Lacing Legends Teacher Playbook Teen Leader Field Guide (Ages 16-19)
Lacing Legends Playbook
Leader Rank
Camp Facilitator Manual
Your Role: Cool Older Sibling
As a teen leader, you are the ultimate role model. Kids (ages 8-13) want to impress you! Avoid acting like a strict school teacher. Instead, act like a skilled older sibling sharing a legendary campfire craft. Keep your energy high, reward focus with badge stamps, and use the crowd controls below to manage the room effortlessly.
Age Dynamics
Ages 8-10: Need help holding loops steady. Frustrate easily.Ages 11-13: Love challenges and speed runs.
Crowd Control: Three Magic Commands
1. "Hold 'em High!"
When the room gets too loud or distracted: call out "Hold 'em High!"
Action: All kids must hold their gimp in the air, stopping all braiding.
2. Clap Attack
Clap a fast 1-2, 1-2-3 rhythm without saying anything.
Action: Distracted kids will automatically mimic your claps. Repeats until silent.
3. "Peer Power"
Enforce the "Help Three Before Me" rule.
Action: If a child asks for help, ask: "Which 3 classmates did you ask first?"
Leader Session Prep Checklist (15 Mins Before Class)
Set up individual labeled envelopes with kid names for storage.
Pre-cut "Armspan" lengths (approx. 3.5 ft) of primary gimp colors.
Secure key rings and lanyard clips in separate small paper cups.
Pin the "Stitch Master Sheets" to clipboard tables.
Lay out ink pads/stamps for marking off completed skill badges.
Prepare massive "demonstration ropes" (e.g., jump ropes) for lessons.
Lacing Legends Academy • Teen Leader Playbook Page 1 of 3
Daily Lesson Plans: Weeks 1–4 (75 Mins Each)
Phase 1: Foundations
WEEK 1 Stitch Focus: Chinese Staircase
Loop Launchpad: Safe Cuts & Easy Spirals
00-15m: Intro Rules. Hand out progress cards. Explain gimp safety.15-30m: Demo Chinese Staircase with giant rope. Show how active strand wraps a "4" shape over the core bundle, slides behind, and pulls up.30-65m: Hands-on Lab. Kids select colors, cut strands, and weave bracelets.Script Cues: "Watch this! Wrap it over like a four, tuck it behind, and pull it to the top!"
WEEK 2 Stitch Focus: Starter Knot & Square (Box)
Square Showdown: Locking the Box
00-15m: Review Staircase bracelets. Demo folding two contrasting strands over index fingers.15-35m: Teach the Starter Knot . This is the hardest knot! Walk row-by-row. Show the "over, loop, loop, weave, pull tight" sequence for the first Square Stitch.35-65m: Practice time. Put on upbeat background music. Stamp "Staircase Scout" badge.Script Cues: "Loops go straight across like a goalpost, weave the other strand through, pull flat!"
WEEK 3 Stitch Focus: Circle (Barrel) Spiral
Circle Spin: Diagonal Twists
00-15m: Welcome. Verify kids completed at least 5cm of Square braid on their tracker ruler.15-30m: Demo Circle Stitch. Teach that loops fold diagonally across to opposite corners instead of straight ahead. When woven straight across the diagonal, the column rotates!30-65m: Hands-on Lab. Kids start a new segment or piece using Circle stitch.Script Cues: "Box goes straight across, but Circle crosses the diagonal corners like an X!"
WEEK 4 Stitch Focus: Hardware Integration
Creative Keychains: Hardware Hooks
00-15m: Give out "Gimp Design Canvas". Plan custom keychains (split rings or triggers).15-30m: Show how to slide a split ring onto the center of gimp strands before folding to lock it into the starter knot. Show safe gluing/sealing of final knot ends.30-65m: Main build. Kids execute blueprints. Stamp "Box Boss" and "Circle Champ".Script Cues: "Hardware goes on first! Slide that ring right to the middle of your cross!"
Lacing Legends Academy • Teen Leader Playbook Page 2 of 3
Plans Weeks 5–7 & Troubleshooting Hotline
Phase 2: Mastery
WEEK 5 Stitch Focus: Butterfly Stitch
Butterfly Bliss: Flat Ribbon Bracelets
00-15m: Warmup game. Distribute "Lacing Challenge Cards" for partner play.15-30m: Demo the flat Butterfly stitch. Show loop A slipping inside loop B, pulling B tight, then making loop B slip through loop A. Explain that this weave makes super flexible wristbands.30-65m: Pair practice. Kids complete the "The 10-Second Squish" partner challenge card.Script Cues: "One loop feeds inside the other. Snug it down like a belt loop, then swap!"
