You will need to choose some wool you like – you
might like it because of the way it feels or because
of its colour. Make sure you like your wool otherwise
you will be very unhappy knitting with something
you think isn’t that great.
Over the course of the 6 weeks of your knit club
you will be introduced to different stitches,
increasing and decreasing and knitting with
2 colours at the same time. You can incorporate any
of the things you learn along the way into your scarf!
Or you can simply knit the scarf that you want
– a simple garter stitch in one colour can look great.
Chunky weight yarn can also be fun to start with
and knits fast so you see what you are making more
quickly but the larger needles can sometimes feel
awkward for beginners… beware. Don’t get hung
up on having the ‘correct’ size needles for the
yarn – just experiment!
To begin cast on between 15-25 stitches – depending
on the weight of your wool this will make a skinny
or chunky scarf.
Try and keep your knitting loose. Try not to grip
the needles too tightly. If you feel your stitches
are getting tight – try shaking out your hands from
time to time to encourage a loose feeling. If you are
knitting on 2 needles, you will be going back and
forth, knitting one row to the end and then changing
the hands with the needles and beginning again.
24
If you are a more advanced knitter you can still make
a scarf but use it as a teaching tool – so as you knit
you can demonstrate on it techniques and stitches
for beginners in your club.
Tip: If you like to accessorise you can always
add pompoms to your scarf. See how to make
a pom pom under extra project ideas.
Project 2: A blanket – for the back of your sofa, to wrap around
your shoulders, to rest on someone’s knees, for a small person,
for a pet, to soften the seats on a car, to sleep under or sit
on and have a picnic.
A Blanket
A blanket is a wonderful project to embark
on. Whether large or small a blanket will keep you
warm and snug and often becomes a very loved
and treasured item. A blanket is just basically
a bigger scarf, so beginners could have a go too.
Depending on your experience you can incorporate
pictures or patterns into your knitting – use stripes
or keep it simple and knit your blanket in one colour.
Crochet an edge to make it even lovelier. As well
as being beautiful a crocheted edge is also helpful
to hide any uneven stitches at the ends of rows.
Tip: The same recommendations given for making
a scarf apply to the making of a blanket too. Try and
keep your knitting loose. If you feel you are gripping
too tightly remember to shake out your fingers
and wrists.
You will need to cast on anywhere between
50-200 stitches depending on how big you
want your blanket to be. To figure this out, cast
on 10 stitches and knit a small square out of the
yarn you want to use. Knit approximately 10-15
rows and measure how wide the knitting is. From
this measurement you can calculate how many
stitches you will need to cast on for your blanket.
An Example of the Sum:
Make a note of the type of yarn and the size
of needles you are using.
This sample uses double knitting (DK) and size 4mm
needles. Knit a small square and then measure 10 cm
and count how many stitches are within that area,
then you are ready to make your calculations.
Say you have 20 stitches to your 10 cm?
10 cm = 20 sts
Now you can scale this up: If you want to knit
a width of 1m or 100cm you will need to cast
on 200 sts.
100 cm = 200 sts
If you want a blanket that is 2m or 200cm
wide, you’ll need to cast on 400 sts
Knit a small square then count how
many stitches are in 10cm
Photo: Crafts Council
200 cm = 400 sts
25
Problem Solving
Common difficulties for beginners are dropped stitches,
very tight knitting, unintentionally increasing your stitches
and general tangles.
Dropped Stitches
Joining a New Ball of Yarn
To begin with don’t worry too much about dropped
stitches. They happen! You can use a crochet hook
to pick them up and hook through the missing rows
but it is quite fiddly work. For an easier solution tie
in a little piece of extra yarn through the dropped
stitch so it does not unravel further.
If your yarn runs out or you wish to change colour,
you just need to tie a knot. Do this at the beginning
of a row. Leave 15cm on the end of your
original yarn.
Tight Knitting
Tight knitting becomes less tight the more you do it.
Tie a knot with the new yarn, again leaving about
15cm. Make sure the knot is neatly pushed right
up to the next stitch. When you have finished your
knitting you can untie this knot and sew in the ends.
Warning! Don’t find yourself knitting with the loose
ends by mistake – that can just be plain annoying.
Simple.
A good idea is to try to you remind yourself not
to grip the needles too tight or wrap the yarn
around too tight.
Tip: If a beginner is finding they are knitting
very tightly sometimes it is helpful if a more
experienced knitter knits a few rows for them
– this will loosen up their knitting.
Tip: If you find you accidentally increase
the number of stitches you are knitting – simply
decrease (see week 4 decreasing) back to your
original number of stitches. Though maybe you
will like a widening scarf with a shapely edge?
