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Portrait of Sierra Roberts
by: Sierra Roberts

School’s Out For Summer!

Let’s all give a big cheer for summertime!

Now that school’s out we’ve got more time to focus on important things, like having fun! But what to do on those rainy days, or between trips to the beach? Fear not, dear reader, for we’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of awesome projects that will provide hands-on learning and plenty of entertainment for the whole family…

You might have noticed the quintessential coastal Maine buoy photo above. Believe it or not, these are made out of fiber! Needle felting can produce a wide range of cool things, but you’ll need to be sure there’s a parent around to supervise. Our [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] comes with everything you need to make 5 little buoys. If you don’t want the whole kit, you can also purchase the pattern (in print or as a PDF download) on its own and pick your own colors of Ashford NZ Wool Fiber to Spin and Felt.

 

[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
  [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
Ashford NZ Wool Fiber to Spin and Felt Ashford NZ Wool Fiber to Spin and Felt
Lobster Buoy Ornament Pattern  Lobster Buoy Ornament Pattern
Lobster Buoy Ornament Pattern  Lobster Buoy Ornament Pattern

Felting can also be done without sharp objects – just take a peek at our Felted Ball Mobile Kits. Available in bold or pastel colors, these little balls are made simply by dipping fiber in soapy water and rolling it into shape. These kits come with the fiber, string, and dowels needed to make a full-sized mobile, or head to the beach or woods for sticks to use in place of the dowels.

 

[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
  [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
  [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]

Another simple wet felting project is our Felted Soap Stones Fiber Pack Kit. This kit includes fiber and instructions, you just have to add grated soap. They end up looking so realistic, kids will enjoy tricking their friends into thinking they’re real stones!

 

Felted Soap Stones Fiber Pack Kit  Felted Soap Stones Fiber Pack Kit

If you’re looking for something colorful, I recommend our [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] . This is similar to the soap stones; all you need is soap. If you’ve already got some fiber lying around at home, you can always purchase the instructions separately in print or as a PDF download.

 

[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
  [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
Felted Soap Balls Pattern - Merino Fiber   Felted Soap Balls Pattern - Merino Fiber
Felted Soap Balls Pattern - Merino Fiber - Pattern download  Felted Soap Balls Pattern - Merino Fiber - Pattern download

You can also leave out the soap and use something more substantial as a base, such as in this Felted Ball Kit from Harrisville. This kit includes three tennis balls, fiber, and a few bits of yarn to add to the process for a little extra pizzazz. These make great dryer balls too!

 

Felted Color Ball Kit - Harrisville  Felted Color Ball Kit - Harrisville

I can’t talk about family projects without mentioning the timeless, ever-popular, easy to use potholder looms! The Harrisville Potholder Looms come in two sizes: the Harrisville Potholder Loom Kit - Cotton Loops (makes 2) makes a 5.5″ potholder and uses the smaller Harrisville Potholder Loops - Traditional Size Mini Pack Yarn.
The Deluxe Harrisville Potholder Loom Kit - Cotton Loops (makes 6) makes an 8.5″ potholder and uses the larger Harrisville Potholder Loops - Pro Size Mini Pack Yarn. Make sure to get the right size for your loom!

 

Harrisville Potholder Loom Kit - Cotton Loops (makes 2)  Harrisville Potholder Loom Kit - Cotton Loops (makes 2)
Harrisville Potholder Loops - Traditional Size Mini Pack Yarn Harrisville Potholder Loops - Traditional Size Mini Pack Yarn
Deluxe Harrisville Potholder Loom Kit - Cotton Loops (makes 6)  Deluxe Harrisville Potholder Loom Kit - Cotton Loops (makes 6)
Harrisville Potholder Loops - Pro Size Mini Pack Yarn Harrisville Potholder Loops - Pro Size Mini Pack Yarn

You don’t have to buy these as kits, either. You can get the Harrisville Potholder Pro Loom on its own (it uses the larger loops), or there’s also the [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] , which uses the smaller loops.

 

Harrisville Potholder Pro Loom   Harrisville Potholder Pro Loom
[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
  [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]

Harrisville also has a few kits for making purses out of your potholders. The Potholder Purse Kit - Brights and the [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] both come with a loom, loops, and instructions to make a cute little purse.

 

Potholder Purse Kit - Brights  Potholder Purse Kit - Brights
[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
  [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]

For the young weavers out there Harrisville makes a rigid heddle loom that is perfect for kids to use – also in two sizes!  The [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] and the [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] . With clear instructions and east to use equipment, weavers of any age can learn easily. The [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] will help you come up with ideas, or you can grab one of their already made yarn packs.

 

[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
  [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
  [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
  [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
  [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
  [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]

Tapestry weaving is all the rage with grown-ups, so why not for kids too? The [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] is a great starter, and there’s also the larger [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] .  If you’ve already got one of these looms, you can pick up a [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] or (my favorite) a [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] .

 

[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
  [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
  [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
  [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
  [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
  [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]

Our Triple Play Tapestry Kits can be done on the Harrisville Lap Looms as well, so it’s perfect for you too!

For kids learning how to knit, the [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] and the [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] are perfect. These come with yarn, needles, and instructions to get them going!

 

[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
  [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
  [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]

Spool knitting is something I remember doing throughout my childhood, so I of course have a soft spot for it. The Harrisville Traditional Spool Knitting Kit is just like what I had as a kid, but I also would have loved to make something with this [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] because what kid wouldn’t?

 

Harrisville Traditional Spool Knitting Kit  Harrisville Traditional Spool Knitting Kit
[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]
  [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]

If you’re looking to add a little color to your summer, you might be interested in this Tie Dye Kit. Everyone, grab a white T-shirt and get ready!

 

Tie Dye Kit  Tie Dye Kit

These are just a few suggestions, but I’d guess there’s enough here to keep you and your family busy for a while. Just don’t forget to get outside and enjoy the sunshine, too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related items of interest: • Our fibersFelting PatternsFelting KitsWeaving EquipmentOur yarnsSuper Bulky weight yarnsCotton yarnsMulti-Craft Kits