Knitting is one of the most useful parenting tools I have. It keeps me from striding about the house like a caged animal. I don’t know how many homeschoolers think of it like that, but I sure do. Knitting and homeschooling go together like hand and glove, like wool and needles, like tea and sunrise. You’ve got to be there, near them and available for questions, keeping them from wandering away, smiling at them occasionally. But if you’re a person who hates to just sit, that’s hard. Really hard.
I can sit and knit, though. Different projects for different times. Better parenting at all times.
Birthday present socks for Rainer, knit all stealthy-like when he was from home. Yes, they were indeed knit to go with his Long-Awaited Sweater. If you’ve got a man who likes colour and loves handknits, you cherish those facts and you cherish him.
Pattern: Waffle Rib by Charlene Schurch in “Sensational Knitted Socks”
Yarn: Lana Grossa Meilenweit Sunset in colour 8706
Needles: 2mm
Prompted by a thread at Ravelry, I totaled up the yarn I knit last year. It was approximately 11,500 yards. Being a mostly metric person, I don’t have a sense of the larger distance for that, but I do know it’s quite a lot. I wonder how many stitches it represents. Or how many moments of patient waiting, how many kilometers of driving, how many math questions.


13 comments
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February 27, 2009 at 1:25 pm
nettlejuice
Oh, beautiful socks!
I soooooo agree with you about knitting and homeschooling. I is a wonderful therapy for me, especially in the winter when we are inside most days and right on top of each other.
February 27, 2009 at 1:58 pm
connectedroots
I couldn’t agree more. I hung up my needles a while ago and have revisited the craft. It does satisfy my needs while being present with my kiddos. My favorite: knitting and Uno. I can play 50 consecutive games of Uno if I have needles in hand!
Love the socks!
February 27, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Saille
Sigh. I love hand-knitting socks. A crabby yarn store worker told me I was too inexperienced to knit them…so of course that was the very next project I did. I just finished a pair this week. I have pictures on my blog if you want to see.
My youngest is two…I’m not quite to the place where I can homeschool and knit. I’m still trying to keep him out of the big kids’ hair while they’re working. I am going to file this away in my head as something to look forward to.
February 27, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Mariah
Oh yea! Knitting saved me as my girl went through that sounding out phase and many, many others. I don’t get how people can just sit with nothing in their hands.
Great socks!
February 27, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Charity
Yes, knitting is what makes me a much better parent! More patient, more calm… it definitely helps keep me sane when everything feels crazy.
Very nice socks, I’m sure Rainer will love them!
February 28, 2009 at 8:14 am
V
A yard is 36″ and a meter is 39″ so very near to the same in meters. Beautiful. love, V
February 28, 2009 at 10:18 am
Lisa
Excellent!
February 28, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Heidicrafts
Google says:
11,500 yards = 10,515.6 meters
and 10,515.6 meters = 1.05156 kilometers
Congratulations – you knit 1K in 2008.
March 1, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Wisteria
I, too, find that knitting makes me a better homeschool parent. I find that I over help, bursting in to help before it’s time or even really needed. I knit during math and the difference is remarkable.
As far as other home type jobs, knitting is not all positive. I would rather knit that wash and fold clothes, and sometimes just let it all slide to finish just one more row.
March 1, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Chrissy
Your socks look warm and cozy. I might have to teach myself to do that. My feet are jealous. LOL
March 3, 2009 at 8:08 am
Courtney
My oh my did this post resonate with me!
I have knitting projects strewn all over the house so I’m never empty handed while the kids are working. I’m so glad to know I’m not the only homeschooling mama who enjoys this!
March 5, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Math Stickler
Hmm, since there are 3 ft to a yard and 5280 feet in a mile, we’re looking at 33500 feet, so I make it to be over 6 and a half miles. Or over 10K. (I think Heidi misplaced a decimal point.) Wow. Crazy knitting.
March 5, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Math Stickler
Oops – see what pride will do? Typo: 3*11500 is 34500. Still over 6.5 miles, though!