Tangles just require patience and good light
to untangle them. Or you can cut out the tangled
yarn and start fresh with some new yarn and deal
with the tangle later on when you are ready.
A selection of wool
Photo: Crafts Council
26
Diary/Notes Section
27
Going Into Schools
The first step in setting up a Craft Club is forming
a relationship with a school or other venue (such
as a library or gallery). The Crafts Council
Administrator will have identified the schools and
other venues wishing to establish a Craft Club and
will marry up WI members and other volunteers
with their nearest participating school, based on the
addresses provided in your correspondence with us.
You can do this yourself by looking on the Craft Club
map or approaching your local venue directly.
Alternatively, you may already have a school
in mind, for example you may be a parent wishing
to start a Craft Club at the school your child attends.
If you have any established links with a school,
do let us know by emailing knit1@craftclub.org.uk
Before You Start Your Craft Club
Initiate contact with your school, on behalf
of your Craft Club volunteer team.
Initially, you should approach the school
Headteacher formally, using the Template
Letter (Form C) provided.
Knitting in St. Paul’s Primary
School Playground
Photo: Crafts Council
28
With the Headteacher on board, you will be off
to a flying start and may gain access to additional
resources to make your club a success.
They will ensure the club is widely promoted
both in school and in the community, bringing
extra status to clubs (and your role).
It may be enough to organise a phone call to the
member(s) of staff coordinating the club in school,
or a visit may be preferable. This is entirely up to you
and the school.
Negotiate how often and at what time your
Craft Club will be run. This will differ depending
on the individual schools and volunteers involved,
and needs to be an agreed, ‘best fit’ arrangement.
Planning & Evaluating
Your Projects
Planning
This Handbook includes project ideas for the first
6 weeks of your club. By thinking through each step
of your activity in advance and adding as much
detail as possible to your session plans, you will
feel confident and prepared. Discuss ideas with
your team of volunteers and school staff, it’s good
to share the responsibility!
Evaluating
At the end of the six weeks, it is a good idea
to evaluate your club making your own notes
on how the session went. For example, what was
good about that session? Did everybody learn the
skill you wanted them to do, or do you need
to reinforce it next week?
To ensure Craft Club is enjoyable, well attended
and effective in promoting craft skills to all types
of learners, we have developed some ongoing
evaluation strategies for use at all levels
of its delivery.
The nature of your role, and that of your team
of volunteers, will mean that you have direct
access to pupil experiences, likes and dislikes.
We are keen to improve the volunteers’ experience,
so that Craft Clubs endure, and provide a long-term
solution to the current shortage of craft learning
in schools. By feeding this information back to the
Craft Club Team, you can help us to improve Craft
Club for everybody involved.
We would be grateful if you could send the Craft
Club Team your completed evaluations at the end
of each project or half-term (see our address below).
Half term and project finish dates will vary across
regions and according to individual clubs, so please
ask your school contact or the Craft Club Team
if you’re not sure when to complete yours.
We will also send reminders by email.
Feedback from all the evaluations we receive will
help us improve the Craft Club experience for all
involved. We will communicate strengths and issues
noted by Clubs and offer development ideas and
support through occasional e-bulletins on this topic.
To send feedback to the
Craft Club Team
Email us at :
knit1@craftclub.org.uk
Post your evaluation forms to:
The Crafts Council
44a Pentonville Road
London, N1 9BY
Supporting Evaluation
Craft Club at Bamford Primary
Photos: Claire Hoey
Installation by Francoise Dupre using
French knitting
Photo: Crafts Council
29
Equipment & Materials
Equipment and Materials
CRB-Checking
Discuss with your school what materials
are essential for your project. Many schools* will
have access to a small budget for after-school
clubs. You can also think creatively about
recycled materials that are available
(see www.craftclub.org.uk for ideas).
CRB checks will be needed in most, but not
necessarily in all, cases. This decision is the
discretion of your venue, who will advise
you on their particular requirement/processes
for CRB checking.
Discuss how and where Craft Club resources will
be stored. Will you have direct access to them to set
up the club each session, or will they be locked away
(who has a spare key, in the case of staff absence)?
It should be understood that these resources are
only for Craft Club activity, so that you don’t turn
up to find your project materials have run out
when you most need them!
Tip: Have a computer readily accessible
Win Craft Resources
To get a bundle of free resources for your club, keep
posting your Craft Club pictures in the gallery. Each
half-term a professional maker will pick the prize
winner, so make sure your images are eye-catching
and fun.
