Washcloth Crafts, Washcloth Crafts in the Classroom as an Art Project!

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Washcloth Baby Chick

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 Welcome to washcloth crafts!
 Can TerryGami be used in a regular school classroom as an art project?

The answer is yes, with a bit a preparation in advance. We will know more as teachers experiment with the washcloth crafts over the next few years, but a lot will depend on the project chosen, on the age and maturity level of the children participating, and the size of the class.

For example, when choosing the project or critter, the hare has fewer legs to sew than the tortoise has and requires no stuffing. A one cloth project will cost less even though the cloths sold in bulk are pretty inexpensive ($4 for 18).  Also, given the constraints on time in the classroom, a little preparation can go a long way in making sure a project is completed in the allotted time.

I suggest that a teacher enlist a parent or two to do some prep work, especially if the children are young.  For example, if there isn't enough time to demonstrate how to make the critter, or the children are not old enough to have the dexterity to make them, then ask a couple of  parents shape the critters ahead of time. The children can always glue on the decorations and facial features. For additional tips, check out the Party
Tips on the side  bar on the TerryGami website for more ideas: www.terrygami.com or go to the link above.

If the main goal is to teach the kids to sew, prepare the basic body structures in advance and anchor body parts with rubber bands to hold it in place for sewing later. For example, if making the tortoise or hare, wrap rubber bands around the legs (use the tiny rubber bands found in drug stores), and then let the kids sew the legs in class.

Another option is to allow two days to complete the project. Let the kids shape the critters themselves, and have them cut out the facial features and decorations the first day, and then let them sew the critters and decorate them the next day.

When home schooling, it is quite a bit easier and can actually be a little more involved because there is time to allow the children to read the instructions and figure out how to make the animals on their own. They may need help with the first couple of animals, but after that it should be a breeze for them. Fortunately, learning to sew isn't that difficult, especially when using a wide-eyed darning or plastic needle. Teaching them to knot the thread and tie off the thread once they have finished sewing is the most difficult part.

Washcloth crafts are unique, because children are actually creating a toy they can play with, not just an object to be looked at and admired. The critters may take a little more time to make, but the children are learning several new skills in the process. The kids will be surprised when they realize that they can easily make stuffed animals themselves, which should open up a whole new creative world for their imaginations.

Happy Crafting!
~Terry