WEEK 6 Stitch Focus: Independent Masterpieces
The Great Gimp Lab: Workshop & Badge Checks
00-15m: Explain the goal: complete 1 large master keychain/bracelet for the Showcase next week.15-65m: Self-paced crafting lab. Circulate to check tension, apply glue to ends, and stamp off remaining badges on tracker sheets. Ensure every child has at least 1 piece completed.Script Cues: "Work on your masterpiece today! Let's get those badge cards fully stamped!"
WEEK 7 Stitch Focus: Gallery Walk
Legend Showcase: Exhibition & Graduation
00-25m: Final touch-ups, trim excess tails (leave 1/4 inch!), glue ends.25-55m: Gallery Walk! Kids lay keychains out with name tags. Hand out Showcase voting ballots. Kids circulate to vote for "Tension Champion" and "Color Maestro".55-75m: Present Graduation Certificates and celebrate master crafter ranks!Script Cues: "Welcome to the Grand Showcase! Let's celebrate our master crafters!"
Teen Leader Behavioral & Material Hotline
"A Kid Is Crying/Giving Up"
Sit next to them. Hand them your own gimp to practice 1-2 stitches. Say: "I messed up my first 5 times too, watch how I do it!"
"Gimp Tangling in Spools"
Lace slips off spools easily. Never let kids pull from spools directly. Tape spools down and hand out pre-cut strands.
"Uneven Strand Lengths"
If kids pull unevenly, one tail gets super short. Trim the long tail to match, but never let it get below 4 inches.
Lacing Legends Academy • Teen Leader Playbook Page 3 of 3
Stitch Master Sheets Student Stitch Bible
Nostalgic Stitch Master Sheets
Classic Weaves
Welcome to the Craft! Plastic lacing (gimp, boondoggle, or scoubidou) is a classic woven craft made by knotting and crossing colorful plastic lace. Master these four classic stitches to create legendary bracelets and keychains!
SKILL 1
The Starter Knot (Getting Started)
Step 1
Cut & Fold
Fold 2 strands exactly in half to find their midpoints.
Step 2
Make the +
Lay Strand A horizontally, and Strand B vertically over it.
Step 3
Fold Loops
Fold Strand A's ends straight over, forming 2 loops.
Step 4
Weave & Pull
Weave Strand B over-and-under. Pull all 4 ends tight!
PULL TIGHT!
SKILL 2
The Chinese Staircase (Nostalgic Spiral Bracelet)
How it Works
This is the ultimate nostalgic campfire bracelet. You tie a series of half-hitch knots using 1 active color over a bundle of core "filler" strands. It creates a seamless, hard-shell spiral staircase wrap!
The "4-Shape" Secret:
Always lay your active weaving strand across the core strands so it makes the shape of a number "4" . This leaves a gap for you to easily sweep your tail through.
Chinese Staircase Blueprint
Core
Tuck
Form the "4" over the core, pass the tail behind, pull up through the loop, and slide tight!
Lacing Legends Academy Page 1 of 3
Student Stitch Bible
The Classic Pillars
Box & Barrel
SKILL 3
The Square (Box) Stitch (Classic Square Column)
The Square (Box) Stitch is a rugged 4-sided pillar. To weave, Strand A forms two parallel loops pointing straight across . Strand B weaves through them.
Rhythmic Chant: "Loop straight across, loop straight across, under and over, under and over, pull tight!"
SQUARE
SKILL 4
The Circle (Barrel) Stitch (Staircase Spiral Column)
The Circle (Barrel) Stitch creates a rounded, rotating staircase pillar. The trick here is that you fold Strand A diagonally across to the opposite corners, causing each row to rotate slightly.
Rhythmic Chant: "Cross diagonal, cross diagonal, under and over, under and over, pull tight!"
Lacing Legends Progress Tracker Official Guild Card
Lacing Legends Academy
Claim your badges and weave your way to the Grand Master rank!
Rank Novice
Legend Name
Start Date
The Stitch Master Badge Board
Instructor or peer signs to unlock
The Untangler
Preps strands neatly.
Sign: _________
Staircase Scout
Weaves Spiral Staircase.
Sign: _________
Box Boss
Weaves 15 Square rows.
Sign: _________
Circle Champ
Weaves 15 spiral rows.
Sign: _________
Hardware Hero
Secures metal ring/clip.
