So many craft writers mention their creative aunts, moms or grandmothers who taught them the rudiments of
something on a rainy afternoon to keep them out of trouble, which later gave them confidence to design. It does seem to me that growing a market for our fabrics, books and knitting patterns needs to include the people who will be buying them in 10 years, but the “Not your mother’s craft,” cant has to go. I am the mother now, and I’m not willing to be dismissed.
How did the moms, grandmas and aunties pull that off? My mother and I did craft together, especially in sewing clothes. We also
struggled over taste (for some reason she didn’t think I should have 9 inch hibiscus flowers on my Easter Dress.) Mom now smirks at me as my
daughter alternately begs for instruction in various crafts, and declares that I just don’t understand her, or worse; that I do
understand her but I’m not being very gentle about it. There is a lot bound up in the learning; confidence, thrift, budgeting, allowing
yourself to have leisure as a woman, what to do with failure, math, body image, charity, mortality, managing stress…everything we go through, but processed through a child’s mind and heart.
I’d love to hear about teaching craft to children – and the tricky bits where they are your own children. Even as a homeschooler, there are
times when I wonder if I need an outside instructor, especially when there needs to be some constructive criticism. I’m always nervous that
I’m not passing on enough body confidence. I haven’t found any Organize Your Workspace books for 9 year olds. Taking over the living room does not count as an Organize Your Workspace strategy. Meanwhile I need to lay out a dress, and the largest floor space is … in the living room. What do you do to pass on crafts? Do you speak up when you see a problem ahead, let them figure it out, or some third way?
eta I had a typo in the title! Phew, all fixed now.