Knitting lessons have begun

[celticdragonfly]

I am so excited!

I read recently that back in colonial period, when children[1] were routinely expected to knit an inch on a sock before being allowed to go play, which I'd known about, that this started as early as age 3, which I did not know.

Maggie will be 4 in less than 2 months. Clearly, I'm behind!

So I figured It Was Time. Start her on something nice and simple - worsted weight yarn, nice comfy colored Lion brand plastic dpns, knit stitch only at first, in the round so it's stockinette. Socks are traditional, after all, plus they're what *I* started on, and I do sock charity knitting anyway. She can help make a child's worsted wool sock and we'll send them to Children in Common.

Even better, scrap yarn. I have leftover yellow and orange wool from the first Jayne hat I did. So I did the cast on and the set up, in orange, did some k1p1 ribbing, then switched to the yellow for the leg. And sat down with Maggie to teach her to knit. Keeping the yarn in my left hand for now, her in my lap, holding the right needle, with my hand over hers.

She's getting it. Awkwardly to start, but I do think she was getting it. It's step 1 of many, but very exciting. She was up for watching one row as I demonstrated slowly with explanations ("through the hole - wrap it around - bring it back - hop off!"), then for doing one row with our hands together. She was doing the wrap arounds herself, and by the last third of it she clearly had the direction down. (Only 30 stitches, but you start small.)

That was enough for her for now. She was excited, though. I am excited. She got lots of praise, and I gave her a chocolate.

Update: after playing outside, she came back in. "Can I have some more chocolate?" "We'll have more chocolate later, after we do more knitting." "Can we do more knitting?"

I am clever on this, yes.

She did another row and a 3rd more.

[1] Yes, boys too. When Jamie reaches the appropriate age, his lessons will begin.

Comments

[soldiergrrrl.livejournal.com]

Have you read any of the Outlander books?

Jamie, one of the main characters, is amazed that Claire canna clickit at all." He and Ian, his nephew, both knit to pass the time.

[selenite.livejournal.com]

We have the whole series. And teaching Jamie to knit seems very appropriate, since Claire's Jamie was one of the inspirations for his name.

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

bwahahah, what synchronicity, down to the ICON!

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I have read them all. In fact, my youngest is Jamie after him.

I have long been fervent that both Maggie and Jamie will learn to knit. And cook and bake.

And do various boy things, too, although I'm not as sure what those should be. Basics of car maintenance, sure, although that's a long time off.

I have noticed that boys tend to get a lot of encouragement in hobbies - things like model trains, or lego building, or rocketry, or such. I keep hearing about boys getting opportunities and encouragement I never would have. (I had one set of legos as a child. They were all the same size and shape, about the length of my hand. You could build... a wall, basically.) I want to find ways to give all my kids that kind of chance and encouragement, but never having seen it done I'm not quite sure how, and concerned I'd miss opportunities.

[selenite.livejournal.com]

Well, at 14 they can start using the lawn mower . . .

Hopefully by the time they get to that age I'll know enough car maintenance to be able to teach a lesson. Before that they'll get to do apprentice duty on various projects. "Now hand me the such-and-such."

[castiron.livejournal.com]

Way cool!

I occasionally toss around the idea of trying to teach Thomas, but I'm not sure he'd get the concept of "oh, this process actually MAKES something!" -- that seems to be one of the circuits that in general hasn't hooked up.

[quiva.livejournal.com]

Have you tried loom knitting at all? I do it, because most of the time my hands can't hold the knitting needles, but it's remarkably simple. I know a 6 year old who loves it.

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

Are you talking about the ones that are a big plastic circle with little knobs?

Someone was showing that off at the knitting get-together last month. Interesting, and was recommended for kids - but it didn't seem to be able to make anything all that useful. She used it to make chemo caps out of weird novelty yarns. Which I'm not interested in.

[quiva.livejournal.com]

Well, I guess if that was all she made on it, no, that wouldn't look like a lot of fun. I've made: hats, scarves, slipper socks, christmas stockings and bolster pillows. I've also seen very cute stuffed animals.

I need to make a stew so I can have the 28 oz. tomato can to make my loom to make socks and mittens. Yes, *real* socks. Not as pretty as yours, but I've seen loom knit socks and they're quite nice.

They do sell sock and mitten looms, of course, but I'm cheap. Why pay $30 for something I can make with a tuna can, some finishing nails and duct tape?

[shadefell.livejournal.com]

It's so cool that you're teaching them such a great skill at such a young age! My mom knits and sews, but never taught me to do either. I regret that, and am trying to learn as an adult, but it's hard. Thankfully, she did teach me to cook and bake. Whew! And install a toilet. Useful skills. :D

[carbonelle.livejournal.com]

You are so cool.