If it is determined that CRB checks are needed,
then you will not be able to launch your club until
a valid CRB Disclosure certificate has been awarded.
This process can take around 4-6 weeks on average,
once you have submitted your details and
identification to the school.
Behaviour
Club Rules should be compiled by the children
attending the club in the first session, and
reinforced regularly. It’s often beneficial to have
a few simple rules displayed on a poster, or with
visual cues and body language. Naturally, it’s
vital that all adults comply with the Club rules,
too. It is likely that most of the young people
coming to Craft Club will have opted to attend,
and will therefore behave responsibly to create
a fun atmosphere for everyone involved. However,
if an individual’s or group’s behaviour does
become challenging, school staff or parents ( not
volunteers ) must be readily on hand to manage
it and apply standard disciplinary procedures.
If working in a school we do reccommend you
discuss their system for rewarding and disciplining
pupils, so that you can work in conjunction
with such procedures and provide general
reinforcement of the school staff.
* We mention schools but you be any
learning venue such as a museum,
library, gallery or community centre.
30
Craft Club Volunteers:
Training Days
Training Days: Knitters and craftspeople who wish
to help others set up clubs attend our free training days,
which we hold in various locations across the country.
Be Inspired!
Get Up-to-Date!
You will have the opportunity to knit whilst hearing
about some exciting, innovative projects and seeing
case studies from the Craft Club pilot and more.
Our intention is for you to start having more ideas
on how to do something even more exciting in your
own Craft Club!
You will learn about the current legalities of Child
Protection and Health & Safety, and the regulations
Clubs are required to follow, in line with our Working
with Children and Young People Policy (WCYP)
– included on page 37 of your Handbook.
Gain Insight!
It’s important to have a good understanding of what
is involved in working with the younger generation.
The training day will equip you with knowledge
and the competencies required to work with young
people in schools and other contexts. You can do this
while networking with other like-minded crafters
in your region. These days are also an opportunity
for volunteers to share their experiences and ideas
with each other.
Pass It On!
Having completed your training you are all set
to champion crafts in schools and other educational
venues, and act as an advocate for the enjoyment
of these skills by young people. The first step
in doing this is holding your own cascade training
session, to share with others what you have learned.
For more on how to do this, go to page 32.
For dates of training days, keep an eye on the
Craft Club website for announcements, or contact
the Craft Club Team at knit1@craftclub.org.uk
Creature by Donna
Wilson Photo: Gareth Hacker
Drawing with yarn at the Café Gallery
Project, Dilston Grove, Southwark
Photo: Bridget Virden CGP
31
How to Hold Your Own
Cascade Training Session
You’ve arrived at the most important point of being a Craft
Club trainer! By gathering a group together to pass on the
knowledge you gained at the training day, you can create
some great opportunities for linking like-minded crafters
and share ideas with others on how to pioneer crafts by
passing on your skills.
Here’s How To Do It
Step 3: Approx 10 mins
Firstly, you’ll need to gather a group together for
about 1 hour. This group could be your friends
with crafts skills, it could be a local volunteer group,
or it could be other creative people in your personal
and professional networks. If you are a WI member,
you could ‘pass it on’ at your next meeting.
Plan Ahead:
Have a look at Form D and attempt a rough project
plan together, inspired by what you discussed.
Also take a few moments to think of evaluating the
progress of your club. Discuss as a group or in pairs
the possible barriers or difficulties to introducing
yarn crafts in schools, and think about some ideas
to overcome these challenges.
Step 1: Approx 15 mins.
Introduce Craft Club:
Your volunteer group will want to know a bit
about Craft Club and how it all works. A good place
to start is to find out what they already know, and
then fill them in! This is great chance to share with
your group about the Craft Club website where
they can find a lot resources for their clubs, such
as knitting patterns, lesson plans, and project ideas.
Step 2: Approx 10 mins.
Learn from the ‘tried and true’:
You will have learned a lot from the case studies
of the Craft Club pilot project at Lindens Primary
School as well as other case studies; spend a few
minutes summarising these for your group. Ask your
group why they think these clubs were successful.
32
Step 4: Approx 20-25 mins
An Important Step:
The WCYP Agreement (Working with Children and
Young People): Make sure that you read through
the WCYP policy together in detail, ensuring that
all volunteers understand the regulations and the
reasons they are in place. This is key to ensuring
that we all enjoy safe Craft Clubs!
Once you’ve read it together, please obtain each
volunteer’s signed agreement (Form B) and return
these to the Craft Club Team. This is for legal and
insurance purposes, outlined in the guidelines. This
form should be completed by all volunteers entering
a school for Craft Club.
