Summer Snails
Play , Summer 2012
Rhythm of the HomeNo Comment
Summer can be a time to slow down and enjoy days outside in the sunshine discovering nature, exploring, and reading. Nothing speaks of slowing down more than snails!
This is a summer project to make a snail finger puppet that you can use to help with your storytelling and summertime play with your children.
Supplies
Yarn of your choice, I enjoy the look of a variegated wool rainbow yarn
Yarn tower
Scissors
Wood bead
Garden gloves
Thread and needle
Drill and woodglue
Instructions
Step 1
Start by creating a knitted yarn tube. I suggest an approximately 6 inch tube. I like to use a knitting tower and kids love to use the tower as well. Knot off both ends of the tube when you have the desired length.
Step 2
Roll your yarn tube onto itself, creating a spiral. This will be your snail shell. Take a needle and thread and do some stitches through the spiral shell to secure the pieces together.
Step 3
Take a pair of garden gloves and cut off one of the fingers. You can cut off the other fingers to make more snail finger puppets and then keep your other glove as a spare for when you are working in the garden!
Step 4
With a needle and thread attach the spiral shell to the top of your finger you cut from the glove. Make sure not to stitch all the way through the finger so that you can get your finger inside.
Step 5
The final step is to attach the wood bead on the front of the shell. This can be done with needle and thread, again watching to make sure you do not sew all the way through both layers of the finger. You can drill two small holes with a fine drill bit and secure two yarn antenna with wood glue if desired.
from The Children of Hat Cottage by Elsa Beskow
Your snail is ready to enjoy a long slow summer of reading, playing, and storytelling. You never know when a fun snail will show up in your stories.
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Chris Willow is a mother, crafter, storyteller and toymaker. She enjoys creating roots with mothers and children in her community. Her inspiration has always grown from her world she shares with her husband and two sons in the beautiful Missouri. She has a store on Etsy and blogs at mamaroots where she shares her love of crafting, mothering and reading a great book.
Rhythm of the Home is an online magazine for families that focuses on creating with children, nature explorations, seasonal celebrations, conscious parenting, and mindfulness in all that we .
