4-H'ERS LEARN TO KNIT OLD-FASHIONED WAY.Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer ``Halfway'' isn't in the vocabulary of the 4-H fiber arts group in Agua Dulce Agua Dulce is Spanish for "sweet water". It also refers to various locations: In Mexico:
Using a sheep raised by one of its members, the 4-H members shear the animal and spin the wool into yarn for making belts, purses, scarves and hair bands. ``It takes a couple of years,'' said Val Daley, the project leader for the 8- to 14-year-olds who are learning how to crochet, knit, spin yarn and weave the materials using hand held cardboard looms. They start on simple items, such as hair bands and pouches, making them out of acrylic yard from a store. Once they master those projects, they use their homemade yarn to make more elaborate items that they enter into the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley Fair where they compete for ribbons. ``It's fun and challenging,'' said Erin Wek, 10, as she knitted a dish cloth from pink, white and blue yarn. ``You can make lots of different things.'' The group uses wool from merino Merino Breed of medium-sized sheep originating in Spain that has become prominent worldwide. It has a white face, white legs, and crimped fine-wool fleece. Known as early as the 12th century, it may have been a Moorish importation. and rambouillet sheep Rambouillet sheep (răm`b  lā'), fine-wool breed developed in France from the Spanish Merino sheep. , as well as Angora fur from rabbits and hair from Old English sheepdogs old English sheepdog, breed of large, wiry working dog developed in England in the early 19th cent. It stands from 21 to 25 in. (53.3–63.5 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 55 to 65 lb (24.9–29.5 kg). and even the Daleys' collie collie, breed of large, agile working dog developed in Scotland during the 17th and 18th cent. It stands from 22 to 26 in. (55.9–66 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 50 to 75 lb (22.7–34 kg). , Callie. During the next two years, the Years, The the seven decades of Eleanor Pargiter’s life. [Br. Lit.: Benét, 1109] See : Time children will learn each step in the process of creating textiles, from hand-dying the materials to carding it, pulling apart the delicate fibers to make them easier to spin. They also will shear sheep. ``They will work hand in hand with the shearer,'' Daley said of the children, who will help hold the animals during the cutting process. Youngsters said they enjoy the camaraderie of the group and a sense of accomplishment. ``I have a result of what I made,'' said 11-year-old Lindsay Henson who made her first afghan - a pink, white, green and yellow affair - at age 9. ``It's fun. You can make Christmas gifts,'' said Hannah Daley, 11, who has finished two of three scarves she plans to give away this holiday season. The group of girls even has attracted two boys: Jason Wek, 12, and Caleb DiPaola, 8. ``I was at a loss for creating Christmas presents, and I wanted to make something that people would enjoy and would keep for life,'' said Jason, who became interested after spotting some crafts Hannah made. Jason and Caleb said they don't mind being the only two boys in the otherwise all-girls group. ``It doesn't bother us,'' Jason said as he deftly crocheted a hair band, his current project. ``People haven't teased us yet.'' The two even take pride in their pioneering ways. ``We're like the first boys who've ever been in this project,'' Caleb said. The youngsters face not only gender stereotypes but age stereotypes among their peers as well. ``They think when you're knitting that you have to be old,'' Lindsay said. ``My sister is 8 years old, and she's learning how to crochet.'' The course gives youngsters a sense of independence, patience and appreciation for American pioneers who made their own clothing, 4-H leaders said. ``It teaches them appreciation for things they can buy ready-made, and it gives them a feeling of being able to do for themselves and a connection to life that most of us have never had,'' Daley said. ``You have a connection to how our ancestors Our Ancestors (Italian: I Nostri Antenati) is the name of Italo Calvino's "heraldic trilogy" that comprises The Cloven Viscount (1952), The Baron in the Trees (1957), and The Nonexistent Knight (1959). clothed clothe tr.v. clothed or clad , cloth·ing, clothes 1. To put clothes on; dress. 2. To provide clothes for. 3. To cover as if with clothing. themselves. That's a real empowering thing for these kids to have.'' Parents said they also noticed a difference among their children. ``They get a lot of hand-eye coordination hand-eye coordination Eye-hand coordination Surgery Oculomanual synchronization, required by surgeons, especially for laparoscopic surgery. See Laparoscopic surgery, Paradoxical movement. ,'' said Reba Wek, who has two children in the fiber arts group. ``They learn to develop their own sense of beauty, and it helps increase their confidence. They can do trial and error'' without fear of failure. ``It gives them a sense of accomplishment,'' said Laura DiPaola, who also has two children in the group. ``They take pride in giving presents to their grandparents grandparents npl → abuelos mpl grandparents grand npl → grands-parents mpl grandparents grand npl that come from the heart.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1--color) 4-H Club members in Agua Dulce learn the art of weaving at their club meeting. (2) Jennie ZiegeTlmeyer learns how to handle a drop spindle by watching 4-H instructor Val Daley. Hans Gutknecht/Daily News |
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