Should you have any questions, please
do not hesitate to contact the Craft Club Team
on 0207 608 7568 or email knit1@craftclub.org.uk
If you are a WI member please contact Lesley
Quirk the Craft Club co-ordinator
at Denman College on 01865 391788
or email l.quirk@nfwi-unit.org.uk
Sources for Further Research
There are lots of good books that have been published about
knitting and yarn crafts. Have a good look on the bookshelves
at school, or visit your local library and see what you find! The
internet is a great resource too. Below you’ll find some sources
of information to start you off.
Knitting Websites
Books
www.prickyourfinger.com/blog
www.freddierobbins.com
www.sabrinag.com
www.annemor.com
www.donnawilson.com
www.lisaaneauerbach.com
www.taitandstyle.co.uk
www.unionpurl.blogspot.com
www.deirdre-nelson.com
www.karisteihaug.no
www.davecoledavecole.com
Knitting Without Tears by Elizabeth Zimmerman
Knitting Around by Elizabeth Zimmerman
Knitorama by Rachael Matthews
Hookorama by Rachael Matthews
KnitKnit by Sabrina Gschwandtner
Invisible Threads in Knitting by Annemor Sundbo
Everyday Knitting by Annemor Sundbo
Needlepoint, for Men by Rosey Grier
Radical Lace & Subversive Knitting by David Revere
A History of Hand Knitting by Richard Rutt
Kaffe Fassett’s Pattern Library
Jemma Sykes, knitting with zips
Photo: Crafts Council
Janet Morton, Domestic Interior 2000
Photo: Crafts Council
33
FAQs
What training do I need?
“Help! I couldn’t sign up!”
Once you have downloaded your resources, and
you’re ready to pass on your skills to another person,
you are ready to get started. Make sure you have
read the policy for working with children and young
people, and have signed your volunteer’s agreement.
If you’re having problems signing up, there are
a few things that you might want to check first.
Firstly, make sure that you have not misspelled
your email address! If you did, then you would
not have received your confirmation email.
The steps you need to sign up are as follows:
This is an important step.
Come along to a Craft Club Training Day, where
you will learn more on how to contribute in this role.
Contact the Craft Club Team for more information
on knit1@craftclub.org.uk .
Are CRB checks necessary?
Some schools require that volunteers have
CRB checks, and other schools do not. It is worth
remembering that a member of school staff should
always be present during your Craft Club sessions.
Ask your school contact if a CRB check is necessary
for you to have, as applying for a disclosure can
take some time.
Where do I find resources that
are good for beginners, such
as patterns, or even needles?
It is easy to become very involved in what
is happening in your club’s sessions, but don’t
forget that resources that can help you are just
a click away. If you log on to the Craft Club
website and visit the Community section, click
on ‘file transfer’ to access what you need. If you
need equipment try your local Freecycle website
as they maybe able to help. You may also find
treasures in charity shops, though needles tend
not to be on display so you have to ask.
Knitting Piece #9, Shane Waltener
Photo: Crafts Council
34
•
•
•
•
•
•
Go to www.craftclub.org.uk/register
Click the type of member you want to be
Click Submit
Enter all required information (those with an *)
Click the privacy policy box
Click Submit
If you’re still not successful, then do contact the
Craft Club Team at knit1@craftclub.org.uk and
we will assist you.
Do I have to be part of an
organisation to be a volunteer?
Although many of our volunteers are part of a wider
network, it is not essential for you to be involved with
a volunteer group in order to be involved. Craft Club
is open to all people who have craft skills and
would like to pass those skills on. If you are a part
of an organisation, don’t forget to pass on your
knowledge of Craft Club to this network, as this
is a great way to get more clubs up and running
for children to enjoy and learn.
“I am not a teacher, I’m not
a student, and I don’t consider
myself a volunteer. What should
I sign up as?”
If you don’t teach in a school, and you’re not
a young person under the age of 16, then you
are likely to be considered what we call a volunteer.
All persons signed up with Craft Club receive our
Craft Club News, and from time to time we will
send you updates about opportunities in various
schools and craft events that you can get involved
in. As Craft Club operates on a voluntary basis, you
are not under any obligation, except to observe
safe practices.
When will we be taught how
to teach children?
How do I find an interested school?
As Craft Club operates on a voluntary basis,
our volunteers are passionate about sharing
the great skills that they have, and do not
receive payment for doing so.
A great place to start is to check the Craft Map
on the Craft Club website to search for schools
that may have added themselves to the map.
