Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Morning, Noon and Night

Hi Knitters,
The knitting frenzy is continuing right on over here. The Collector wakes up early in the morning and starts her knitting....
... and continues right on into the late night. Things to note in this photo: TC wearing the original Chocolate Blues bonnet from Itty-Bitty Hats (they dug out my collection of hats from the book), the finished sock on our neighbor's leg, and how closely TC snuggles in next to her knitting buddy on the couch when there is plenty of room to spread out. Our neighbor is the most patient of the patient, thank goodness. TC practically sits on her. When they are knitting together they say, "We are one," and hold up their pinky fingers to touch. Then they laugh. Life is good.

That is another friend/neighbor-sister sketching in our huge coffee table sketchbook. These neighbor friends have a family of six girls so my girls are lucky to have them nearby. They have had more fun together over the years.

I stumbled up to bed at 11pm and left the knitters in my living room. They put me to shame. I have let TC live it up a little as school starts soon. I will be so sad when school starts.
I finished the Eclipse Hat for Peachy while sitting with the knitting girls. She loves it. Peachy has been knitting, too, as she started a lovely little baby hat of her own. She is on high school swim team right now and doesn't have much time between practice and sleeping. She joins in when she can.
This is one easy hat. I think I have enough yarn for another.
TC has learned how to purl, stitch in a fleece lining with needle and thread, use double-pointed needles and she is currently doing the single crochet. She lined her pumpkin hat with a pumpkin colored fleece.
She is so proud of her creations. What is better than that?
She made a modified football themed hat.
TC donated 6 hats to the Elizabeth House last Saturday. She was so excited to attend the knitting group she goes to with our neighbors to hand over her hats. She made 3 boy hats and 3 girl hats just to be fair and square. Elizabeth House is a place where mothers who are having a rough time can stay for awhile and receive support, classes and a general boost to get back on track. TC can't believe how lucky she is to get to give her hats to actual babies. I love that she has no problem giving away her creations like that. There is no thought to it at all.
She walks around with her knitting setting it down everywhere she goes. That's our piano bench that has to be cleared off in order to play. She has a hat and a pair of booties on the needles right now. Her fingers are always flying. She has taken to wearing yarn around her ankle, too. You can see it a little in the shot above.
Our sweet neighbor has finished one sock and has not taken her one sock off since she finished it days ago. I see her walking down the sidewalk in her Birki's with the one sock on, the other foot is bare. I can't stop smiling about it. She is on her second heel already so it won't be long until that toe comes around.
Who wouldn't wear that one sock all of the time? I would. And how's that for a first sock? Pretty impressive in my eyes. This girl is a smart cookie and a natural born knitter. I tell her something and she remembers and immediately knows what to do. I don't even write anything down for her. It is incredible to see.

The girls came home from the church knitting group with a batch of knitted and crocheted donated squares to make up a blanket. They are now spread out on my living room floor. They are working on putting the blanket together with crochet edgings and seams. I'll share photos of this later. It is too good to be true.

The knitting girls have made the end of my summer just about the best thing ever. Having their company is a blessing I don't take for granted.
best, susie

37 comments:

Megan said...

I think that one of the lovliest things about knitting is that the giver gets just as much joy as the receiver.

It's great to see how your talents have been shared within your home and are now starting branch out to the neighborhood.

Unknown said...

susan! why can't i live near you! no one my age knits around here and my mom says i should quit college and just retire cause i act like i'm 60 :[ ha ha i'm only 20, i think i need to find some knitting friends my age via ravelry

PurlingPenny said...

Susan, I too wish you were my neighbour. I'd love to hang out and knit. Your students are doing amazingly well. I've been trying to get my daughter interested in taking up the craft, but so far, no bites. She's so artistic I'm sure she'd make some creative items. Maybe this winter when the snow is three feet deep I'll corner her and some of her pals.

Stefanie said...

All those happenings are so awesome!!! TC and her BFF are so cute w/their we are one thing. You're so lucky, Susan to be in the midst of all that. I hope my girls and their friends are like that when they're TC's age.

Mommy, I'm Home said...

Could you send those girls over here to teach me how to stitch in a fleece lining and knit socks?

Denise said...

Seeing what those sweet girls are up to puts a smile on my face... oh how special to have friends to knit with and at such an early age. Long may it continue. School already started here, but I don't mind, it gives me a few quiet hours during the day to knit ;)

pendie said...

How cool is that?! It must feel wonderful to be around all that youthful excitement and energy; lucky you!!

twistedinstitches said...

Hey neighbor! What a lovely post--I shared it with my knitting girls. LOVE the hats...TC and friends are doing a great job. Passing on those traditions and blessings are the very best part of knitting.

{{{HUGS}}}

~Rachel~

Anonymous said...

What a great sight to see all those little girls knitting. Always love TC updates...such a creative girl! I'm so impressed by your neighbor's gorgeous sock...you'd never know she was a beginner!

Carol

Kar said...

I think I need to get moving with my knitting! TC and her friends are putting me to shame. :) Way to go girls! Awesome job on all your projects.

Alison said...

You are so so lucky to have these darling girls, knitting in your house! I can't imagine anything more fun. Thank you for sharing these lovely shots.

