Thrive Mom's Blog: Kids "growing vigorously & healthily"

Yes!  The rumors are true!  I am learning to knit!  We have this amazing yarn shop that is totally the place to be if you are a knitter or wanna be knitter as I was a mere week ago.  For their grand re-opening Crazy Girl Yarn Shop hosted an evening event during which the employees, poshly dressed in black, came around offering samples of yarn on silver platters among the platters of real chocolate covered strawberries, puppy chow, cheese logs, and whatever else my heart could have imagined.  It was a feast both for the eyes as well as the stomach.

Delicious Yarn Sample

Everywhere I looked there was beautiful yarn in all textures, colors, styles and completed projects to juice the creative wheel.  There were tables set up all over the store where women (did not see any men, sorry guys) sat chatting, laughing, knitting.  My cousin and I both learned how to knit.  She using the English style and me “picking” the Continental style.  It was so fun.

Thrive Boy's scarf in progress.

 Why do people love to knit, crochet, and sew despite the fact hats, mittens, scarves, socks, blankets, sweaters are more cheaply purchased from stores?  I used to think it was quaint that folks still knit but am learning there is more to gain from the practice than a simple hobby or the practicality of a useful item. 

In Choosing Simplicity by Linda Breen Pierce a participant explains what knitting and doing other things for herself (like gardening, baking from scratch, sewing clothes) means to her.  “Doing stuff for yourself does cycle energy back into your being.  The result goes beyond satisfaction to a real sense of security.  Doing for myself, no matter how time-consuming the task may be means that I can handle almost any situation or disaster.  I have no fear of the future.  I have serentiy in the face of an unknown future.”  Self-sufficiency.  It is also a form of portable (think stuffed into a briefcase/backpack), creative expression, an outlet in an increasingly busy world.  Perfect.

Hand work is making a comeback for sure.  More people I know, from my mom to high school boys, are interested in learning how to make their own items.  Check out two of the many inspiring artsy blogs at Shivaya Naturals (she actually posted thoughts about this same subject today, too!) and Progressive Pioneer  (who learned how to knit 2 weeks ago, too) are two of my favorites.  They also link to some wonderful blogs.  

Thrive Boy asks about his scarf almost daily so I’d better get it done!  I am glad he is interested in my project because a big reason I want to knit is to model and teach the art to the Thrive Kiddos.  I know they will learn academics, that comes easily to me, but I want to teach them recreation, hobbies, outlets. 

Heather of Shivaya Naturals says it best, “I know my kids will not tell me everything, and that they will have to face some very tough moments in life, and I hope that the knowledge that their hands are capable of always ensuring that there is beauty in their lives will help them through those times. I found myself as a mom, as a wife, and as a human being through art and yoga, and those are the tools that I keep with me at all times.

I am not worried about my children not learning the basics of reading a book, I am worried that they will not know the basics of creating a story.”  Well said, Heather.

My next project is to make a needle roll for all the wonderul needles I will acquire (I only have one set so far, hardly enough to necessitate a needle roll but I’m thinking ahead)!  I bought size 13s that are sustainably grown and harvested in California.  Too fun.