You can search the map by postcode and get some
accurate results. Once you have found a school,
then you can approach them with the letter
to Headteachers that can be downloaded from
the file transfer area of the website. If you don’t
find a school near to you on the map, then contact
the Craft Club Team at knit1@craftclub.org.uk,
and a member of the Craft Club Team will help
to find a school near you to form a relationship with.
How do I sign up for Arts Award
through Craft Club?
How do I find other volunteers
to help me?
Arts Award is a qualification that students can use
as an extra to their GCSEs or instead of. Arts Award
has also recently been made UCAS compliant,
meaning that you can add it to your application
when you apply for university.
You can post any requests on the Craft Club forum.
Your Craft Club training day will outline some
things to remember when working with children
and young people.
Can I earn money
through Craft Club?
There are 3 levels of Art Award outlined on the Craft
Club website: www.craftclub.org.uk/crafty_teachers,
aimed at secondary level students (11-25 years).
This can be from just taking part to running their
own club or related event.
Contact the Craft Club Team by emailing
knit1@craftclub.org.uk and let them know that you
need volunteer help. The Craft Club Administrator
will put you in touch with any volunteers that may
be in your area, based on the address you give
in your correspondence with us.
Craft Club is ‘Arts Award Welcome’ we accommodate
anyone from an Arts Award Centre to use Craft Club
as a scheme. Centres, usually schools, have a trained
person who can mentor a young person through
the scheme. Visit the arts award website
at www.artsaward.org.uk/
for more information.
To register pupils, the arts
award website has this link:
www.artsaward.org.uk/site/?id=2008
Kelly Jenkins, Knitted steel. from
the exhibition Knit 2 Together at
the Crafts Council, 2005
Photo: Crafts Council
Ruth Lee knitted wire Kelly Jenkins,
Knitted steel. from the exhibition Knit 2
Together at the Crafts Council, 2005
Photo: Crafts Council
35
CRAFT CLUB
FORMS
Here you will find useful forms that you can photocopy for use.
Firstly, thank you for taking on the position of
volunteer or representative/ trainer for your group
or federation. You will be playing a key role
in the successful implementation of Craft Clubs
in your local schools, and for that we (and the
teachers, young people and families you are
supporting) are very grateful!
This essential Handbook is intended to outline
the practicalities for fulfilling your role. However,
please do regard it as a guideline, as circumstances
will be different for each different group, and
each set of individuals.
FORM A: Working With Children and Young People Guidelines (WCYP)
FORM B: Volunteers Agreement
FORM C: Template Letter to Headteacher
FORM D: Project Plan
FORM E: Volunteer Questionnaire
FORM F: Pupil Questionnaire
FORM G: Parental Consent
36
Stick the Snail
by Donna Wilson
Photo: Gareth Hacker
CRAFT CLUB 2010-2011
FORM A – WORKING WITH CHILDREN & YOUNG
PEOPLE (WCYP) GUIDELINES FOR VOLUNTEERS
Working Safely and Legally at Craft Club
While much of the information in this document
may appear “common sense” it is essential that you
have read it thoroughly and are familiar with the
restrictions put in place to protect children and
vulnerable adults. This will ensure both you and the
young people you work with at Craft Club have
an enjoyable and uncomplicated experience!
The Crafts Council and the NFWI will liaise with
the schools and venues with which work to set
minimum standards for supervision, to ensure that:
All volunteers receive the level of supervision
appropriate to their needs and experience the
circumstances of the area or activity with which
they are working. Decisions made during supervision
are recorded appropriately; Whenever practicable
the persons who are normally responsible for the
children (teachers, parents, guardians, etc) are
present during activities or that there is always
more than one adult present; and risk assessments
are in place for your venue and activities.
As a volunteer, when you are present at a Craft
Club event or venue you must ensure that you:
Remain within sight and earshot of your supervisor
when working with children; Cooperate fully with
your supervisor over all matters of Health and
Safety; Avoid being alone with a child or vulnerable
person (if this should happen momentarily call your
supervisor or another colleague over to join you.
Also, be aware that any physical contact with a child
may be misinterpreted and so must be avoided
whenever possible; Treat all children with respect
and understand the difference between friendliness
and familiarity; Act as a role model of good and
appropriate behaviour (this includes challenging
unacceptable behaviour that you witness and
reporting it if it continues); Remember that someone
else might misinterpret your actions, no matter how
well intentioned; Immediately report any incidents
to your supervisor in the case of perceived risk
to a child or person whom you consider to be in
a vulnerable or dangerous situation.