Alley

Dianne@sheepdreams said...

You are doing such a wonderful thing for those girls. Your mentoring will give them a lifetime of knitting joy! (and it's the best when your house is the one they choose to hang-out in)

Virginia said...

I give away nearly all of the items I knit, until this year when I'm trying to knit sweaters for myself. I'm sure that will spawn more giveaways however. Good for your girls.

My crocheting friend loves the stand you are using to show all your hats. Can you share where you got that or how you built it? I'd love to replicate it for her.

Pam said...

Boy do I ever miss those days at my house.

Congratulations, Susan. I think you have a budding prodigy living in your house.

I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Unknown said...

That is great! I would love having a living room full of knitters every night and not be the only one knitting away. Maybe one day. Hopefully I will have a girl next and if not I hope my sons date crafty girls that will enjoy knitting with me.

flora said...

I love the burst of knitting love in your home. So nice. Maybe one day my girls will grow up with a love for knitting, too. Then I'll have someone to knit with! take care!

Shawna said...

How sweet!!! I'm still the only one knitting in my house --mostly for my four little girls. I can't wait to share knitting with them. How fun! (and, your books are the reason that I love to knit! Thanks for making knitting do approachable and easy, and keep those fabulous books coming!)
---shawna

Sandee said...

Can I move to your house?

Cutzi said...

I don't know that I've ever commented before but I just had to say that this is the best thing ever.

As a mother of three little ones, I smile to think that this sort of thing might happen in my home someday. Love it.

knitterbeader said...

Such a warm feeling reading about your daughter and her friends. They'll long remember these memories of their good times knitting with their friends and TC's mom!

Marcy said...

This post made me cry. To see these young girls so engrossed in what they are doing and doing it so selflessly is true magic. They probably don't realize how special it is, but as a Mom, I know if they were my daughters/neighbors I would be so proud of them and cherish every moment that I could watch them. You are so lucky to be able to observe this special time in their lives.

Maryjonono said...

I loved this post and all of the comments after it!! Really special stuff, thanks for sharing your lovely life!

Anonymous said...

Amazingly wonderful memories for all!! I spent the summer sewing ukulele bags with and for my daughters and my oldest actually made a sweatshirt she designed and sewed all by herself, tag and all! Incroyable!

Theresa said...

Loved the update! I love seeing all the knitting going on. The hats are adorable! And the one sock! That brought a smile to my face. Speaking of the sock, I dying to find out what yarn that is. I might need to make myself a pair of rainbow socks...or maybe just one! :)

Zenitude said...

I loved your post today. I also appreciated having my children around me during the summer holidays (and the rest of the year). So many people complain about school being out that it's refreshing to read you. I also love how those girls are so involved in their craft. You go girls!!!

Unknown said...

I would love to be your neighbor.

DebbieG said...

I enjoy your blog so much and love reading about all the adventures - this latest knitting gathering is esp amazing!!! What fun and what a great time to share.

forevermore said...

My heart has been blessed for the day by reading your blog - go TC, Susan and all the friends and neighbors that you touch w/your time and talent! School may be starting in September, but the life lessons of summer 2010 are forever!

Kath said...

You are sooooo lucky..... i wish my daughters would knit....how fun your house must be. I have been a knitter all my life...since I taught myself at 10. My family just laughs and shakes their heads at me.

Judi A. said...

What a joy to be surrounded by such wonderful girls. Shows that their parents are doing something right! It is fun to have the house filled with children and friends, and to see what they create is amazing! Noticed TC's "baby" on the chair in the background, all cared for and snuggled in with her lambie. So cute and tender. :-)

Libba said...

This whole post was a wonderful warm fuzzy. It has made my day! Would that your corner of the world would infect more of the world with the speed of computer viruses.

And, I,too, would like to know the yarn of that one sock. I would be casting on quickly!

Libba

Libba said...

This post was a wonderful warm fuzzy!...and it has just made by day! Would that your corner of the world could infect the rest of the world with the speed of computer viruses....

And, yes, I, too, would like to know the yarn of that one sock. With yarn like that I would be casting on and chasing away the grumpies and frustrations!!

Libba said...

This post was a wonderful warm fuzzy!...and it has just made by day! Would that your corner of the world could infect the rest of the world with the speed of computer viruses....

And, yes, I, too, would like to know the yarn of that one sock. With yarn like that I would be casting on and chasing away the grumpies and frustrations!!

Kate (KnitsInClass) said...

Can't say enough good things about your knitters! And they are all so talented - I wish I could say my first knit items turned out that well :)

I love knitting with others, and I think those girls are so blessed to have discovered that joy so early in life.

Summerlyn42 said...

I see these posts and I can't wait to teach my daughter to knit...my 3 year old son is taking an interest too...maybe he'll want to learn too!

Unknown said...

Lovely story and aren't you lucky to have these young knitters in your life. Thanks for sharing it with us - I live in a knitting no man's land and just love stories like this.

Shortly said...

What an absolute delight it has been to read your recent posts about the girls busy knitting. The generosity of spirit they are showing is so heartwarming too.
Adore the rainbow sock, I hope it'll be posted somewhere on Rav for us to fave??