Now...I am not an expert knitter but at one stage when I was growing up my mother got me to sit long enough to teach me how to cast on and do knit and purl and I have very vague memories of making a jumper when I was a teenager but it is quite possible that I started it and my mother finished it off as I was always out playing sport.
I don't think any of my friends nor myself ever sat at home doing craftwork, knitting or crochet apart from sewing our own clothes which was the norm in the 1960s. I guess though if we were sewing our own clothes it is quite possible that we didn't have time to do any other craftwork anyway.
A couple of years ago I had bought the girls Jane Bull's Stitch by Stitch and Made by Me at a local Post Office as they were in a pack for $10 and what a bargain they turned out to be! I can highly recommend these books for children and even adults who want to learn how to knit, sew and crochet as they are visually very appealing with clear instructions. So we turned to the knitting section in Stitch by Stitch after I had cast on 20 stitches and then showed her how to do plain stitch....and she was off!
She took to it like a duck to water and even took her knitting to bed one night :-) However, after she poked herself in the eye with the long needles one day I decided that when I got home I would check out whether I could buy children's knitting needles as I had never seen them in the shops and didn't even know if they existed. I did find some on ebay but rang Spotlight and Lincraft and asked if they stocked any and sure enough, Spotlight had some Birch needles in various sizes. They are shorter than the ones my granddaughter was using and my daughter said she is finding it much easier to use them after they arrived by
I had been hoping to find a DVD for children which would teach them to knit but could only find ...
...The Art of Knitting 4 Kids which isn't suitable to be viewed in Australia because it is made for Region 1 which seems to be the US and Canada. It looks like a great DVD and I would love to buy one for the girls and it is a shame that it isn't compatible here in Australia. Does anyone know of any other DVDs which would be similar and are perhaps made here? There certainly would be a market out there for some enterprising person to make such a DVD as I am sure it would sell like hot cakes!
While I was searching the net for resources on knitting with children I found heaps of tutorials on this Pinterest page and there is some interesting reading there if you have nothing else to do with your life. Ha ha! Pinterest really is a great time waster I am sure you will agree.
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So now Miss Six has had sewing and knitting lessons. You can read about her sewing lesson and see the little Elna sewing machine I bought the girls in this post. During my next visit I will teach her how to do purl but now that she can read I think she will already have mastered that by the time I see her again. Her little sister wanted to learn how to crochet while I was visiting but she is still a little too young.
The children are lovely when they are babies and so very cute and cuddly but it is also nice when they are old enough to learn new skills and once they can read a whole new world is open to them. Nannas (those who are retired) have a bit more time than busy and tired mums to teach them these lessons and hopefully the girls will have fond memories of these moments when they grow up and have their own family.
Please let me know if you are aware of any other resources available for teaching children to knit as I would love to know and I am sure there are other mums and grandmas out there who would also be interested. Thanks heaps!
I love it when successive generations take on a craft. Most of my girls are capable crocheters as is my wife. It mainly happens in the cooler months where they all sit in the lounge room crocheting flat out - so calming being surrounded by all that creativity.
ReplyDeleteI love the look on your Miss 6's face - totally in the zone.
Yes it is a bit hot in summer isn't it Phil? Your girls sound like they are very creative.
DeleteWhat a sweet post on your sweet dear Miss Six and your knitting and sewing lessons / adventures.
ReplyDeleteIt was a joyful read and I'll use your good advise when I'm going to teach my grandchildren, of whom the oldest is 4,5 right now and started cross stitching on smyrna motif with my help. Oh, I love it, her and all the stuff, too!
Cheers,
Jeanneke.
Cross stitch! Now that is something else we can add our list of things to learn. Stitching around a gingham tablecloth used to be quite common here, Jenneke. I might take some gingham up with me next time to practise on.
DeleteShe looks so full of concentration! I taught 3 of my grandchildren a while back & it was great fun.
ReplyDeleteYes it is great when they are old enough to want to learn and then to be able to concentrate. I couldn't believe how she took to it straight away.