First Aid
Strictly speaking, you must pass on First Aid issues
to your supervisor or a trained First-Aider as quickly
as possible. However, it is still vital you read through
these tips in case the situation needs your input,
or is an emergency: Unless there is good reason,
First Aid should not be administered without
the permission of the child’s parent, teacher
or accompanying adult. A child cannot give
consent. If parents will not be on site, do your best
to ensure in advance of the Club meeting that theirs
phone number are accessible. However, if a child
is alone and, say, unconscious, the situation should
be dealt with. If at all possible, treatment should only
be given by a trained First Aider. Provided this does
not, in itself, put the child at risk, always try
to administer First Aid within sight and sound
of other adults. Always tell the child exactly what you
are doing and why. Always ask the child if they use
medication (e.g. for asthma, diabetes, and epilepsy)
or have any allergies, some children have allergic
reactions to stings. For minor injuries, it is all right
to use a non-fluffy cloth, but you may not offer
any medication, including antiseptics or pills
of any kind.
If you have any doubts about helping someone
to use their own medication, phone : National
Health Service Direct on 0845 4647 or the
emergency services. Any treatment should
be as little as necessary without threatening
the child’s well-being.
Legal Background: who governs the
safeguarding framework for working
with children and young people?
The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) work
in collaboration with the Criminal Records Bureau
(CRB). They work to prevent unsuitable people from
working or volunteering with children, young people
or vulnerable adults.
Do I need to be CRB-checked?
As a Craft Club volunteer you will have
regular contact with children through your role.
Therefore, many schools require you to obtain
a CRB check for them (it may be possible to have
one that is valid for the whole borough). This
decision ultimately lies with the schools with
which you will be working. Volunteer Disclosures
are processed by the CRB for free. (normally £44
for ‘enhanced’) Any administration should
be covered by your school.
Thanks for reading! Please return a signed copy
of the WCYP Agreement (Form B) to confirm you
have understood these guidelines.
This is for Craft Club’s
Public Liability Insurance only.
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CRAFT CLUB
FORM B – VOLUNTEERS AGREEMENT
We thank you in advance for taking the time to fill
out this form, which is necessary to ensure your
safety and for our legal records. This form should
be sent in when you have become actively involved
with a Craft Club.
Volunteers Agreement:
This form is for Craft Club’s Public Liability
Insurance. Your details will not be handed over to
any third parties without your knowledge
or permission.
[Please print details clearly]
Date: Volunteer group:
Address:
Postcode
Contact number:
Email:
By signing this form I confirm that I:
• Have read and understood the guidelines for
volunteers contained in the Working with Children and Young People guidelines.
•
Understand my responsibility to immediately report to my school contact any concerns I may have about the well-being of children or young people, including any allegations or suspicions
of abuse.
Signature:
Please kindly return your signed form, to:
“CRAFT CLUB”, Crafts Council,
44a Pentonville Road,
London, N1 9BY
Many thanks!
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•
Understand that the school with which I am volunteering may require a disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau and I am willing
to obtain one if necessary.
Please note: a blank copy of this letter (Form C)
can be downloaded from the website:
www.craftclub.org.uk/file_transfer
Local Craft Club
Contact Details
Address
Phone
Email
Invitation to host a ‘Craft Club’ as part
of the Crafts Council’s new national initiative,
with the UK Handknitting Association
(UKHKA) and Women’s Institute (NFWI)
Dear Headteacher’s name,
The Crafts Council and the UK Hand Knitting
Association have joined forces with the National
Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) to support
schools in delivering craft activities both in and
outside the core curriculum.
Craft Club, www.craftclub.org.uk, is a new national
campaign for craft in schools that will provide children and
young people with the opportunity to learn craft skills from
members of their community via free after-school clubs.
As such, it needs the support of schools and individual
teachers in coordinating and hosting clubs, but relies
on the enthusiasm and skills of the broader community
in order to teach craft skills and techniques to its
participants, or ‘Craft Clubbers’.
What’s on Offer to Schools?
Our skilled volunteers from the NFWI and community
knitting clubs receive specialist training at workshops
across the country and will then become involved in their
local Craft Club. We hope one of these will be at your
school. Each Craft Club can be run in its own way – either
combining efforts to achieve a shared goal or working
individually in the company of friends on solo projects.
Craft Club is a timely scheme in relation to the
new Extended Services programme offering built-in
community cohesion, intergenerational working the
chance to be part of a local and national scheme.
The advantage is clear: an accessible, rewarding
cultural experience of minimal cost to school.
