Knitting by the River

Beautiful sunshine today and the cooler temperature is so conducive to knitting out doors. Being surrounded by nature; smells, sounds and the sun's warm rays diffused by the sun, my hands want to knit but my mind is wandering around collecting bits of this and that for new projects. Sometimes I stop to take notes and sometimes not, the latter always seems elusive in my mind days later. Believe me, recall is not all it's cracked up to be!

On many Saturday teaching days in the past, my class and I would gather at the river and enjoy a couple of hours of knitting and social time. Many times the needles would be idle for a few minutes as we watch children playing on the playground, boats, and the catering company setting up for the afternoon wedding reception.

This brings me to Matt, and his wonderful eye for photography (see more of his work at yerkesphoto.com). When I started talking with Matt about building my website and providing the photography for my designs and patterns he surprised me with my knits being shot out doors. His wonderful idea has made the appearance so pleasing that I formulated a plan to shoot my technique videos out doors as well.

Well, it will be interesting to see if this works since nature and some humans just do not conform to the perfect scene that I envision. I went down to the river on Tuesday this week and made an attempt. I have to finish the editing and hopefully post to YouTube in a day or so. I am by no means a "techie" so many thanks to Matt.

I wish you all a wonderful, productive day no matter what your plans are. There can't be a proper end without a message from JT. He just finished a snack of crackers and peanut butter with a water chaser. "Uh oh Nanny, I need more water please." I am busy talking with all of you, so I told him that it was OK to fill his own glass at the water cooler. He comes back to tell me "I big boy now, I get mines own water by mines self !"

More About JT and Me

School has been out of session for the Memorial Day Holiday as well as the use of the last few unused snow days. It remains to be seen whether JT will be interested in the "knitting box" or Elmo on my iPad. At his age of 2-1/2, things change so rapidly it is hard to keep up.

Looking back on this past winter, I made a hat for JT's brother, Mason. It was a simple design that used kitchener stitch to close the top, and pom poms on the corners. I made it in navy blue and off white. His mother, my daughter, loved it so much, she asked me to make one for JT too. A few days later JT's hat was finished.

A few weeks later, my daughter was getting the boys ready to go out. She asked JT to get the "Wiggle Hats" out of the basket in the hall way. I loved the name and asked where it came from. My daughter said that JT had named the hats, I should have guessed. Hence, the "Wiggle Hat" was born.

So many times, while in conversation with JT or watching Mason play, ideas for new knitting projects begin to form. You just never know where the next stitch pattern, color pattern, or design will come from. Be aware of all things around us. Let the scents, colors, and nature's patterns wash over our senses. That special mix of nature can lead to some surprising results.

Now, walk through your favorite yarn shop, one of mine is yarnandtea.com. Bring with you "nature's mix" and pull together fiber, color, and your favorite pair of needles. Check out the patterns a available, or design your own. Spend some time with your swatches. That is the best way to become aquatinted with your new fiber choice. Swatch for gauge and stitch pattern. If you choose a pattern from the shop, don't be afraid to add some of you to it. Be courageous. Make it yours.

I am now at my daughter's house with my various bags. Mornin' boys! JT comes to help carry them into the kitchen and the fun begins. Hugs and kisses sprinkled with giggles and laughter. Now, that's my kind of day! Soon Mason will be down for his nap and JT and I can get down to our knitting business.

Hope you all had a great Holiday Weekend!

Knitting With My Grandson

Monday through Friday I care for my two youngest Grandsons while their parents are at work. They are ages 2-1/2 and 1. Most mornings after arriving, JT, the 2-1/2 year old asks about my "knitting box".  My usual answer is "after your brother goes in for his morning nap."   This interaction has happened frequently enough that when I ask JT what he has to wait for, his reply is "Mason night night".

JT has been involved with my knitting for about a year now. He would sit on my lap while I knit and hold the ball of yarn and pull out some yardage as it was needed.  Of course, it was on the floor and being retrieved more times than I can recall and I really didn't get much accomplished. But, it was good quality sharing time.

As JT grew and he started talking he was able to recognize and name my tools of the trade, yarn, knitting needles, markers, scissors, tape measure, and basket, to name a few. He always looked forward to knitting time with Nanny.

As his vocabulary increased and he could manage simple conversation, his most common words at the time was "you and me now"? He said this every time I would go from room to room, out on the porch or upstairs. That simple question inspired my website....youandmeknit.com. He has also named one of my hats as well.

JT continues to inquire about my knitting when I arrive at the house, but now it is my "knitting box" that he is interested in. It is a small heart shaped tin box that his older brother, now 11, used to teethe on when he was a baby. Now JT has learned to take the top off without spilling the contents. He separates the markers, his favorite ones are the purple and green rubbery ones by Bryson, from the few buttons and folding scissors. 

When his brother, Mason, wakes from his nap he piles everything back in the box and is able to put the lid on all by himself. He tells me "here Nanny, put away now". It is so nice to share with him my passion for yarn and creating things. Hopefully when he is older he will give knitting a try.