How to Incorporate New Students in Handwork Class?

This blog post is an excerpt from our 5th Grade Handwork Curriculum Guide - available April 24th, 2026!

For many different reasons, students may come into a Waldorf school or other Waldorf inspired setting around 5th or 6th grade, and be exposed to handwork for the first time. It is vitally important to teach to their developmental level, and not ‘put them back’ to recreate projects at the skill level of 1st or 2nd grade, yet they must still acquire those skills.

Cognitively, they are ready for a developmentally appropriate challenge, and emotionally and socially they will want to feel on a par with classmates. Luckily, most 5th graders will learn more quickly than most 1st graders, and if 5th grade includes knitting, many who have knitted before will need a reminder anyway. Remember, knitting may not be appropriate for all students in all locations, but these suggestions are easily adapted.  

This curriculum guide offers several projects which may be successfully completed at the beginning of the year, and which will serve as both a review and an introduction.

Using the example of the pouch, found in our chapter on 5th grade beginner knitting projects, experienced knitters will quickly remember the knit stitch and can learn ribbing or more complex techniques such as basic lace knitting, while newer knitters concentrate on getting very comfortable with the basics. All are making the same project; all are working in the round.

For example, in the four hat options we offer, two are designed to accommodate the beginning knitter by starting off on two single-pointed needles and then transitioning to double-pointed needles, offering challenges at a more basic level, challenging but attainable for the new student. The other two options offer more complex and differentiated levels. All students are knitting in the round, all are making a hat. The same is true for the No-Turn Heel slippers. This is a project that begins on two single-pointed needles and then transitions to double-pointed needles to support children who are new to knitting. Modifying these projects will allow each student to work at their own level, at the same time working towards the same end result, in this case a hat or slippers. All will choose their own color and design. All are challenged at their level, and are successful.

Whether you knit with your students, or choose some other challenging ‘in the round’ project, it is important that you honor their need for developmentally and socially appropriate work. Ideally, all students feel they are working on similar projects, with individual variations or adaptations. It can be helpful to open the year with a straightforward project (see the chapter on cross-curricular and short-term projects) to establish a sense of ‘level playing field’. Beginning in this way creates a shared foundation of success and gives you time to get to know new students, observing how each child approaches the work. 

We do not recommend that a teacher attempts to ‘recap’ handwork skills the new student may have missed in earlier grades. Allow them to enjoy a sense of commonality as they work alongside their peers.

As teachers, we can play with ‘variations on a theme’ and we will know success if some of the experienced knitters want to make a project the newer knitters are comfortably working on!

Click below to learn more about our grades 1-5 Handwork Curriculum Guides.

Handwork Curriculum Guides Grades 1-5

To learn more about teaching handwork grades 1-8 in a public, private, or homeschool setting, join us June 26-28, 2026 for our online international conference: One Continuous Thread: Introduction to Teaching Handwork Grades 1-8

Learn More June Conference 2026