Dive into the wonderful and creative world of fiber arts and crafts with this easy-to-follow activity book packed with over 70 projects across a variety of fiber arts including knitting, felting, knotting and braiding, spinning, weaving, crocheting, and dyeing. Clear instructions and illustrations guide you in creating these cute, useful crafts. Learn to: felt a handy bag, braid a small rug, weave a colorful tapestry, knit comfy slippers, crochet an eye-catching belt, make and use natural dyes, repurpose old clothing, and much more! Along the way you'll learn fascinating fiber facts and history, such as how Viking ships' woolen sails were made, the history of rope bridges, how artists in Japan craft giant straw sculptures, and much more. Fun for younger kids to explore with a caregive or older kids to work through alone, Knit, Hook, and Spin belongs in any craft-loving kid's home or classroom.  Gr 4–7—In this joyous exploration of fiber arts, students will learn how to felt, knot, spin, weave, knit, crochet, and dye a variety of textiles. Before the activities begin, different fibers (natural and synthetic) are defined and given a brief history—a valuable resource for even the most seasoned of crafters. Each section provides a comprehensive overview of practical skill-building projects and fun decorative ones. For instance, in the "Weaving" chapter, string art coasters introduce kids to crossing yarn strands so that they can later make tiny fork flowers. The highlight of this title is in the copious amounts of historical, technical, and pop culture information that appears in sidebars—ranging from the boycott of English cloth by Indian independence seekers to George Washington Carver's expertise on and love of textile arts. Social issues are also briefly covered with the mention of the use of crochet mats by charity and church organizations for the homeless (to keep bedding dry) and comfort dolls for abused or traumatized children. VERDICT The fiber projects in this book make for a perfect occasion for library "crafternoons" or at-home child and caregiver bonding.—Kathryn Diman, Bass Harbor Memorial Library, Bernard, ME “Readers interested in exploring fiber crafts should find this to be an accessible entry point, with a broad range of methods to try.” —Publishers Weekly "From slippers to tote bags and from friendship bracelets to comfort dolls, there is something for almost anyone wanting to learn how to create from these very tactile sources. Tear up your T-shirts, unravel old sweaters, warm up your fingers, and create some handcrafted fun for yourself, for friends, and for those in need of small comforts." — Kirkus Reviews "The whole design, with its clean layout and good-sized print invites children to pick it up..." — Booklist , starred review "In this joyous exploration of fiber arts, students will learn how to felt, knot, spin, weave, knit, crochet, and dye a variety of textiles." — School Library Journal "This is a great book for kids and adults, who want to learn to craft but aren't sure where to go." —Mom Read It “Want to draw the kids in your life into fiber arts plus keep them busy all summer? Take a look at this book.” —Knitty “Creative kids will love the crafts and art projects in this book.” —Batch of Books Laurie Carlson is the author of over 20 nonfiction books for children and adults, including Colonial Kids , More Than Moccasins , Westward Ho!, and others. She raises Shetland sheep and mohair goats on her small farm in Oregon, where she operates an artisanal yarn store. Carlson enjoys speaking to local groups about goats, sheep, and fiber arts. Visit her online at http://lauriecarlsoncrafts.wordpress.com.  Knit, Hook, and Spin A Kid's Activity Guide to Fiber Arts and Crafts By Laurie Carlson Chicago Review Press Incorporated Copyright © 2016 Laurie Carlson All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-61373-400-1 Contents Introduction, Know Your Fibers, The First Fabric: Felting, All Tied Up: Knotting and Braiding, Round and Round: Spinning, Over and Under: Weaving, It's Just Loops: Knitting, Kid with a Crook: Crocheting, Color, Color, Color: Dyeing, Freebies: Recycled Projects, Get Involved!, Note to Adults: The Benefits of Fiber Arts, CHAPTER 1 Know Your Fibers Fiber is the basic ingredient in crafting — sort of like flour for a baker and soil for a gardener. Fibers are thin strands of plant stems (linen), fluff from seed pods (cotton), animal hair (wool), or tiny strands of plastic (acrylic) that are twisted together to make yarn. Fiber can be as thin as sewing thread or as thick as rope. But before fibers can be twisted together, a lot of preparation must be done. Fibers from plants or animals must be clipped, washed, fluffed, combed, and dyed. Fibers create different types of finished projects. Whether your project will be silky, soft, stretchy, shiny, or warm is determined by the type of fiber. Some fibers can be scratchy — like jut