DeleteWhen looking at the photos of your books I was thinking – Gee they look really good, and then I realised I have Stitch by Stich in my library. I actually had it out the other day trying to teach myself some crochet. I have done a bit of crochet in the past as I taught myself how to crochet around the edge to the pieces I had embroidered – doilies, tables runners etc. However I ended up turning to youtube the day before yesterday to learn how to do granny squares. Guess where I was most of yesterday? Yep, right in front of my lap top crocheting along with youtube. It’s the fastest method I have used to learn anything to date.
ReplyDeleteIt is a great book, Sherri. YouTube is a great instructor but my daughter lives in an area where the internet drops out all the time plus she has a prepaid service and tries not to download too much from the net to keep costs down as they have just bought their first home.
ReplyDeleteHoping that one day Miss M decides to learn, my boys were never interested.
ReplyDeleteIt never even occurred to me to teach my son but apparently a young boy is the instructor on that DVD I would like to get myhands on.
DeleteHi Nanna Chel What a lovely tradition to pass on especially as nowadays children are just given so many toys at Christmas including my own. I remember when I was little had only a couple of dolls and would make clothes and blankets for them. This year I gave my 7 year old son a knitting fork to teach him how to make rope before I teach him knitting.
ReplyDeleteI hope he enjoys knitting. On the links to blogs from that Pinterest page there seem to be a lot of boys in the US who are knitting with the girls. It can't hurt to learn.
ReplyDeleteI love this! My Nan taught me how to crochet and Mu taught me how to knit. I also knitted in bed! I remember I took my crochet to school in grade 2 or 3 to crochet in recess and lunch. Nan later taught me roses and fancier things and I remember everything, it sticks with you!
ReplyDeleteI also had one of those little sewing machines but if I was at Nan's I used her treddle sewing machine! This all got me going early.
I love to see children busy making things. By high school my girls were making all kinds of things and school holidays were very busy and no one ever said they were bored!
Lovely to read Nanna Chel.xxx
Annabel, you must have such lovely memories of those times when you were learning those skills. No wonder you produce such beautiful work!
DeleteHow sweet you have been able to show your grand daughter how to both knit & sew such valuable skills to have. Some DVD players you can play most if not all regions lady next door to me has a newer Panasonic brand player that can play region 1 to 4 or 1 to 6 I think. We have a great book called A first book of knitting for children Annie loves trying to knit while Armani enjoys weaving on a little loom. My crafting started as a child knitting & sewing clothes for my barbie dolls
ReplyDeleteSarah, ours is an old DVD player so I doubt I would be able to play the DVD on it. I hadn't seen that book before as it didn't come up in any of the searches I have done but I see that Fishpond is selling it. Thanks for the info.
DeleteOh how fun! She looks so 'in the zone'! I still have memories of my Grandmas both teaching me various skills and I treasure them. You have just made a memory and that is as close as most of us will come to immortality!
ReplyDeleteShe was certainly 'in the zone', Kathy. She was able to concentrate for long periods of time which is probably why she is able to read so well too.
DeleteThis is a great post Nanna Chell. I was taught to knit by my mum. She was left handed and I am right. I remember it being quite difficult for her to show me how, but she persevered and I am glad she did! Mum taught me to sew too and encouraged me to enter my craft work in the local show. My grandma taught me how to crochet, just the granny square crochet, none of the fancy stitches you see around today. I can do most of the new stitches though with no problems. Grandma's basics put me in good stead for what is around today even at the age of fifty two years!
ReplyDeleteJust a thought. I was sure you could get knitting kits for children, but I cant remember where I might have seen them. Any way I just found this one on eBay and thought you might be interested. What about tomboy/french knitting? I used to enjoy doing that too.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Kaper-Kidz-Childrens-Learn-to-Knit-Starters-Kit-in-Tin-Case-Knitting-Crafts-/231264253129?pt=AU_Kids_Arts_Crafts&hash=item35d86c74c9
I love the way you are making memories with your grand children, they will remember it many years from now :)
xTania
Thanks for that link, Tania. I will check it out. We did French Knitting a while back but I think I did most of it. It is addictive!
ReplyDeleteHi Chel,
ReplyDeleteI have a DVD on learn to knit, I bought at the op shop as part of a kit, if I can dig it up you are most welcome to have it..... I don't need it, as I have been knitting since I was 9.
Thanks Margaret. No it would be of no use to you I agree :-) You are such a good knitter.
ReplyDelete