A month or so ago, Little Lady came home from school with a book she'd chosen from the school library. It was called "Made By Me
Truthfully I was not too keen on the idea of attempting to assist her with knitting. Knitting is quite a long way out of my creative comfort zone. I'm not very experienced with the sticks. Hooks yes. But sticks? Uh-uh. Well that's to say that I can knit, and indeed I used to knit a lot as a teenager. I used to knit myself gloves and jumpers and although I cannot quite believe it now, I once knit a cardigan for myself with a cable running up the front. A cable!!! Me doing cabley things with knit sticks, it seems incredible!
Now as well as knitting, this book also covers embroidery and sewing and has some really sweet projects in it.
The sewing pages are a true delight :: beautifully presented and very inspiring.
I loved almost every one of the sewing ideas and would have been thrilled if LL had chosen one of them to have a go at. In fact I even tried to persuade her in this direction by buying her a small bundle of coloured felt squares from a local shop. I enthused a lot about the pretty things she could sew for herself. But to no avail. It was knitting that she had really, really, really set her heart on.
Her desire to learn and her wonderful enthusiasm won me over in the end, and I made her a promise that I would help her learn to knit.
I managed to find some small childs knitting needles in a local shop, and we were all set. We would start out making a small knitted purse, just like the ones on page fifty six. The book has some very good step by step instructions and photographs to explain it all, and without too much trouble we learnt to cast on. When it came to the business of actually knitting I found that amazingly I still remembered how to do it. So between the book and myself, Little Lady was taught the basics. She is a fast learner, and before long she was confident enough to do it without my help.
We spent a truly fabulous morning together :: it was half term holiday and J had taken the boys out for the day leaving us girls at home to do girly yarny stuff together. I was working on The Secret Project (no word yet on when I'll be able to ta-dah that with you, am still waiting for News), and Little Lady was fulfilling her Greatest Wish. I wish you could have seen her, heard her, witnessed the pure joy as her little bit of knitting grew and grew. She kept saying over and over that she couldn't belieeeeeeeeeeeeeeve she was Actually Knitting. I was completely thrilled for her. And I was perilously close to tears...you know how some moments in life seem to become unexpectedly MonuMENtal, even though in essence they are so little? This was one of those big little moments.
Little Lady and her knitting were inseparable for a while. She did it last thing at night and first thing in the morning. She took it with her everywhere and she worked row after row of pretty good knitty. I hoicked back a dropped stitch from time to time, and sorted out some mysterious extra stitches that appeared, but mostly she just managed to do it without help and I felt so proud of her!
Over the past month or so, she worked steadily away at it and we kept on measuring as it grew. It began to get very exciting as she neared the end. Then on Saturday afternoon, she sat on the sofa and declared she would knit four more rows and then it would be Ready To Stitch.
The stitching up of the purse was fun, and she did most of it herself. She stitched on a button, then made a little "finger crochet chain" to form the button loop, then whhhoooooooped with delight when she realised she'd finally finished!!
It was FAB!!!
The little purse is well loved and well used, it's been much showed-off and much admired. And it's the perfect size for holding her lip gloss. Cool.
So that's the story of how Little Lady learnt to knit age six and three quarters.
She's already started her next project (a little blue owl, a present for Daddy to brighten up his work desk).
One FO and a WiP already on the go, that's my girl ♥
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Edited to add :: a note from Little Lady............
a big thank you for all of your lovley comments, and i realy apreasheat all your lovely thauts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TOP TIP!be confident about your work and it turns out lovley,i am really exited about my owl
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Bless.. I'm catching up sorry .. If I was Little Lady, I'd be very excited about my owl too... Gorgeous post! Love xx
Posted by: Danielle | April 06, 2011 at 01:33 PM
Hello Lucy
This is the first time I've commented on your blog, though I've been following it for quite a while.
Your excitement at Little Lady following in your creative footsteps is quite delightful.
If you would like to get her interested in sewing, I'd like to suggest a book you and she might be interested in.You'll probably find it at your local library; it's called 45 Great Gifts To Make and is by Jean Greenhowe. The ISBN number is 0-7153-9359-6.
If you can't find it I have a copy of it that I could send to you(free).I've no longer any use for it, and it probably would have ended up in the next charity doorstep bag. It's in pristine condition and I would be more happy to send it to you.
Posted by: Y | April 06, 2011 at 01:03 PM
Wow! What a clever daughter you have! My little lady doesn't have the patience for learning to knit - hopefully one day though! Well done on your beautiful purse! xx
Posted by: Claire | April 06, 2011 at 12:55 PM
what a beautiful job that your little daughter did with her knitting. i had my first attempt at age 40, and she is doing much better than i! her purse is lovely, and i'm sure that the owl is going to be adorable. thanks for sharing, lucy. the book looks really nice, such that i think i'd enjoy it as an adult. such pretty things!
Posted by: Lee | April 06, 2011 at 07:10 AM
Hey Little lady,you are really a very good knitter!I wish you a long,happy life full of new interesting knitting (and crocheting) projects!!!
