My 9 year old granddaughter will be visiting later this summer, and I’ve promised to teach her to knit. I’d appreciate hearing any tips to make it less frustrating and more fun for her.
Has anyone used a book they like that’s geared toward children. It would be nice if she could take something home to remind her. I vaguely remember hearing a rhyme to go along with the knit process that would be fun to use as she first learns too.
Needle size for small hands? Yarn recommendations? I’m thinking a scarf of hot pad would be a good starting project.
Thank you! I really want to pass this skill onto my grandchildren and don’t want to frustrate them so they give up because of me.
I actually learned to knit from a children’s knitting book called Kid’s Knitting by Melanie Falick. My library carries it and several other children’s knitting books. You might want to check and see if yours does. One of the projects in Kids knitting is a bean bag. I don’t have the pattern in front of me but basically it is two squares sewn together filled with beans or unpopped popcorn. Little fun projects that can be finished more quickly are a lot more enjoyable for the person learning to knit. I think starting a nine year( or anyone) on scarf is difficult. Starting small and working up to longer projects is the way to go in my opinion.
Good luck teaching her! I wish I would have sat down and learned knitting from my Grandma!
Well, I obviously know the knitting rhyme, I sometimes forget the purl rhyme. :eyebrow2:
I agree with using big needles and thick yarn. You might consider a braided yarn or cording so it is more difficult to split. Using US size 10 and bulky yarn can make a quick swatch into a dishcloth or a longer knit into a scarf.
Children want fast results, so I’d let them pick from flat designs for hats, scarves, dishcloths, wash clothes, place mats, napkin rings, and such.
Avoid blankets (unless they are doll sized) or anything that is big.
I lovedthis one when I learned to knit as an adult (along with my 9yod). It’s clear, and has a little project for each new skill…lots of cute kid things! It’s called Kids Learn to Knit.
I have shown both my kids how to knit my daughter is 9 but could do garter stitch at about age 7. My son is 14 and last Christmas break did a whole teddy bear. Neither on can purl and neither one is interested in knitting all the time.
I would suggest either dish cloth cotton or basic wool --in a fun color. Wool might be better because of how it stretches a bit but both my kids have learned on cotton. Bamboo straights a size or too above what the yarn calls for because they will knit tight. Cast on for them. Have them watch you do the first row because the first row is often a bit fiddly, then let them try. You will need to correct and re-knit any mistakes so they don’t get frustrated. Elizabeth Zimmerman said in one of her books always knit some rows for kids in between their sessions so they feel they are making progress!
Also, this is the biggest thing; don’t start them on a square…it quickly becomes monotonous. Both my kids had learned to knit a little on squares but one day I showed my daughter how to I-cord. Like crocheting a chain it gives instant gratification. After a few rows they can see what they are getting. My daughter loved it, my son wanted to try. They got very good practice of the knit stitch. So try a 3 or 4 stitch I cord on bamboo needles, they should have fun with that. Than move on to a square. The i-cord can become a cat toy, if you sew it up a coaster, or a rug for a doll house.
I never thought of it for shoe laces, but maybe with a fine guage yarn. But I wouldn’t suggest such a skinny i-cord for a beginning knitter.
Elizabeth Zimmerman used I-cord in lots of her books and patterns, applied i-cord edginng, at the edge of an afterthought pocket, or shaping it into a little decorative appliqué. And of course they make great purse handles. Which reminds me that a while back my son knit a somewhat wonky rectangle and then I showed him how to fold it, seam one edge with an applied I-cord, continue on with a regular i-cord until desired length then seam the other side with applied i-cord. The colors were bright and obnoxious but he did a good job then gave the bag to his sister.
I think small projects would be great starters for a child. I know when I 1st started out, I wanted instant gratification. Scarves and blankets mad me wonder if I really liked knitting. I just got bored. So I started making toys, hand warmers, ipod and phone cozies.
Hand warmershttp://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/first-fingerless-mittens When my daughter was learning to knit (she’s 7) this was what she wanted to make. She made 1. It wasn’t perfect in any way, but she was very proud of it. She used a size 10 needles and had many mistakes. Someday she will make the other.
Also check this out… I remembered in [U]Mason Dixon Knitting[/U] they had a little section on kids knitting page 86-102. In it there is a project knitting with potholder loops called superfancy potholder loop rug and size 35 needles. It is so cool, and would be great fun, I think.
Many thanks for all the GREAT ideas and suggestions! I’m going to try out a few things and have a bag ready for her with book, needles, yarns, and some sample projects.
I love that little bunny on Ravelry, but the pattern isn’t opening. I hope I can find it. It reminds me of how my grandmother once took a scrap square of fabric and made a tiny doll for me.
I taught my little sister to knit using super bulky yarn and size 13s. She said that the thick yarn and big needles made it easy for her to see what she was doing. Also maybe a light yarn would make it easier to see the stitches.
Go to your ravelry and choose the PATTERNS tab. Then search “knitted bunnies”. You’ll see a link further down the page. The pattern is on the page that you link to. I want to make one!
Thanks so much, Melanie. I followed the patterns tab in Ravelry and found the knitted bunny pattern by Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer. It’s similar to the version by Artsy Fartsy Mama (right under it in the list) which unfortunately still won’t connect to a link. It looked simple for a beginner project because I don’t think you have to do the ears separately.
