I think today I’ll post some pictures of the crazy pair of socks I knit for my middle child, Olivia. Of the three, she is the one most interested in knitting. She frequently sees some article of clothing in a book or magazine, or when we are out and about, and asks me to knit it for her. She seems to know the difference between knitted and woven fabric, because if it isn’t knit, she asks me to buy it for her instead. Olivia is five. She has knit a washcloth, and is currently working on her very own scarf. In one of the magazines Nate has come home with, (he brings home knitting books and magazines for me on a regular basis, I still pinch myself), I read a really cute little poem for teaching kids to knit. There is a separate one for purl, but we haven’t got that far yet. The girls ran with it.
Here is little Olivia modeling her washcloth.
Here she is working on her scarf. I’m so proud!
and the finished row…..
SO, back to the socks. You can probably tell that Olivia likes color, and her socks are no exception. The heartbreaking thing is that she really wants to be knitting socks herself. I don’t think she’ll be content with scarves and washcloths very long. If anyone has any suggestions for what a little five year old can knit that might be a little more exciting, please let me know.
Olivia’s socks
I knit the socks with Dale of Norway. The yarn store that is close to me hasn’t had a great selection in awhile. The owner suggested I make socks out of the Dale. I’m not sure if it was the best choice. We’ll see how they hold up. They are fuzzing quite a bit already, but so are the socks I made out of Regia in January, so maybe that’s just life. Any insight would be welcome. These are the only two pairs of functional socks I have knit. I have made many Christmas stockings out of worsted, but those don’t have to hold up to wear and washings.
Hmmm. Maybe you’ll get the WIP tomorrow? I have so many pictures to play with now, I can spread it out a little.
May 26th, 2004 at 12:58 am
How old is your little girl? My daughter is trying to learn, but she gets so frustrated, which in turn gets me frustrated! Destinee is 7.5 and really anxious, but when she can’t catch on immediately she catches a fit. Maybe its too early?
May 26th, 2004 at 1:45 am
Olivia is five. I wasn’t sure if she was old enough, but she kept asking me if she could knit. I read something about teaching kids to knit that warmed my heart in Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Knitters Almanac, and shortly thereafter read a set of little poems to teach to children for the knit and purl stitch. I combined all the info and successfully taught my older two. They only know the knit stitch. I cast on for them. The poem goes “In the front door, around the back, through the window, and off jumps Jack!” And then Elizabeth Z said to get them their own plastic needles in a fun color, get some variegated yarn, which is more interesting to children, and everytime they hand it over to you to fix, knit a few rows for them so they can see their project making progress. That is what I’ve done, and it has worked great.
May 27th, 2004 at 3:23 am
I just love the second photo of your daughter Olivia with her face all scrooched up concentrating on her knitting. That is just sooo precious! Wish I could infect my own 20-something daughter with that same knitting bug! ::smirk::
May 29th, 2004 at 5:45 am
Princess O!
Great job, Darling!!! You’re washcloth is very lovely as are you! Your socks are very pretty, too! I hope to come see you and Abby and ‘Ronica very soon! You all look so pretty modeling your hats and ponchos and working the ball winder!
Love, Gayle