The cost of crochet and knitting supplies, including ULTIMATE BOOK/KNIT&CROCHET and Knitting Needles - Size 8, is $340, including shipping and <a target="new" href="http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm" onclick="g_openWindow('http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm', 300, 800, 'fulfillwindow');return false;">fulfillment</a>.
Our Brooklyn public school of about 800 students draws from a diverse mix of ethnicities, cultures, economic backgrounds, and ability levels. I am a 4th grade teacher and my club, the 4Th and 5Th grade knitting/crochet club, is one of a small number of clubs that meets once a week. In this club of presently 20 students and two adult parent-volunteers, girls and boys get so much more than a new skill that builds confidence, concentration and small-motor skills. They learn how to follow through with projects, give something back to the community when we put our squares together to make blankets, how to make friends with someone who might be from another culture or crowd, and so much more.
I see the ripples of this club when I see kids sitting, heads bent together knitting or crocheting while waiting for their teacher on the playground or on the bus. These students devour the books I have written for kids about knitting and other needlecraft and "sneak" them into their everyday reading. Another off-shoot of this club is a weekly enrichment cluster that ties skill learning with community service. Kids who can't come to the lunchtime club choose to participate in the enrichment cluster.
While I am pleased that this club and enrichment cluster are so popular, I find myself having to turn away kids or limit projects when I do not have needles or yarn to provide. Only a few of the students can provide their own materials. Having additional knitting needles, crochet hooks, yarn, needlecraft books and other needlecraft tools would make this the kind of club that does not turn away students based on their ability to purchase supplies. With support, we can knit a warm productive community!
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