In this ongoing private knitting class for beginners, kids will learn the basics of knitting such as how to make a slip knot, how to cast stitches onto their knitting needles, how to make different knit stitches such as the garter stitch and stockinette stitch, plus more!
Here are some guidelines of what I plan to teach each week, this list as well as the supplies list for projects will be updated as the class goes on so you know what to expect:

- Week 1 <Topic 1: Slip Knot, Cast On and Garter Stitch>
-Supplies Needed: A pair of knitting needles (US size 8) (5mm), a skein of size 4 worsted weight acrylic yarn in any color (Note: For beginners, lighter colored yarn is easier to see the stitches), scissors and a yarn needle (also known as a tapestry or darning needle).
- During week 1, I will teach your child some beginning knitting skills such as how to make a slip knot, how to cast stitches onto knitting needles, and how to knit rows to create a garter stitch. We will do this by creating practice swatches. Making swatches is a great way to learn and get the hang of each stitch before starting any projects! Please make sure to keep the practice swatches on the knitting needles as we will need them for the next week.

- Week 2 <Topic 2: Stockinette Stitch, Cast off>
-Supplies Needed: A pair of knitting needles (US size 8) (5mm), a skein of size 4 worsted weight acrylic yarn in any color (Note: For beginners, lighter colored yarn is easier to see the stitches), scissors and a yarn needle (also known as a tapestry or darning needle).
-Make sure you keep your swatches from the week before! For week 2, not only will your child will learn how to purl a row of stitches, but that when they switch between knitting one row and purling the next, they get a stockinette stitch. After practicing the stockinette stitch, I will teach your child how to cast off their stitches (how to finish their projects), and they will have their first finished practice swatch!

- Week 3 <Topic 3: Starting A Project Using Skills Learned>
-Supply list for project 1 (Monster Stuffed Animal) (See thumbnail): A pair of knitting needles (US size 8) (5mm), a skein of size 4 worsted weight acrylic yarn in any color (Note: For beginners, lighter colored yarn is easier to see the stitches), scissors, yarn needle (also known as a tapestry or darning needle), a row counter (This is used to count the rows of your project. Some paper and a pencil can be used to keep tracked of rows as an alternative), stuffing (cotton balls also work as an alternative), fabric glue or any kind of glue that can stick fabric together (I used Aleene's Original Tacky Glue for this project), squares of felt in desired colors for details.
-During week 3, we'll take everything we've learned from the weeks prior to start our very first project! This project will be a super fun monster stuffed animal (See thumbnail) which your child can customize at the end with felt pieces and fabric glue! I'll guide your child as we switch from garter stitch, to stockinette stitch, and back to garter stitch to make the body of the stuffed animal. 

- Week 4 <Topic 3: Finishing Project Using Skills Learned Plus New Skills Such As Stuffing And Sewing>
-Supply list for project 1 (Monster Stuffed Animal) (See thumbnail): A pair of knitting needles (US size 8) (5mm), a skein of size 4 worsted weight acrylic yarn in any color (Note: For beginners, lighter colored yarn is easier to see the stitches), scissors, yarn needle (also known as a tapestry or darning needle), a row counter (This is used to count the rows of your project. Some paper and a pencil can be used to keep tracked of rows as an alternative), stuffing (cotton balls also work as an alternative), fabric glue or any kind of glue that can stick fabric together (I used Aleene's Original Tacky Glue for this project), squares of felt in desired colors for details.
-For week 4, I'll teach your child how to finish up their project by possibly finishing up the body of the stuffed animal if it wasn't already finished in the previous week, and how to stuff and sew the project together using stuffing and a yarn needle (also known as a darning or tapestry needle). Once that step is complete, they are free to use their creativity to customize their monster however they like by cutting out fabric pieces and gluing them on with fabric glue!

The beauty of this private ongoing class is that although I have set this list of teaching into specific weeks, they are still just guidelines and can easily be modified to the pace of your child, meaning, if there are certain things we might not have time to go over in one week, they can easily be taught the next week. They are also more than welcome practice certain stitches a week or two more before starting a project if they like, or to even learn a little more during one week if time allows!

My goal when teaching is to always keep it fun and encouraging! I believe confidence and positive energy is a great way to make any child a great crafter!

**Note to the parents: Knitting can is a craft that requires a lot of hand and finger dexterity as well as a long attention span. I know each child works at a different pace, has a different attention span and their own level of dexterity. Because I don't know your child, their attention span, the pace they work at, or their dexterity level, it is up to you as the parent to decide by looking at the thumbnail and the description if you feel this class is too difficult for them. If needed, you are more than welcome to assist your child off camera should a step be to difficult and/or they need help.