In Class Four students learn to cross stitch. The finished product is sewn onto the front of their new, handwork bag.
by Louisa Hopewell, Handwork Teacher
As schools transitioned into distance learning, the importance of Handwork in Waldorf Education remained. Students at the Waldorf School of Cape Cod were given a small knitted project to keep their hands and minds busy while the rest of their daily life transformed. Students were disappointed at first that their current class projects were put on hold, but they were enthusiastic to continue handwork in the comfort of their homes.
A knitted scarf from Class One
As a Handwork teacher, I wasn’t sure if remote knitting would work. Or what success would look like, and how I might have to adjust my expectations for myself and my students. I wouldn’t be there to help with dropped stitches, or to offer encouragement when students felt like their projects were at a standstill.
I will admit that it was touch and go the first few weeks. My youngest students accustomed to sitting close and checking in with each knitted row were now only given what support I could offer twice a week, through a screen.
A pair of socks from Class Five
But looking back, I am thrilled to see the independence and confidence that all of my handwork students gained. My youngest students became experts at recognizing and fixing their mistakes. Older students were able to cast on and off with ease, read through knitted animal patterns, and make beautiful projects start to finish. Their eagerness to continue with handwork was uplifting and inspiring.
The start of a mitten from a student who finished their fifth grade socks.
As my gaze shifts to the new school year, it’s a mixture of excitement and worry. I know there will be challenges. But the ever-present joy of handwork remains in the forefront. I have seen the dedication of my fellow Waldorf teachers and know that as a community, we will find innovative ways to continue our commitment to educate the whole child.
Although students had to put their class projects on hold when remote learning started, they have not been forgotten! Here are a few that we will continue when we come back to the classroom.
A completed “roly poly.” This was the project that students completed during remote learning.
