Knitting is Harder

The day finally came when she asked me how to knit. I was at the ready, needles and yarn donated from Birds of a Feather in Ohio (I visited when I was taping a couple segments for Knitting Daily TV which should be airing by now).

I have never shown anyone how to do anything, really, and to think that I have a book coming out is sort of scary. I've never been a teacher, at least not in my vision of "teacher" and I don't know if I want to be one. I am sort of in the realm of wanting to show what I know or sharing what I have learned, instead of teaching things, step by step or by rote. I am more excited about just sitting and talking about things, rather than leading. So showing Girlfriend how to knit was, should I say, mildly daunting and sort of scary for me.

But it was good. And she nearly knit three rows before running upstairs. She was proud. And I will hang onto her UFO until she's ready to tackle it again.

Unless, like me, she rebels against her mother's artistic pursuits and decides to throw her nose up at everything and every idea I have. I did that in Bluebirds (the young version of Camp Fire Girls) when my mom was a Bluebird Leader. I refused to wear my uniform. I never followed her directions. I basically made her life a living Bluebird leader mommy hell.

If I could take it back now, I would.

Meanwhile, I will save this for (my) prosperity and leave the rest to her. Bless her soul. She'll decide what she likes and as long as it isn't stripping or alligator wrestling, I will always be there for her.

By the way: I was just thinking, as I was joining my crocheted motifs together the way the latest Interweave Crochet suggests (thanks to all of you who commented) that crochet is a lot easier than knitting. At least to me.

Oh, I did a couple designs for Blue Sky Alpacas. One is for free (a girls' tank that can be found on their site and at Knitting Daily TV) and another, a unisex kid's pullover with a Mariachi theme. Both use their new skinny cotton that is fantastic.

Comments

[sue Treiber]

Both of my kids (10 & 8) do this on a regular basis, and I keep frogging their 3 rows, otherwise I would have 15 sets of needles in use!

[Kristin]

My eldest (5) has been knitting for a year now, and some of my favorite Mommy times have been the quiet moments where we sit and knit together. She's not yet finished a project, but she does enjoy it. I am hoping #2 someday wants to pick up the needles as well.

Just a week or so ago, my niece asked me if I would pretty please teach her how to knit, too, and I did a little happy dance over that simple request!

[rudee]

She looks so proud (and beautiful.) You are blessed. I'm also certain you're a better teacher than you give yourself the credit for.

[Jeanie]

WOW! You are really keeping busy with the patterns:) I just bought the Knitscene today, and your patterns are great! BTW, I can't wait for the question, "can you show me how?". Have fun!

[Sally Villarreal]

Knit and crochet seem about the same to me, in difficulty. My Mom did both, and when I asked to try, she recommended to start with crochet. But it was knitting that stuck. (You must keep in mind that I asked for the first time when I was four, and started knitting at age 9.)

[Darci]

Wendy - You are teacher by the very nature of you being a mother and by the joy I see in her smile you are doing a very good job!

I love the pull over...added it to the Ravelry queue

[Miss 376]

I love sitting with my son knitting and chatting. Seems to be a relaxing time. He's only just learnt how to knit and I think I may be waiting some time for my dishcloth, but it will be the best dishcloth I'll ever have!

[Jeanette]

I remember when I asked to be shown how to knit, and believe me--it didn't end with a cute mini UFO and a big smile. It was more like a quiet fuming frustration...and had my grandma not been sitting there with me I'm sure I would have thrown my knitting right out the window.

So I think it's fabulous that she got through 3 rows and ended on a positive note; it doesn't even sound like she had a meltown at all (which speaks wonders about your mothering and teaching). I'll be interested to see how her knitting works out. By the way, she's starting to look a lot like you!

Also, how the hell do you manage to design so many patterns? And a non-rhetorical question: do you knit all of the samples of the patterns you design? I'm seriously amazed by how many designs you crank out, and as someone who's just beginning to explore knitwear design I'm curious about how you work on these things.

Maybe I can email you some more questions...

[Soo]

I'm working on a crochet project at the moment and think I've come to the same conclusion. Although I know more of the technical bits of knitting, there is something about crocheting which is just fluid and makes it easier to improvise.

