When working with natural materials it's really useful to know a few knots and lashings that can help you join and attach.
Some people are reluctant to learn knots and over complicated knots and lashings can be a barrier to learning and crafting- so we've done our best to keep it simple! Here's one knot and two lashings that you'll find really useful with our other resources and while out on an adventure.
Once you master these skills the possibilities are endless, we've built rafts and tree houses using these few simple skills.
Whilst using this nature activity to inspire learning, know you are helping you and your family's wellbeing like this:
2) Keep Learning - learning how to use knots and lashings can open up a world of other activities for you to attempt in the great outdoors. Learning to tie knots takes concentration and time and most importantly practice, but once you have learnt how to do them, you will suddenly find lots of uses for them! Why not try out building a miniature tripod shelter (Nature Activity - Build a fairy den) to practice utilising the lashing on a home based scale first. will enable better understanding when aiming to build a tepee style den either in your garden or in the woods on a larger scale.
3) Be Mindful - Notice any barriers that you or family members put up to learning how to tie knots - many of them are based in a place of lack of self-worth, from the place of 'I can't'. Remember "I can'.
4) Practice Kindness - Give yourselves all plenty of time and plenty encouragement, it's ok to get it wrong many many times over. Be kind with yourselves even if you don't manage it.
5) Think Community - Share the practical ways in which you found uses for these knots and lashings in your home or when crafting and if you manage to use them to build beautiful creations out in nature, share your successes too.
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