ThreadzCraftKitsWe all know that knitting is a total grandma activity. Sitting in one place, playing with string like a kitten without the promise of a functioning (or attractive) article of clothing in return is only for the long tempered and patient (read: not me). I picked up knitting as a teenager, and put it back down. Tried again, got bored. Told myself I’d make everyone in my life a scarf for the holidays, and then remembered that I was in college and couldn’t knit while writing a term paper. So when I picked up the Threadz scarf kit, from PlaSmart, I was a little weary that I wouldn’t be able to finish an entire scarf without either getting bored or royally messing something up.

The thing about looms—and this probably explains Rainbow Loom’s popularity—is that once you start working, it’s easy to find a groove. Kids will love how quickly they see their work transformed into physical objects they can wear or give as gifts. And Threadz kits aren’t just for girls. Boys can simply change out the included yarn (if they want) and voila! A warm neck and cozy ears.

Threadz hooking kits for beanies and purses are also available, as well as mini-kits to create smaller crafts, such as headbands and yarn jewelry. And even though the included yarn may fade, the looms last forever, so you can use your own yarn to continue creating.

Also included in each hooking kit is a plastic finishing needle and a knitting hook. The creative possibilities are nearly endless for a kid with the right mindset. Crafty kids can learn tricks to create entirely new projects based solely on their looping skills. Knit and pearl, meet Google and YouTube.

After struggling a little with the included yarn (which was cute and would probably make a toasty little scarf, but was too textured for my patience and a little hard to get to stay on the loom’s pegs), I switched it out for something boring in my stash from the aforementioned gift-making initiative. The kit’s instructions include text descriptions and diagrams detailing the proper wrapping needed to ensure that the scarf stays together, which is both helpful and necessary. What’s also necessary is actually listening when the instructions say to keep the yarn pulled tight while weaving. So while my scarf was looking a little too loopy to keep my neck warm, I saw progress almost immediately. (The end of) A scarf! It was happening!

So as I sat in my parents’ toasty living room on Thanksgiving Eve, wrapping and hooking, pulling and looping, wondering how this toy designed for small kids could be so difficult for an “adult” like me, I thought about how much I loved knitting as a kid. I still wear my homemade scarves and ear-warmers with pride today and secretly love when people ask where I bought it, just so I can tell them that I actually made it myself because I am a #specialstar. Even though my sister was neater and better at knitting, and even though I could never remember how to pearl, creating something practical was great for my still-developing self-esteem. It’s as if someone is feeding you a bite of chocolate cake for every step on a treadmill. Threadz is a great way for kids to let out creativity while watching their hard work pay off in real-time.

About the author

Alexis Willey

Alexis Willey

Alexis Willey is an editorial intern at Adventure Publishing Group. She assists the editors on leading trade magazines The Toy Book and The Licensing Book and online at toybook.com and licensingbook.com. She also contributes to the weekly e-newsletters The Licensing Report and The Toy Report. Alexis spends her time (and money) going to concerts, city hopping, and shamelessly taking pictures of her food. When she isn’t making “just one more” cup of coffee, she’s probably working on her university’s literary magazine and getting really geeky about words and design. Follow her travels and strange commentary on Twitter and Instagram: @alexisrwilley.

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