The First Scheme: ‘Knit 1 Pass It On’
Knitting provides not only a sense of achievement but
boosts co-ordination and improves dexterity, maths and
handwriting. Knit 1 Pass it On will teach Craft Clubbers
how to knit and then ask them to teach someone else
– young or old, male or female.
Why join Craft Club?
Getting involved in this project will help you
meet the following statutory criteria from the
new inspection framework from Ofsted:
• Community Cohesion (on a Local and National level)
Well-being
•
Early Craft Clubs, such as the flagship project
at Lindens Primary School in Sutton Coldfield, ‘Recycled Rainforest’, have proved already
to be of immense value to schools. Lindens’ Headteacher, Simon Griffiths, recently announced
news of the school’s Outstanding Ofsted results,
citing participation in Craft Club as a key driver
of their success.
Craft Club and Arts Award
Craft Club is free. The only potential costs to schools
are any required CRB checks, and any brand new yarns
etc bought for activities. However, our website has plenty
of ideas for recycling materials to knit with, resulting
in deeper learning for pupils who can source and prepare
their own yarns, sometimes in unexpected materials.
We are Arts Award compliant, meaning pupils over
11 years old can gain points towards a Bronze, Silver
and Gold level Arts Award. Run by Arts Council England,
the award builds confidence, helps young people to enjoy
cultural activities, and prepares them for further education
or employment.
What next?
If you would like to host a Craft Club in your
school please get in touch as soon as possible. There
are newly-trained volunteers in your area who are
eager to get craft into schools – don’t miss out on this
opportunity! When contacting us to make arrangements
for a club, it would be useful to have an idea of the number
of children wishing to participate so that we can round
up a team for you. Please nominate a school contact (the
teacher or teaching assistant who will supervise the club)
for us to liaise with over times, dates and project planning.
For more information about the project, please see our
new, interactive website which offers excellent learning
opportunities in ICT for pupils: www.craftclub.org.uk
We hope you will decide to host a Craft Club in your
school, and are sure you will see the benefits for your
school community and that of the local area. Of course,
please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any
further questions.
Yours sincerely,
Craft Club Volunteer
On behalf of Craft Club
Craft Club is administered by the Crafts Council,
44a Pentonville Road, London N1 9BY
Registered Charity number 280956
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CRAFT CLUB
FORM D – PROJECT PLAN
Project Title: (6 sessions - please add more if needed)
Craft Club organiser:
Project start date: Day/ Time:
School:
Project end date:
Theme of
session
Activity Outline
(equipment/ method)
Other Notes/
Reminders
No. of
Children
No. of Staff/
Volunteers/
Evaluation Notes
Welcome to
Ice-breakers & welcomes! Children
given a variety of knitted objects
to handle. Discuss knitting’s
importance in everyday lives.
Everyone tries some finger-knitting.
Use projector to give website ‘tour’.
Book ICT
Suite!
Brief the
Teaching
Assisant
in advance
Talk slowly.
6 boys
7 girls
(1 SEN
/deaf)
4volunteers
1 teacher
1 assistant
(for SEN)
ICT suite was double-booked,
so we just had fun continuing
our finger-knitting.
Pupils wanted to start
the practical earlier…
NEXT TIME: do discussion
at the end?
Craft Club
1
2
3
4
5
6
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CRAFT CLUB
FORM E – VOLUNTEER QUESTIONNAIRE
Name (optional) Organisation/ group name
Date of first Craft Club attendance?School
Do you:
…use the Craft Club website? Y / N ..use the Forum? Y/ N ...Upload/ Download things? Y/ N
1. Why did you want to join Craft Club?
2. What do you think are the benefits of Craft Club for the pupils? (please tick one for each row)
Strongly
agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly
disagree
Disagree
Strongly
disagree
Pupils are enabled to try something different
Pupils go mainly to have fun
It helps pupils to relax and unwind
Pupils go to make new friends
Pupils feel more confident, their self-esteem improves
Pupils learn new skills
Pupils are encouraged to see how people can
earn a living from craft
Pupils interact positively with different types
of people from the local community
3. Were there any other benefits not listed? (please give details)
4. Please indicate how Craft Club is going for you…(please tick one for each row)
Strongly
agree
Agree
Neutral
My training prepared me for volunteering in a school
I have had adequate support from the Craft Club Team
I have had adequate support from the school
I enjoy working with my volunteer team
I enjoy working with young people
Craft Club is a positive use of my time and energy
I feel proud that I am making a difference to young people
5. Any other comments?
6. What would make Craft Club better?
7. What other crafts would you like to see on offer in Craft Club in the future?
Thank you for your time - your views and
comments will help us keep improving
Craft Club for you.
