Spreading the gospel of knitting.
So last year, over the July 4th holiday, I posted that I’d taught my sister-in-law and my niece to knit. That’s my niece on the right. She was 13 then. Fortunately, I brought extra Jayne yarn that weekend – the production line never stops!
I didn’t know if she was going to stick with it or not. She had the typical beginner issues of the ever-widening rectangle, extra holes, and the mystery stitch that came from nowhere, although she did keep plugging away. After we got home, I sent her some Big Kureyon or Iro (I don’t recall which) and needles, and I may have also sent a book. I didn’t want to pressure her or make her feel bad if it was just a passing whim, but I know there are no yarn shops where she lives, and they don’t have a lot of extra money to devote to fancy-schmancy craft stuff. I never heard from her about the package, so I wrote it off with a “c’est la vie.”
I saw her a couple of weekends ago on the way to the beach. She happened to be visiting my husband’s folks when we dropped by. Turns out she stuck with it! She’s made a teddy bear for her mom, and is making another for her mom’s roommate. And she’s already getting that thing that experienced knitters get when everybody suddenly wants a hand-made gift but has no clue about the amount of time and effort that goes into it. It’s a kind of a roll of the eyes. Of course, all teenage girls learn that roll of the eyes, so maybe that doesn’t mean anything.
Anyway, she’s very proud of herself, and I’m proud of her too. I’m going to send her more yarn, and maybe another book. I wonder if she’d like to try felting. Any thoughts or recommendations? I’m not sure how advanced to get. I don’t think she’s working on circular needles. Hmm.
I’m thrilled that she’s doing this. There’s a special pride that comes from knowing that you can make something really cool with your own two hands. That’s got to be good for a kid to have.
I don’t know diddly about knitting, but I would hazard to guess that she’d be up for some felting projects if she’s currently knitting teddy bears.
I don’t know diddly about knitting, but I would hazard to guess that she’d be up for some felting projects if she’s currently knitting teddy bears.
Needle felting is pretty fun. Wet felting I never had much interest in, it takes way too long to go from raw materials to finished item. That might be part of the appeal of the needle felting, I get results quickly.
Needle felting is pretty fun. Wet felting I never had much interest in, it takes way too long to go from raw materials to finished item. That might be part of the appeal of the needle felting, I get results quickly.
I don’t know anything about felting except that you have a blast with it, but I’d be willing to bet your niece would, too. Or is it neice? I get so confused! Anyway, it’d be something more she’d have in common with you, it’s an uncommon thing to do (especially at her age) and therefore can be very cool, and who doesn’t like having adventures without having to pay for them? I say send her the stuff!
I don’t know anything about felting except that you have a blast with it, but I’d be willing to bet your niece would, too. Or is it neice? I get so confused! Anyway, it’d be something more she’d have in common with you, it’s an uncommon thing to do (especially at her age) and therefore can be very cool, and who doesn’t like having adventures without having to pay for them? I say send her the stuff!
Have you ever tried felting soap? That goes pretty quickly, and is very fun.
I dunno about needle felting, mainly because she’s got a five-year-old baby brother, and I’d feel awful if those barbed needles got into the wrong hands. Especially literally.
Have you ever tried felting soap? That goes pretty quickly, and is very fun.
I dunno about needle felting, mainly because she’s got a five-year-old baby brother, and I’d feel awful if those barbed needles got into the wrong hands. Especially literally.
Well, I DO know about felting and hell yes I think she’d like it! Send her the Booga Bag pattern and some Noro or Cascade 220 and some general instructions (actually, I have a great photo tutorial I put together for my 12 yr old nephew to follow to felt his fuzzy feet – and he did it and said the instructions were perfect! I can send you that).
It’d be the perfect introduction to knitting in the round and heck, every teenage girl I know loves a good purse!
Well, I DO know about felting and hell yes I think she’d like it! Send her the Booga Bag pattern and some Noro or Cascade 220 and some general instructions (actually, I have a great photo tutorial I put together for my 12 yr old nephew to follow to felt his fuzzy feet – and he did it and said the instructions were perfect! I can send you that).
It’d be the perfect introduction to knitting in the round and heck, every teenage girl I know loves a good purse!
I’ve done the fuzzy feet as a gift too, for the giftee to felt. It just seems so neat and fun a science project. I did it for a teacher, so I wrote up instructions here and here. I’ve still got the .doc, I’m sure I could modify it so it didn’t say “teacher” on it. But I thinkyou’re right, the Booga bag would be easier, if she’s not afraid to pick up stitches and knit in the round. And Lord knows I’ve got extra Kureyon lying around. 🙂
I’ve done the fuzzy feet as a gift too, for the giftee to felt. It just seems so neat and fun a science project. I did it for a teacher, so I wrote up instructions here and here. I’ve still got the .doc, I’m sure I could modify it so it didn’t say “teacher” on it. But I thinkyou’re right, the Booga bag would be easier, if she’s not afraid to pick up stitches and knit in the round. And Lord knows I’ve got extra Kureyon lying around. 🙂