Sign: _________
Butterfly Weaver
Weaves flat loop chain.
Sign: _________
Creative Legend
Designs custom model.
Sign: _________
Showcase Master
Presents at Grand Finale.
Sign: _________
The Centimeter Stitch Tracker
Lay your keychain on this ruler. Color in a box for every centimeter you complete!
1 cm
2 cm
3 cm
4 cm
5 cm
6 cm
7 cm
8 cm
9 cm
10 cm
11 cm
12 cm
13 cm
14 cm
15 MAX
My Crafting Reflections
My Favorite Stitch to Weave:
The Hardest Part I Overcame:
Lacing Legends Academy STAMP PROGRESS CARD
Gimp Design Canvas Keychain & Bracelet Blueprint
Gimp Design Canvas
Project Stage
Weeks 3 & 4 Planning
Designer Name
Creation Date
Part 1: Color Palette Setup
Color in the strands below to plan your contrast scheme. Choosing contrasting colors (e.g., light blue and dark purple) makes weaving much easier to track!
Color 1
Primary Strand (Strand A)
Length: One Armspan (~3.5 ft)
Color 2
Secondary Strand (Strand B)
Length: One Armspan (~3.5 ft)
Part 2: Product & Hardware Select
Classic Keyring
Great for backpacks or house keys. Fast and sturdy.
Standard Split Ring
Lanyard Snap Clip
Easily hooks onto zippers, belt loops, or badge slots.
Trigger Swivel Hook
Friendship Bracelet
Adjustable loops with a slide knot. Tailored to fit wrists.
Continuous Loop Setup
Part 3: My Pattern & Design Blueprint
Draw a sketch of your keychain's patterns below! For example, plan whether you will do 15 rows of Square (Box) then 15 rows of Circle (Barrel) to create a hybrid texture pattern.
Draw your pattern rows, color sequences, or custom end-tails here!
Lacing Legends Academy PROJECT BLUEPRINT
Lacing Challenge Cards Hands-On Loop Games
Lacing Challenge Cards
Active Play
8 Skill Quests
Cut these cards along the dashed lines! Use them during Hands-On Loop Lab time to test your skills, challenge a partner, and level up your crafting speed, accuracy, and team-building.
Solo Quest
The Blindfold Weaver
Close your eyes completely and try to weave 3 complete rows of the Square (Box) Stitch purely by touch.
Verify: Partner check ★ 10 XP
Co-Op Quest
The Speed Run
Set a timer on a phone or tablet for 2 minutes . See how many clean, tight stitches you can weave before the buzzer!
Record score on back ★ 15 XP
Tension Check
The 10-Second Squish
Have a partner pinch your lanyard. If they can't squeeze a fingernail between any of your last 10 stitches, your tension is perfect!
No gaps allowed! ★ 10 XP
Trade Quest
Helping Hands
Sit knee-to-knee with a classmate who is currently stuck or struggling. Show them exactly how you hold your loops to tighten them.
Help three before me! ★ 20 XP
Stitch Swap
The Hybrid Shift
Weave 5 rows of Box , immediately switch to 5 rows of Barrel (Circle) , then back to Box. Watch the shape shift!
Look for the twist ★ 15 XP
Anchor Quest
The Gravity Weave
Clip your keyring to a heavy water bottle or backpack handle to let gravity pull your project straight down while you stitch!
Keeps loops steady ★ 10 XP
Lacing Legends Academy CHALLENGE CARDS PACK
Legends Showcase Graduation Pack Lacing Legends Academy
Master Crafter Certificate
Recognizing excellence in the art of plastic lacing (gimp)
This official scroll hereby certifies that
Legendary Crafter Name
has successfully mastered the Starter Knot , conquered the Square (Box) Stitch , perfected the Circle (Barrel) Stitch , and demonstrated exemplary craftsmanship during the 7-week curriculum.
Academy Director
Graduation Date
OFFICIAL SEAL
Fold & Cut Here
Part 4: Showcase Peer Exhibition Ballots
Cut out these ballots and distribute them during the Week 7 Gallery Walk. Every crafter casts votes for their peers' masterpieces!
Showcase Vote Slip #01
Your Name:
🏆 The Tension Champion (Most Even Stitches):
🎨 Creative Color Maestro (Best Palette):
Lacing Legends Academy
Showcase Vote Slip #02
Your Name:
🏆 The Tension Champion (Most Even Stitches):
🎨 Creative Color Maestro (Best Palette):
Lacing Legends Academy
Lacing Legends Academy GRADUATION EXTRAS
