Knitting

My sister showed me the very basics of knitting a few years ago, and a friend of mine has been knitting like crazy, so I've decided to try  knitting again. 

I'm not making anything official yet, but I've been practicing making swatches.   I've managed to make a button hole and a basket weave.  I've learned to live with the mistakes while I'm learning.  I've been learning how to correct mistakes now that I've gotten more practice.  I've also learned that there are certain yarns that are terrible to work with (at least for a beginner), and some that are more forgiving.  I wish I knew what the yarns were so that I can avoid them in the future, but they are freebies from my sister without packaging so I have no idea what I'm working with.
 

Basic seed stitch.

Knitting every row.  See the holes where the yarn got twisted?  This was a cotton type yarn that didn't knit very well, but I like the way that it feels. 

Alternating rows of knitting, ribbing, seed, double rib and a button hole.  This was a wool type yarn that was a little more forgiving, but I think it was blended with something so it didn't stretch well and was scratchy. 

This is a basket weave I'm trying so that I can learn how to read patterns.  It's a cheap acrylic yarn, but it stretches easily  for a beginner. 

Sewing Lessons Today

We are having sewing lessons again today, but today it's my turn to sew.  The last two times have revolved around the wood sprites getting their chance to cut, piece together and sew.  Today I get to sew, or at least that's the plan.  I already know the very basics of sewing, but I've got so much more to learn. 

Sometimes the girls see me learning a new skill, such as knitting, and then they want to try it too.  I love showing them new skills, but sometimes they have to be patient while I learn the ropes (or yarns).  At their age and skill level, it's hard enough to teach them knitting unless I know what I am doing as well. When I barely know what I am doing in knitting, it makes it hard to show them and correct them in proper technique.  When they are older, we'll be able to do more in this area. 

With sewing, it's been nice to have someone else who already know the ropes who can help them jump right in and get started.  It's been fun learning sewing together.  I think it's good for them to see a parent excited about learning as well.  It also demonstrates that learning happens throughout one's life.

Learning should be natural and fun, and I think we accomplished that with sewing.  

Knitting and Crochet...Again

The girls and I are picking up knitting and crocheting again this fall.  We've tried it before, but never managed to keep it up.  There are several reasons for our not keeping up with yarn work:

• Me trying to make a piece perfect even though I'm a novice
• Inability to read patterns, therefore only able to make a scarf or washcloth. 
• Constant interruptions from family, phone, pets
• The girls trying to make something and the subsequent meltdowns when their projects aren't perfect
• One girl needing instruction at the same time as the other girl, interrupting each other and my project as well
• Girls losing my knitting and crochet needles and scissors as they carry their project through the house and lay them down (and finding the needles days later as they work their way down to the floor under the recliners)
• Going to the hobby store to buy yarn or needles and the girls want to buy everything and it turns into a "no, no, no" session. 

Do you see a pattern?  I do.  We are waaaaaaaaaaay to serious about this and need to back it down a notch and just have some fun.  It is fun to knit, but we are so anxious to have a finished product that we lose the joy.  I plan to find some videos online to show how to do a simple project that isn't just a square or rectangle. 

I also plan to get each girl her own supplies and make them responsible for their own needles.  We've been sharing our supplies due to economics, but I would like to make them responsible for their own sewing basket so that they learn more responsibility.  A bonus (actually my real reason) is that I can quit going crazy looking for my things.  I think a small skull-and-crossbones sticker on my supplies might work (it worked on my "special pens" box).

 This is a small Webkinz scarf that Sami is working on. I'm going to work with her today to relax and just have fun.  She keeps pulling out rows because they aren't "right" and I haven't been able to spend one-on-one time with her to help her through the humps.  With my mother being sick this week, I haven't had time to help her much, but we'll fix that today.