Meet the Handwork Team!
We are honored to be working with an amazing team of handwork teachers who are coordinating this portion of the conference!
Elizabeth Seward
Elizabeth Seward is the co-founder and director of Waldorf Handwork Educators. She has 35+ years teaching Handwork and other subjects in public, private, and homeschool Waldorf settings. She was co-director of a nationally recognized Waldorf teacher training institute from 2000 - 2003. Elizabeth is a trained Waldorf class teacher in the grades. She holds a PhD in Education, an MA in second language learning, and an MA in Education and Spirituality. She is author of Teaching Through Stories: Jane and Jeremy Learn to Knit
Shellie Smith
Shellie Smith is the co-founder and director of Waldorf Handwork Educators. She has found profound joy in guiding and empowering handwork teachers around the world. Shellie is a lifelong educator with over 25 years of experience in both public, private, and homeschool Waldorf learning environments.
With a background in social work and education, and formal training in Waldorf handwork education from the Rudolf Steiner College, Shellie brings a rich blend of skill, heart, and experience to her work. She believes that teaching through the imagination and fostering authentic relationships are the keys to meaningful, lasting learning. Shellie is also the author and illustrator of A Twisted Tangled Tale: A Handwork Fairy Tale,
We are thrilled to have a special handwork presentation with Alice Hoyle!
Neuroknitting: How Handwork Can Better Support Neurodivergent Learners
This reflective session explores knitting and handwork through a neurodivergent lens, drawing on personal experience, sensory wellbeing and creative practice.
We will consider how neurodivergent conditions such as autism, ADHD and dyspraxia can shape a learner’s experience of handwork, including sensory preferences, attention, emotional regulation, demand avoidance, perfectionism, rejection sensitivity and the challenge of following patterns. We will also explore the power of choice, autonomy, rhythm, repetition and creative expression, including freestyle making without fixed patterns.
The session will look at how knitting and fibre work can support focus, regulation, crossing the midline, confidence, creativity and a sense of belonging, while also recognising where traditional approaches may unintentionally create barriers.
It will include practical reflections on inclusive adaptations, small projects, handwork as a regulating “fidget”, and ways to honour both skill development and individual creative expression.
Handwork Projects
Classroom Sensory Kits
Creating classroom sensory kits for each grade level offers children accessible tools to support focus, self-regulation, and emotional wellbeing throughout the school day. Handmade fidgets crafted from natural fibers such as wool, cotton, yarn, and cloth provide rich sensory experiences that can help calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and support a wide range of learning needs. These kits also create opportunities for parent craft circles, faculty craft circles, and older students to make meaningful items for younger children, strengthening community while fostering empathy, craftsmanship, and service. During the conference, we will explore seven different projects that can be incorporated into your classroom sensory kits.
Free Stitch Collage Pencil Case
Free stitch collage is an exceptionally flexible handwork project that can be adapted to meet a wide range of skill levels, developmental stages, and learning needs within the same classroom. Through simple, repetitive stitching and open-ended creative choices, students strengthen fine motor skills, focus, perseverance, and self-expression while working at a pace that feels comfortable and achievable. Because there is no single “right” outcome, every student can experience success while developing confidence, creativity, and a sense of belonging. This project offers a welcoming and supportive entry point for diverse learners while still providing opportunities for challenge and growth.
Open-Ended Side Projects: English Paper Piecing
Open-ended side projects such as English paper piecing offer a flexible and inclusive way for students to explore shape, color, pattern, and design while working at their own pace and skill level. These projects can provide a welcome alternative for students who feel overwhelmed, need a break from a long-term handwork project, or would benefit from a quieter, more self-directed creative experience. They also serve as meaningful work for early finishers and are easily adapted to support a wide range of developmental stages, learning styles, and diverse needs. Through this open-ended process, every student has the opportunity to experience success, creativity, and engagement in the handwork classroom.
