knitting 101

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Last Sunday, my favorite eleven year old taught a knitting class. All family members were required to attend.
It took Libby over an hour to set up.  Gathering books, projects, yarn and needles.  Setting up a refreshment table.  Most important to lure the boys.
And speaking of those boys.  They were less than cooperative.  Wrestling and throwing balls all through class.  Libby didn't seem to mind though.  She stayed completely focused.  I think she was just happy to have humans to teach,  as she usually teaches school in this room to 23 invisible children.  

We all started a coin purse.  My husband knit his first row and the boys knit a row with a lot of assistance.  
There was even a segment on "pearling".  
Have a great one.

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102 comments

  1. Keep that knitting interest going. That is great!

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  2. So sweet! I hope one of my daughter's takes an interest when the are a little older.

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  3. What great family time! And what a sweet memory to tuck away in your heart and treasure forever!!

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  4. This is so great! Bet you are a proud mama!

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  5. Never too early to get the career started ;)

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  6. Reading this makes me smile - such neat glimpses into your kids' lives and individual personalities.

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  7. Anonymous3/11/2009

    Libby is without a doubt her mother's daughter! Stylish little lady she is!

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  8. That's fantastic. It's wonderful to find your calling so early : ) and what terrific family time.

    I wish I lived closer so that I could sign up. I could use the help these days (ugh).

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  9. Hehe, 'pearling', cute!
    What a fun time. My boys have each knit a garter ridge scarf (no purling yet for them), and my 9 yr old was taught by my 8 yr old Libby (when they were 6 & 7), but in a much more informal tutoring type session on the couch! No dry erase boards involved...
    My husband has yet to give it a try, but I try not to hold it against him!

    Fun stuff- keep it up!
    Happy knitting-
    ali

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  10. Anonymous3/11/2009

    this makes me smile. :)

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  11. Oh so sweet, she did well to keep the boys attention, kind of!

    Nina x

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  12. Anonymous3/11/2009

    Ohhhhh! I love this girl. That is the sweetest thing I've ever seen. And.... those shoes!!!!

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  13. Oh Leslie, how absolutely darling and she looks so beautiful sat there in her gorgeous skirt with all those lovely wools and needles. Sounds like she has had a very inspiring teacher....

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  14. We need more Libbys in this world!

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  15. That's darling! Is there a little girl out there who doesn't enjoy playing school of some kind?

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  16. Anonymous3/11/2009

    oh, this is such a sweet variation on playing school :)

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  17. Bless her! And how lovely to get stuck in to knitting at an early age, too.

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  18. that rocks! she counts as a homeschooler in my world. i wish we could sign up for her classes. I would love to be one of her invisible 23!

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  19. I love how she has learning targets, and that she approached it with humor. Awesome.

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  20. How exciting...I wish I could have been there. I need some lessons!!! LOL!!!

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  21. adorable.
    i love that she has a "learning target". and of course that one of those is "pearling."
    future teacher?

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  22. this is so so cute! maybe you can round up some more willing neighborhood kids (or moms) to participate next time. she is so so sweet.

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  23. ...what a great story!

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  24. I wish Katie could go to Libby's class! Tell Libby that she'll be the one laughing when those boys lose their mitten or scarf and she knows how to make them a new one.

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  25. Anonymous3/11/2009

    she's so cute. was it her idea to do this?

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  26. What a wonderful, sweet little thing. I love it. Can I borrow her?!! She's a girl after my own heart....that was me at 11.
    ~Corinne

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  27. How cute is that! Very sweet that all the men in the house joined in -- even if it was a little begrudged by the younger one!

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  28. *THAT* is awesome! Since she so clearly has the talent and desire, has she thought about teaching her friends or the neighborhood kids? Might be a good summer activity... keep them out of mischief!

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  29. This is so sweet! I bet the boys secretly liked knitting.

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  30. Anonymous3/11/2009

    reading this makes me smile... thanks for sharing this experience with us... I also learn knitting early on, and it's just an amazing experience... still puts a smile on my face knowing that at that age everything is still so very pure and brings so much more joy... congrats to libby, and you must have been so proud...

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  31. I love the "pearling," the yummy striped cups full of needles, and her red shoes. And her confidence - after all, why wouldn't anyone NOT want to learn to knit?

    So fun! Thanks for sharing.

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  32. what a wonderful post about your so wonderful daughter. looks like she'd have a full class with all of us! I'd love to sign in!

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  33. She has "teacher" written all over her! Kudos to her for dealing calmly with those rowdy boys :-)

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  34. That is so cute! Now if only I could get my 11 year old to re-spark her interest in knitting.

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  35. that is just so sweet!

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  36. Anonymous3/11/2009

    What a sweet story. She's a doll.
    I'm still haven't mastered pearling, but I keep trying.

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  37. My 6 year old and I would love to be in her class!

    I think it's wonderful that the boys did stay through the class and the whole family supported her by being there. Wonderful!!!

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  38. Seriously...your daughter taught a knitting class, at home, and you guys all attended, meaning boys, too, at home? Do you know how freakin' cool that is? That rocks. And she's awesome. Totally know where she gets that from! WOW! I'm just in awe, more and more, with every visit. It's light and a foundation. I know Mother Earth will survive, her children happy, for grounded, good people that exist like you & your family in a crazy world that at times seems lackadaisical mad!

    Thanks for making my day!

    XO,
    Ana

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  39. Anonymous3/11/2009

    This is waaaaaaaaaaaayyyy to much fun!!!

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  40. Anonymous3/11/2009

    I can't express how much I love this story . . .

