“pipe cleaners to make little gifts.”
Yeah. Pipe cleaners are their own thing. However, one of the fondest memories of working on something with my father was making santas and angels from yarn. We also used macrame and knots with little plastic rings to make snowflake ornaments.
My high school geometry teacher who always word suits and thing ties taught us about shapes and equations using yarn designs threaded through shirt paper and poster boards.
SB “wore suits and thin ties.”
Apologies to the forum.
Would also like to suggest making something from old buttons. The Warther museum has a button collection along with carvings that are amazing.