Posted by: Laura | April 06, 2011 at 02:38 AM
I remember learning at about her age:) She did a fine job and it is sooooooooooo rewarding when they want to learn and share one of your fav pastimes!! Lovely!!
Love to read your Blog it is a regular treat!!
Posted by: Pat | April 06, 2011 at 02:27 AM
LL is doing awesome! Such a quick learner! Well done!
Posted by: Marian M-S | April 06, 2011 at 01:47 AM
Little Lady, you are a true treasure! You are so clever to take up knitting at your age, well done! I love the sweet little purse and hopefully we will see some more of your crafting. Your Mum is a treasure too, for teaching you to knit! Crocheting next?
Cheers - Joolz
Posted by: Joolzmac | April 06, 2011 at 12:58 AM
An excellent job, Little Lady! Wow. I can crochet, but I can't knit - you're WAY ahead of me too. Very much looking forward to seeing the owl :)
PS - what a lovely book!
Posted by: Occasional Crafter | April 05, 2011 at 11:15 PM
Good for you both! I think re-starting knitting is like riding a bike....you never forget! So glad you were able to teach your LL. I hope she loves it as much as I do. Oh, and yes, she really should learn to crochet....at least to make what I call "adornments" to her projects!
Happy knitting/crocheting!
Karen
Posted by: Karen | April 05, 2011 at 09:32 PM
Little Lady the purse turned out beautiful. I'm 40 and can not do that. I can hook, but holding 2 sticks and trying to maneuver the yarn along, no can do. Can't wait to see your owl. Lucy, it's so wonderful that you have this to share with your daughter, now your home will become even more blessed with wonderul projects. Thank you for sharing.:)Darcie
Posted by: Darcie | April 05, 2011 at 07:40 PM
What wonderful work! Good Job LL. I love checking in to see what's up. Deadfully jealous of all the bright colors and imagination at work.
Posted by: Connie | April 05, 2011 at 07:32 PM
OMG...where have I been. Oh, yeah, getting myself down to the beaches of Flordia. What a fun project you two sweeties have started. I just love the idea of passing down our love of the yarn to the next generations. I'll take it anyway I can whether with a hook or two needles. She looks to be a star, is all I have to say. Your one great mommy.
TTFN,
Kate
Posted by: Kate- The Garden Bell | April 05, 2011 at 05:06 PM
Just the most perfect knitting!
Posted by: Linda | April 05, 2011 at 04:05 PM
Well done to you both, LL you are as clever as your Mum! My daughters wont try to knit and they are 21 and 17, one does crochet though!
Posted by: Jody | April 05, 2011 at 02:58 PM
So special and now you can see the creativeness rubs off on ones kids!!!! LOVELY!
Posted by: Carina | April 05, 2011 at 02:31 PM
Congratulations to Little Lady - how exciting!! Keep at it and can't wait to see Daddy's owl. Clever, clever girl.
Posted by: Meredithe | April 05, 2011 at 11:43 AM
Wow! I am so proud of her! Not yet 7 and knitting away! Very cool! Good job little lady and mom! Have fun doing yarny things together!
Posted by: keri | April 05, 2011 at 05:29 AM
She is so lucky to have you for a Mom---and obviously has your talent. Congratulations!
(I love her note/comment at the end.)
Posted by: Carol | April 05, 2011 at 05:24 AM
lucy
i am trying to crochet a vertical stripe blanket. i am not crocheting in between the stitches but crocheting on every stitch to make it like a thick blanket it.i am getting in a real mess as to how to start and finish each row, it is a real tangle. i tried the method of doing the v at the end of each row but the edges are extending as i am not missing a stich, can you suggest how i can over come this problem, it would be much appreciated. i have undone it about 4 times now.
Devinder
Posted by: devinder | April 04, 2011 at 07:39 PM
Excellent knitting, my daughter's had many more holes and she was older than you when she learnt. You worked very hard on that. I'm really looking forward to the Owl Ta Dah...
Posted by: noonie | April 04, 2011 at 05:53 PM
Fantastic, you've done an excellent job. I remember learning to knit when I was about 7, my Nan taught me. Sadly I never became very good at, are you making something else now?
Keep up the great work xx
Posted by: Sasha | April 04, 2011 at 04:42 PM
I always love reading your blog--but this one was so extra special --it gave me the goose bumps. I was so excited at how little lady was so excited to learn to knit!!!
I have 4 children,2 girls/2boys.Could never get my girls to learn to crochet.
May little lady have many, many years of creating. I started crohet when I was 8 years old.....let's just say I'm past the 50 mark now!!
Posted by: Lorraine | April 04, 2011 at 04:26 PM
Your daughter is turning out to be just like YOU! As for my son Liam (almost 11yrs. old) he is turning out to be like his father, they are both into animals and nature...Iam more of a city person (into books, films, art, etc).
He may have the same interests in life as his FATHER, but at least he's got his MOTHER'S personality and that is also nice :-)
Posted by: Beth | April 04, 2011 at 02:49 PM
What a lovely story.
Tone
Posted by: Tone | April 04, 2011 at 11:00 AM