Troop Spotlight
Troop #11555 weaves one friendship at a time

Cadette Troop #11555 loves to fingerweave -weaving nylon craft loops into hair scrunchies, friendship bracelets, cup and flashlight lanyards, hair bands, belts, jump ropes, dog leashes, and even collars for T-shirts that are later sewn on. What started out as a hobby, something to occupy them while riding in cars on field trips and to camp, has become an obsession. And they are sharing that with friends they make everywhere.

Girl Scouts Triniti, Jeanette, Kasey, Laura, Marissa, Beth, Taylor, Lauren, Rachel, Kayse, Christine, Keli, and Tara were originally taught fingerweaving by Marissa’s older sister, Meredith. Marissa commented, “It took me about an hour to master fingerweaving.” Soon everyone was fingerweaving during troop meetings, in the car, around the house, at camp. They first made hooks to hang their cups at camp. During one camping weekend at Camp Whispering Pines, the troop made a loop that wound five times around the room.

When Council advertised that troops could participate at the Sing ‘N Celebrate event with a booth, the girls decided they wanted to share their hobby with others.

For weeks before the event, they sorted bags of 500 nylon loops. Then the girls practiced on each other so they would be prepared to teach at the event. And they taught their friends at school and in their neighborhoods how to finger weave as well. The troop continued to perfect their skills with a second year Brownie troop.

Undoubtedly they were well prepared for Sing ‘N Celebrate. They had the most popular booth at the event with lines of girls waiting to learn how to fingerweave. The girls taught “new” friends by first weaving on their hands and then letting them try to make a friendship bracelet or hair scrunchie. In addition, they had printed copies of the instructions for their friends to take home. But they were just too popular; they ran out of loops and instructions before Sing ‘N celebrate ended.

The girls next took their hobby, and talents, to Singing Pines’ Service Unit Weekend. (Following a service unit split, the troop is now part of Singing Springs Service Unit.) Once again long lines formed waiting to fingerweave. However, the girls were prepared, they knew the number of girls they could expect, had more loops, controlled the wait time by asking some to return later, and had stores nearby to replenish the loop supplies.

Through their experiences sharing their hobby with others, the girls have learned much. It is fun but hard to teach others. Your directions may not be easily understood and you might have to rephrase your instructions so others can understand. Taylor responded, “It is more difficult to teach. You have to get used to the person you are helping before you can teach her.” At both events, the girls often had “to loop, take apart, and reloop to show someone how to do it,” commented Keli.

Troop #11555 often turns an activity into an event. Last year while selling 4,608 boxes of cookies (the troop had three of the four top sellers in their service unit) they earned the Model Citizen Junior Badge.
The troop is planning a trip to Savannah with its Cookie Sale bonus money. “I wonder, will they loop their way to Georgia?”

Troop # 11555 at Sing-n Celebrate hosted a finger weaving booth.

Finger weaving instructions ==>

Girls dress up in 1800s dresses.

The group visits Stone Mountain, in Georgia