Snake Knitting

Our Virtual School days could be L-O-N-G, but gave us lots of time to try new things! I thought I might be able to hook the kids with this "knitting nancy" because a knitted snake comes out the other end, but it takes some small motor skill (They were almost 5 and 6.5 - Jack was better at it, but Grace was determined). Our “nancy” was a TP tube with six popsicle sticks taped on - after experimenting, it worked best with six sticks 1" above the edge of the tube. We watched this video, but there are lots. I bought them each a skein of yarn in favorite colors, figuring we would find more uses later (Grace and I have since tried a simple knit scarf). Their Mom came out of her home office to check on us since we were so quietly concentrating. Jack used his project for virtual show and tell the next day. That turned into a handy math problem because ALL of his classmates wanted him to make them a snake, so he sat and calculated how many days it would take him to do that! The snake would make a good cat toy, and calls out for two tiny googly eyes after completion.

A Hat for Mrs. Goldman, by Michelle Edwards. You might need a book to go with this intro to knitting - because knitting is all about love. Sophia’s neighbor, Mrs. Goldman, lovingly makes hats for everyone, but Sophia worries about Mrs. Goldman not having one for herself on a snowy winter walk. Sophia tries and tries to knit one for her, and finds a special way to make it an especially grand gift.

Grace (5) trying a simple knitting stitch later that year - a scarf she proudly wore all winter! Imperfect, but there was a silver strand in with the pink, so who would know?!