09 May 2006

Yarn Shopping with Thing 2

On Saturday, Thing 2 and I attended the Conference of Northern California Handweavers. I don't weave (though I'd like to, someday), and I didn't have time to attend any classes, but I wanted to go to the market because I suspected there would be interesting yarn. And there was. What I really liked about the market, aside from the fact that it was waaaay less crowded than Stitches, was that most of the vendors were small producers. In other words, instead of the same yarns I can get any time online or at a LYS, there were lots of beautiful yarns I'd never seen before. I came home with some cashmere/merino and some merino/angora. There were a couple of the larger vendors there as well, including Habu. Unlike at Stitches, it was actually possible to get within 100 yards of the Habu booth, so I acquired two tiny skeins of fine cashmere, two balls of silk paper, and one ball of hot pink fiber made from a pineapple plant.

Thing 2 enjoyed the market quite a bit. She was fascinated by the looms, and totally entranced by spinning wheels. She probably could have spent all day watching people spin. She also liked touching yarns and fleeces and leafing through some knitting books, and looking at the beautiful works on display in the gallery. Thing 2 is my little Artiste, and she's obviously acquiring a healthy appreciation for fiber arts.

In fact, the next day as I was preparing lunch, Thing 2 suddenly abandoned her Polly Pocket and announced imperiously, "Mommy! I want you know me how knit!" Now, that's the 3rd time she's asked, and I really hate to say no. But she doesn't have the coordination yet to knit, or even to use her sister's table loom. Does anyone have any ideas for something I could teach a 3-year-old to do with yarn? She doesn't need to produce anything in particular, as long as she believes that she's really making something.

4 comments:

Peg said...

She's old enough to start learning to make yarn octopuses - that little bit of simple braiding would look like 'knitting.'

Anonymous said...

Also, she might be coordinated enough to use one of those french looms...

Spool knitting

Of course, that could be what Peg meant by yarn octopuses too, since they produce long skinny strands of knitting.

Anonymous said...

Also, she might be coordinated enough to use one of those french looms...

Spool knitting

Of course, that could be what Peg meant by yarn octopuses too, since they produce long skinny strands of knitting.

Phyllis said...

Great ideas, guys--thanks!

I think probably spool knitting is still a bit beyond Thing 2. Fine motor coordination is not a family trait (you should see Thing 1's handwriting!). But she may be able to do an octopus with help, and in the meantime, Thing 1 might be interested in spool knitting.

Other ideas? I'm thinking maybe some simple simple weaving of some kind??