When it comes to knitting, or sewing, or crafting and creating for others I always have the best of intentions. But somehow…sometimes my enthusiasm dies away a little too quickly. In the beginning of November I decided to knit these little felted slippers…a pair for each of my kids, and put in the goal of completing them by winter solstice. After all, at that point, I had a whole month and a half, and they are a simple quick little project. But then I came to road block #1, I ran out of “Orange You Glad” Lion’s Pride Bulky that I was using for the first pair and had to order another skein. My project got put on hold… then I started up on the next pair while I waited.
However, after that slipper from the second pair got knit up…um, I got bored with the project. I always get these grand ideas of knitting like 15 pairs of socks, ahem- or four pairs of slippers, but I don’t know if anyone really enjoys knitting the same thing over and over and over. When I finish a project I want to jump up and down and celebrate it’s completion. So, I am going to have to muster up some strength to humbly swagger through the rest of these slippers.
As far as reading goes, I have been reading The Complete Adventures of the Borrowers by, Mary Norton to the girls at bedtime. We are almost finished The Borrowers Afloat. This book made it into our hands at a second hand sale that we ran into one evening. The book is from 1967 and came to us in mint condition, but I am sad to say that some little somebody threw the book across the room one day or night and the binding at the top has split, but that’s how things go in our house. Nothing stays in mint condition for very long.
Everyone, minus Lake, is knitting something right now. I try to have knitting be a part of our day somewhere along the way. Hawthorn is itching to knit, but isn’t quite there yet…so he is sticking with finger knitting awhile longer and is hoping for a knitting tower for Christmas.
Kayla and Bella are both working on Christmas gifts. Kayla is knitting the lion right now out of First Book of Knitting for Children
Hawthorn is slowly by surely knitting himself a jumprope. He works very slowly on it, but he can do it. When he isn’t looking…and even sometimes when he is…I sneak in a little bit for him. He is a little over a third done, but it is such a tedious project for a five year old, BUT he is determined to do it and I am sure will be very proud of his jumprope when he is finished it!
Joining along this week with Ginny and her yarn along. I also am slowly but surely building up my projects on my ravelry page. It is going to be so nice to be able to organize them all in one place. I don’t know why I didn’t start doing that sooner!
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes, we are reading the borrowers in it's entirity. We are at The Borrowers Aloft right now. Such a long set of books, but the kids love it, and I remembert having memories as a kid thinking and dreaming about little people who lived in our world too.
Lisa
I try to let their projects be theirs, but I can barely resist sometimes…just a row or two I promise!
Lisa
It's funny how some kids are with knitting…like madly in love with it. That's how my Bella (pictured) is, more so than her older sister. She told me she feels like she just can't stop. I know exactly what she means!
Lisa
It will come. My first pattern was a waldorf knitted horse. Then I was off! For awhile I kept a little print out of what all the abreviations meant though, which helped.
Lisa
I never did either. But it looks so nice having them all organized and together, so I'm going to make that my goal…to try to remember to log them in when I do new projects from now on!
Lisa
Thanks Erin!
Lisa
They sat in mine for sometime too, till I thought how I wanted a simple project..in time for winter tootsies. Five pairs is one more pair than my agenda, but you can do it. Maybe next year. If you start early, you could just knit a pair every other month
Lisa
Oh yes, a lesson indeed! My lessons are rolling in left and right in the most obscure ways these days. Hopefully all of them result in something as cute as slippers, right?!
Lisa
Yes. I love it! My oldest actually taught me how to cast on. We kind of learned together by making a scarf together. The my next daughter saw us and couldn't wait to get into knitting. She had to wait a few years, but she's off and knitting now!
Lisa
I got one pair all felted up earlier this week. I will show them soon.
Lisa
So, how many milo vest do you have now? Ha! The Milo has been on my to-do list for some time too. I'll get to it one of these days.
Lisa
Go for it! Try them. I am pushing along through mine…it really is not that bad at all. They are so quick.
Lisa
Ah, alternating projects. That's a good idea!
Lisa
I just love the solstice slippers!!!! and guess what? We're reading The Borrowers too. I found my old copies of the entire series. My dad had packed them in a box and put the label "Old Family Photos." When I opened the box they were old Valarie books favorites. Such an exciting moment.
awesome! I love when my kids have knitting projects going one. We currently have two scarves in the works. Like you, I always try to sneak a row or two in here and there…just to help them along a bit.
Knitting is a big deal around here right now, too! I've always got something going on one or two sets of needles, and now my six year old was "longing" to knit, so he's off and running, and my three year old is beginning to fingerknit…a few links at a time. I hear you on the tedious nature of some projects…having a few projects on the go helps me with that. But, oh, those slippers look well worth it! And your daughter looks so comfortable using her needles:)
xo Jules
Love the orange and blue! I was taught to knit and purl as a child but nothing more came of it. Till now! I have found a love of knitting and Im trying to teach myself to read patterns. So far Im doing ok. I can crochet slippers and I always make then around easter as its our autumn here.
I need to address my projects page too. Never think to do it when I'm there for some reason…
The slippers look great… good luck with finishing them!
Those slippers have been languishing in my favorites for a bit now. I too wonder if I can muscle through knitting five pairs of the same thing. Perhaps I will make them for next year's solstice. This year I am making sweaters, but each one is different! I love the Borrowers, and have actually been thinking about a reread to the kiddos. Good luck with the knitting.
I never, ever get tired of seeing pictures of kids knitting. Lovely.
I LOVE The Borrowers. Haven't read those at our house just yet.
Those slippers are adorable and the yarn colors are so lovely! I think there is a lesson in there somewhere about doing things multiple times… I feel the same way about mixing things up though.
Have a lovely day!
so sweet that all of your kiddos knit
The slipper is so cute!!!! Finish them so we can see the final product!!!!
cute slipper lisa! i wouldn't be able to motivate either… although – i must say – i loooove the milo vest and have happily cast on one after the other here. perhaps you should give that one a go. : ) i love seeing kids knitting. ezra wants to learn too but i know he isn't ready. i haven't even tried finger knitting with him yet. perhaps i should.
I don't know if you have inspired me or not to try and complete two pairs for my boys for solstice. I have been looking for a good slipper pattern and this one actually looks doable! But I get the repetition boredom. I am more of a fan of starting a project, than the completion.
Beautiful projects! I know what you mean about knitting the same thing over and over. I made the 3 boys felted slippers last year. I had to work 1 set, then another project, then a 2nd set, another project, etc. It's the only way that I could manage the dull repetition.
Beautiful scarf knitting from your little one!