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  41. Anonymous3/11/2009

    What a sweet story - thanks for sharing it. I can just imagine your little "teacher" all geared up for class. How wonderful to have such a nice family.

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  42. I love it! I think our daughters must be kindred spirits ... I can't tell you how many "classes" Maudie has taught using that very same whiteboard and markers!!

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  43. Aw, no way! Your KID is better than mine, too! Mine HATES knitting. (And I can't even imagine my son pretending to sit through a class, for that matter.)

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  44. that's so cute! how great that she stayed on task. :) My boys wouldn't be able to sit through a knitting class either.

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  45. I love how she mispelled Purl!

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  46. Good for her! I bet you are very proud.

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  47. Way to go Libby!
    Wonderful. :)

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  48. This is the cutest thing ever.

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  49. Aww... that's so sweet!

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  50. That is so cool! I Love it!

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  51. Oh, I wish I could get my sister interested in learning! I think I started knitting when I was 11, that would make it three years now... wow! What a pretty collection of knitting needles, That is like a knitters candy! :)
    (Cute outfit, Libby!) :)
    Kendall

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  52. Good for Libby! If she can put up with the shenanigans of two brothers, she is a destined teacher.

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  53. Libby is the best! I love the idea of a refreshment table--that's how you get the boys to knit!

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  54. Anonymous3/11/2009

    That is so sweet.

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  55. Creative and enterprising - your daugghter is wonderful.

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  56. Oh I loved this post! I can so relate to this -I had two brothers also and I was constantly trying to get them to cooperate in plays, classroom reenactments or pretend-anything. Sometimes they would, but it was always with unpredicatable and hilarious results. And their attention span was always about 5 minutes if wrestling wasn't involved. Hang in there Libby! Wish I could have signed up for your class too!!

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  57. You DEFINITELY have a wonderful knitter in the works there, or better yet a knitwear designer!

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  58. Anonymous3/11/2009

    That is so unbelievably precious I can hardly stand it. Growing up with only brothers and having only sons (even the dogs are boys) - I am very much admiring her focus. Kudos to Libby!

    --Vicki K.

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  59. I'm proud of your husband! What fun! I can just imagine the balls of yarn flying around. Still makes me smile!

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  60. awwww... this is so sweet. Glad that everyone had fun!

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  61. What a fun afternoon! Go Libby!

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  62. How sweet! Does your husband knit or was he learning during class?

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  63. Go Libby & hooray for dad!!!

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  64. Sweet!
    And I love the needles :)

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  65. Sweetest blog post I've read in a long time. How old was she when you taught her to knit? My nearly-6-yr.-old niece keeps asking me to teach her but the ladies at my LYS say to wait until she's 7 or 8.

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  66. Anonymous3/12/2009

    It is nice! And so amusing! What a funny idea! I love it!

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  67. This is completely charming. I love the syllabus on the board. What's her secret for not losing patience with unruly students?? ;)

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  68. Anonymous3/12/2009

    she's beyond adorable. and you are all so wonderful to play along. (ps - i was the same way - setting up elaborate schools and the like and requiring my family members to play along. i'm not sure they were so gracious about it!)

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  69. can i attend her next class?

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  70. sweetest. thing. ever.

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  71. Wish I could attend one of her classes!

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  72. Aww! I'm slightly embarrassed to admit that at that age, I pretended to be a secretary and was thrilled to receive a stapler for Christmas. Knitting is so much cooler :)

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  73. Leslie, I tried to contact you via email but I haven't gotten a response... I've got your notecard set all ready to ship but there might've been a problem with paypal. Check for an email from me or contact me at upupcreative at gmail.com and we can get everything squared away. : )

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  74. that libby is so creative and imaginative! perhaps she has a future as a teacher or yarn store owner? :) family discount!

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  75. She had goals for the class...WOW!! She is good!!! What great times.

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  76. She looks like a very organized teacher! Can I join the class next time? :-)

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  77. Anonymous3/13/2009

    I bet she's an outstanding teacher, all around. Her outfit is sweet!

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  78. Anonymous3/13/2009

    You have a gorgeous daughter Leslie!

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  79. How cool is that? I loved your story! Your girl rocks!

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  80. Anonymous3/13/2009

    This is so sweet!

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  81. Is there anything else a knitting mom could be more proud of?

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  82. These moments . . . they are flying past us so quickly. How thoughtful of your entire family to support her. You have instilled a sense of family that will carry on through the ages. Thank you for bringing us back to center regarding family. Thank you.

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  83. Anonymous3/16/2009

    It sounds very nice!!!
    Regards from Spain

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  84. Anonymous3/16/2009

    Such a creative young lady! My daughter & I would have loved her knitting class. And you know, the same thing would have happened at our house...3 brothers would have 'moped' through the entire time & 1 husband would have at least tried it out...

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  85. That's the sweetest thing ever!

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  86. where was I love????
    must get together!

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  87. We did a session at work this week ...corking with toilet paper rolls. The kids loved it...even the boys. They were corking away and even took it home to see how long they could make it.

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  88. Anonymous3/19/2009

    We have two eleven year olds that project and teach like this often. Just last night, our Libby and Aubrey taught us how to write naming songs. We laughed until we cried. It was such fun! ~Kelly

    unDeniably Domestic

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  89. Anonymous3/23/2009

    I would have loved to be in that class! :)

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  90. This is absolutely precious! Tell Libby if I lived nearby I would attend her class for sure! :)

    Maybe she can design something and I can feature her on Blissfully Domestic's Creative Bliss channel? Let me know! sylvia{at}blissfullydomestic{dot}com!

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