Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Sunshine's Yarning Along


I don't really have anything on the hook right now, but Sunshine is most excited about her newest project and asked if she could participate in Miss Ginny's Yarn Along and Giveaway (especially when she saw the give away yarn called "Princess"). She had her very first sock knitting class yesterday or "two hours of sitting and clicking" as The Professor put it. He was actually very patient along with the other two. We spent the time discussing the Renaissance, playing a first grade version of Scrabble and reading, which helped pass the time but we will need more distraction for next time.

Miss Trudy was very impressed with Sunshine's attitude and desire to learn and will be very pleased to see that she has already accomplished her "homework" for next week... she started her second sock completely on her own!

As you can see, pink is her favorite color. If she ever marries I'm sure her colors will be blush and bashful! And she apparently has the same subconscious talent for coordinating her reading material and knitting material. This yarn is Cascade Yarns Pacific number 18. The pattern is the sock pattern her teacher gave her. The book is Nancy Drew's The Crooked Banister. Sunshine says she's read this one a couple of times and while it's not her favorite Nancy Drew, she likes it!

12 comments:

  1. I always love seeing girls taking up domestic arts as hobbies. For some reason, it is very encouraging to me. Maybe because I didn't learn anything like knitting or sewing as a girl ... I think it's just great that this new generation wants to learn these things. It's like it's part of the return to true femininity ;-)

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  2. Sarah,
    Your comment made me laugh because as we were leaving the shop yesterday where she had her class, there was a mom and a son (maybe 8 or 9 years old) who were picking up some yarn for her husband. She explained that he was the knitter in the family so she picked out what colors and textures she liked and he knitted it for her. The saleslady asked the son if he was going to learn to knit to which he responded, "Yeah... some day!" The mom mentioned that she had shown him pictures of wounded soldiers knitting in the hospitals (similar to these two). The saleslady commented that is was men who were the first professional knitters which of course, turned into a rabbit trail at home. We found this information quite fascinating... Catholic missionaries helped spread knitting across the world! You are right that nowadays it is considered a typically feminine craft but I think it's great that there is a push to reintroduce men to the craft too. Neither of my boys would have an interest in learning, I'm sure, but we thought the history was just fabulous!

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  3. Charlotte, that is too funny! I never knew this about men once being the professional knitters!! Interesting ... Oh, and that photo of Russell Crowe cracked me up ~ LOL. I think that my original comment was addressing the fact that just a few generations ago, most women were just more skilled in domestic arts, and they passed these skills onto their daughters ... That was lost for awhile, but I do think it's coming back, as we realize these are important, beautiful skills to have (and they're fun, too).

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  4. So pretty, Sunshine!

    And the Nancy Drew books were some of my favorites when I was younger. . . My Grandma JoAnn would buy them for me all the time! The Crooked Banister is one of the books I still have sitting on my girls bookshelf for when they get a little bit older. :)

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  5. Your post is really encouraging me to teach my daughter how to knit. She showed some interest a while ago and we played around with finger knitting. But I think she's old enough now to try needles. And I love Nancy Drew. I can't wait until she's old enough to read them too.

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  6. Oh Sarah, I knew what you meant and I agree. I just thought it was funny given the little history lesson we got from the shopkeeper and her customer! :)

    Pumpkin,
    You should definitely strike while the iron is hot! I taught my girls how to crochet first and Sunshine was so thrilled with crafting that she set about teaching herself how to knit and she did! She has had a few friendly knitting friends offer her some help, but for the most part, she learned using a book and watching a few clips on the internet.

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  7. So fun when they want to join in, LOVE the color!!

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  9. Oh I hope she wins it!!! That would be wonderful and so encouraging for you!
    And I do love how it all coordinates, lol.

    Also, i love that bit about the Catholic Missionaries! I didn't know that!!

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  10. blush and bashful are such perfect colors for a good Southern girl :) I love Nancy Drew too. I can still smell the pages of my mother's original books that she has the entire collection which I read over and over as a little girl.

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  11. Love that delicate pink...I finally have another girl after 4 boys in a row, and I am all about pink now! I have made a vow that I will never EVER knit anything in camouflage again!!

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Thank you for sharing your thoughts and yourself!