celticdragonfly (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
celticdragonfly) wrote2006-04-10 03:23 pm
celticdragonfly) wrote2006-04-10 03:23 pm
Knitting lessons have begun
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.
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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?