Craft News

It’s hard to believe that Term 1 is already over! Entering my second year as the craft teacher at the school has been a nice shift in gears. Now that I’m familiar with the students, I can tailor projects to meet the unique needs of each class, ensuring that everyone stays engaged, motivated, and challenged.

Class 1:

A new year also means a brand-new Class 1 cohort. It’s been fantastic getting to know this energetic group, and we’ve had great success so far with stitching name tags for the students' craft bags and learning the basics of knitting. The class is full of quick and eager learners, and as we explore the fundamentals of knitting, we’ve been fortunate to have a mix of Class 5, 6, 8, and 9 students helping out. Every student has completed a knitted piece for the ‘King of Rainbows’ scarf Harry will wear in the school play. Rather than all creating the same knitted bird this year, students have chosen their own Australian bird to knit using books from the school and town library. We now have a great array of birds, from Willy Wagtails to Wedge-tailed Eagles. I can’t wait to see this project take flight!

Class 2:

Class 2 is now well into the rhythm of craft lessons and has become excellent at following the established routines. We began the year by getting very wet and soapy while creating wet-felted pencil cases. Now, students are working on their knitted dolls, and there are many imaginative accessories and colour combinations in the works. The class is making fantastic progress, with many students set to finish before the end of next term.

Class 3:

In Class 3, we kicked off the year with a woodwork project, as many students enjoy the tactile nature of working with wood. They created decorative “geoboards” by hammering designs into the wood and then used coloured wool to block out thick, woven sections. Students also screwed in eyelets and attached finger knitting to complete their hanging designs. Next, students began their first crochet project – a chain stitch water bottle holder. To encourage peer support and cooperation, the class has been divided into ‘Craft groups,’ and they’ve come up with some very amusing names, such as ‘Africa Cucumbers,’ ‘The Crazy Crafters,’ and ‘Bamboo Pandas.’

Class 4:

In Class 4, we’ve been working hard to create shields in preparation for the Autumn fair. This is no small task and has required many steps: students have designed their shields, sanded the pre-cut circular wood, primed it, painted their designs, forged copper for the centerpieces, hammered tacks into leather around the edges, sanded their handles, and attached all the components together. We can’t wait to share these with you later this week.

Class 5:

Class 5 has embraced the cooler weather and started knitting socks using either two needles or four. Although there are many new faces in Class 5 this year, everyone has picked up knitting quickly and is producing bold and colourful socks. Several students have also been working on entries for the Little Archie Art Award, a portrait competition open to children in Alice Springs. Some very original needle-felted designs have been created for entry. We wish these students the best of luck with their submissions!

Class 6:

This year, we’ve made a change in Class 6. Instead of the doll-making project that lasted the entire year last year, students have been designing their own 3D patterns and felt creations of Australian animals. So far, they have created some very original and innovative designs, using embroidery thread and cutting techniques to create form and texture. The creativity in their approach and the care they’ve put into the execution have made this project a great success. Next term we’ll start on mosaics!

Class 8 & 9:

I’m fortunate to be taking Classes 8 and 9 two afternoons a week this year. We started with a Fine Art unit focused on shading techniques using pencils and fine liners. Each student has chosen a subject to explore and created their own “library” of resources related to their topic. The students are producing some truly high-quality pieces and are deeply engaged in the creative process. We’ve also been lucky to work with Robert, a visiting teacher, in the final weeks of term, learning how to create soapstone carvings. Students first created a clay model of their design based on their Fine Art subject matter and are now carving their designs out of stone.

I look forward to continuing some projects next term and starting a few new ones. There will also be a Class 1 knitting afternoon for parents around Week 3. I’ll provide more details as we get closer to the time.

Bindi