Customer Reviews

Corking (Kids Can Do It)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the best book on corking (spool knitting) that I've ever found. It includes directions for making several sizes of corkers from materials you probably already have around the house and a lot of different projects not just the potholders that everyone remembers learning how to make when they were kids. This book shows you how to make bendable animals, baby mittens, finger puppets, socks and much more. The directions are clear and easy to follow. I started a six and a ten year old corking and have had several requests to make corkers for their friends.

This book is excellent for beginner "corkers". It teaches how to make different sized spools and explains which size spool to use for each project listed. This is an easy craft and even my four-year-old is picking up on it quickly. We are "corking" baby mits (a project in the book) and baby hats (our own adaptation from the projects in the book using a much larger can) to donate to Newborns In Need for the winter.

This is not necessarily a book on what to do with those long, thin corked snakes, though it has a few projects dealing with that and a few additional ideas to get you thinking. Rather, it is a book that goes beyond those little "snakes" and shows that you can make a variety of corking projects with different sized spools. After a great deal of searching, I believe it is the only book of its kind currently on the market and it is a good book at that.

Some things to keep in mind:

The cans listed in the book seem to be standard in a country other than the US as I was unable to find the exact sizes listed. We found the closest sizes we could and were able to easily adapt them to the projects. If you want to change the size of a project, just use a different sized can or other cylinder shaped item to make your spool. For example, we use a big Sam's Club sized apple sauce can for making baby hats. Typical cans would be too small.

Also, the instructions guide you to attach the nail sets in pairs across from each other around the can. However, when listing how many nail sets are required for each size can, the number is not always an even number. I prefer to measure about 1/2 - 5/8 inch spaces between each nail set and go from there.

Make sure you clean your cans and nails before you start! :)

For the safest edges possible on your cans, use the Zyliss Safe 'n Secure Can Opener (available here on Amazon) when opening your cans. It's still a good idea to tape the edges for safety, but this will help to reduce the possibility of injury when preparing your can for spooling.

I find that the softer, stretchier baby yarn is the easiest to cork with and, of course, makes great baby mits and hats. My four-year-old has a much easier time with the baby yarn than with your standard worsted weight acrylic yarn, though I suspect with practice he'll be pretty handy with just about any kind of yarn he likes.

I made these homemade corkers with a group of girls this summer (ages 8-14) after someone donated two commercially-made ones to our non-profit summer and after-school program and the girls went crazy over them.

When I was a kid we used to make them out of wooden sewing spools and nails but you can't find wooden spools anymore. When I searched for some to buy and discovered the prices I was shocked. Then I found a review for this book and it sounded like just the thing I was looking for. This book shows you how to make them in all sizes, out of ordinary items like paper towel tubes, cans, tape and nails. They are easy to make and they work great!!

It is also nice to have some ideas of what to do with the yarn ropes afterwards, which this book also covers. I would have liked to see a few more ideas in this part, especially for the larger can corkers.

Overall, a great investment.

This is a great introduction to fiber crafts. First, you make a spool knitter from either a toilet paper roll or empty can. Then once you are knitting, it gives some very creative ideas for using the results. I'd put it up there with "Kids Knitting" by Melanie Falick as a great fiber book for kids.

If you already have a spool knitter and lots of "snakes" on hand you will be disappointed. There are not a lot of projects, especially for the smaller snakes. Too much of the book is devoted to making spool knitters.

It's a short book but with good ideas - good as a reference book for ideas but not too easy to follow - if used with kids Mom or Dad will need to explain what they mean in the directions.

I am very satisfied with the service I received when I ordered this book from amazon.com. It is a great book on corking or using a "knitting nancy" or whatever you may have called this device when you were growing up. Thanks for providing excellent service once again!

I found this an excellent book - it had easy to read and follow patterns and was really helpful. I would recommend it to anyone who needs some ideas for corking patterns.

The projects in this book are fun and creative, and the instructions are easy to follow. The only thing I didn't like about the book is that it had all drawings instead of photographs, and the drawings seemed very childlike. They were the kind of drawings you would expect to see in a toddlers storybook.