(Of course, I may not be saying that when I finish the project and it looks nothing like the shawl I've got in my head!!)

[Georg]

I taught my 11-year-old nephew to knit this month. His father was initially - "But! Penis!" and worried about manhood things, but then he saw his hyperactive pre-teen sit calmly in a chair for an hour. Then he encouraged the boy to knit. :) I'll probably be teaching the middle boy next summer.

[Miz Booshay]

Oh yea! How sweet.
I don't push it either.

I once helped with a craft group Emma was in and she put down all the crafts I was not able to help with.

Minatures.
Macrame.
Pottery.

She stayed way clear of knitting and quilting and cross stitch and needlepoint.

I think it is the most rebellious thing she has ever done.

hehe

[Jennifer]

I don't remember learning from my mom, but I remember her stressing over the fact that I was left-handed (which mattered not one whit because I knit right-handed). But I remember the yellow yarn, the grey needles and my too-tight stitches. Even if she doesn't go back to it for years and years, she'll remember.

[robinv]

such a beautiful girl you have....
and knitting, I learned at that age and then waited 35-40 years to try again. Hopefully she will like it a bit more than I did.

[Darlene]

woo hoo girlfriend!

[Wendy]

Sounds like you did great, since she still liked it when she stopped! I find if I can get mine into the "zone" it goes well. It's those first five minutes that are make or break.

And speaking as the Girl Scout Leader of my daughter's troop, all of them are worse for their own mothers, including mine. It's the biggest reason we don't want the other mommies to say and help. Our own daughters are bad enough! It just comes with the territory.

[Beth]

Somebody else who was a Bluebird? I was starting to think it was just a crazy dream. My family moved from Minneapolis to Sioux Falls, SD when I was nine, and no one there had ever heard of Camp Fire Girls, only Girl Scouts. I don't think I've run into anyone since who knew what it was.

[Marion]

I have a 8 yr old (Barbie) who started to knit when she was five. She dosent knit alot but just once in a while picks up her knitting while mom is. She also has a spindle and spins yarn. And has the knifty knitters and does that and a weavette. LOL Needless to say she does almsot everything I do. She wants to sew but I am not a good teacher. No patients so that will come later. Its wonderful to pass down what we love. God bless Marion

[Lisa]

I taught my darling Diane how to knit when she was 8. It didn't stick.

But now she's 15 and is doing her own scarves and is dying for me to show her how to use dpns so she can do her own mitts.

The opportunity to share something I love with someone I love was really special.

[MonkeyGurrl]

WOW. She's quite young to have such a good handle on the craft. WMG started asking around 6, then about a year later, I started teaching her. She still hates to cast on (LOVES to cast off!), but at least I don't have to from great portions and pretending the Knitting Fairy rempaired the dropped, twisted, and otherwise painful to look at stitches. [I know a lot will say that I shouldn't have, but she's the type that will get *so* frustrated if not perfect that she'll put it down and never touch it again.]

And BTW, what's wrong with alligator wrestling?!

[Miss Scarlett]

How fun!
I've tried to show a few children here at work.
It is so hard to show children -- I find anyways. Girlfriend seems to have a knack. ;-)

[Cynthia]

Awesome- The knitting part is great, but it's so wonderful to see her smile of accomplishment, it has universal appeal!

[Shannon]

So sweet. You can tell she's yours :)

[Mary Lynn in Cleveland]

I love Birds of a Feather, as does my son. And, I live only ten or so minutes away from there. Once when my son was probably five or so, we went there. I had parked on the hill above the store and he was focused on the stones and plants and bugs on the sidewalk and didn't realize where we were going until we were almost to the door. When he realized where we were, he looked up with a big old smile on his face and shouted "I LOVE THIS PLACE!" One of the workers was walking in the front door and she stopped, held the door for us and told everybody about his joy.

[Laura]

So CUTE.

[Jess]

My husband and I feel that if we can keep our daughters off the pole (i.e. keep them from pole dancing) we will be successful as parents. It's a small goal, but at least we have one! Good work on teaching Girlfriend!