CRAFT CLUB TEAM!
www.craftclub.org.uk
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CRAFT CLUB
FORM F – PUPIL QUESTIONNAIRE
Name (optional)School
Are you Male or Female? (Please circle) M / F
Age
Year Group/ class
How long have you been attending Craft Club?
Do you:
…use the Craft Club website? Y / N …use the Forum? Y/ N …Upload/ Download things? Y/ N
To protect your privacy, you do not have to give your name. By completing this questionnaire
you will help us to assess how successful this activity has been in your school.
1. Why do you come to this activity / club?
2. What did the activities do for you? (please tick one )
Strongly
agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly
disagree
It gave me a chance to try something different
It was fun
It helped me relax and unwind
I made new friends
It helped me learn new skills
It helped me understand how people can
earn a living from craft
I met different types of people from my local area
3a. Has this activity improved your work? (please circle) Yes / No
3b. If yes, how? (please give details)
4. How does attending Craft Club make you feel? (please circle all that apply)
Calm and relaxed
UpsetProudSociable/ friendlyBoredCreative
Energetic and lively
Happy
Successful
Lonely
Excited
5. What have you enjoyed most about this club?
6. What would make this club better?
7a. What other crafts would you like to see on offer in Craft Club in the future?
Thank you for your time - your views and
comments will help us keep improving
Craft Club for you.
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CRAFT CLUB TEAM!
www.craftclub.org.uk
Motivated
CRAFT CLUB
FORM G – PARENTAL CONSENT FORM
Childs Name:
Date of Birth:
Address:
Contact mobile number:
Parents/Guardian Name:
Telephone no:
Relationship to child:
CONSENT (please read carefully)
1. Video
2. Photography
I understand that Craft Club or its volunteers
will be filming the activity involving my child on
The Craft Club team may from time to time wish
to document club activities through photography.
The purpose of taking photos is twofold: to develop
a Craft Club archive of activities for our internal use
and on the Craft Club website, and for celebrating
and promoting Craft Club via newsletters and
occasional press releases.
Date:
Venue:
and can accept no responsibility for loss
of property, damage or injury to the young person
caused by or during attendance at any of the
club’s organised activities.
If you are comfortable with this
please state so:
YES / NO
Please be assured that we will never make use
of Craft Club photos for any other purposes.
If you are comfortable with this
please state so: YES / NO
The Craft Club website is moderated as part of our
Safeguarding Policy. Please ask if you wish to view
the policy.
Signature:
(Parent/ Guardian) Date:
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ABOUT OUR CRAFT CLUB PARTNERS
• The UK Hand Knitting Association (UKHKA)
is dedicated to raising the profile of yarn crafts through a variety of campaigns and initiatives including Knit 1, Pass It On to encourage all
knitters to pass on their skills to other people.
For more information on all aspects of knitting
and yarn crafts, including latest What’s On news, knitting clubs across the UK, Knitted Textile
graduate showcase and awards, knitting artists
and celebrities, knitted projects for all to join
in, fascinating facts and statistics and links
to numerous knitting related organisations
and individuals visit the UKHKA site
www.ukhandknitting.com
• The National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) is the largest voluntary women’s
organisation in the UK with more than 205,000 members in 6,500 WIs. It plays a unique role
in enabling women to develop new skills, giving
them opportunities to campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities, and provides wide-ranging activities for members
to get involved in. For further information
please visit www.theWI.org.uk
•
The Crafts Council’s goal is to make the UK the best place to make, see, collect and learn about contemporary craft.
We believe that craft plays a dynamic and vigorous role in the UK’s social, economic and cultural life. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to make, see, collect and learn about craft. We believe that the strength of craft lies in its use of traditional and contemporary techniques, ideas and materials to make extraordinary new work.
We believe that the future of craft lies in nurturing talent; children and young people must be able
to learn about craft at school and have access
to excellent teaching throughout their education.
For further information about the Crafts Council
visit www.craftscouncil.org.uk. For contact with other maker-educators join the Craft Action Network (CAN) www.craft-action.org.uk
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• The Crafts Council is supported by Arts Council England. Arts Council England works to get
great art to everyone by championing, developing and investing in artistic experiences that enrich people’s lives. As the national development agency for the arts, it supports “a range of artistic activities from theatre to music, literature
to dance, photography to digital art, and carnival to crafts. Between 2008 and 2011, Arts Council England will invest £1.3 billion of public money from government and a further £0.3 billion from the National Lottery to create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country.
www.artscouncil.org.uk