The ancient crafts of knitting and crochet span many many generations.
We can trace members of any family back to the days when knitting was done as a matter of necessity, particularly in cold climates.
We went through a phase in the height of its fashion where knitting particularly, became a very lucrative home industry.
Something mums could do at home while raising her children.
These days, with the advent of Game Boy.
Xbox and now Wii, our children are being given tools to sustain their ever increasing hunger for instant results, instant gratification and instant satisfaction.
Knitting, and indeed crochet do not fit into any of the computer game console selections because quite simply, they are not that "instant" Think about these three vital things: 1.
Children who do not learn how we gather the things we need in order to survive, have no idea of their value, or currency in our evolving world.
Take for example, the youngster who was asked in her class, "Where does wool come from?" her thoughtful answer came after pondering the question, and her reply was simply: "Spotlight".
(Spotlight is a chain store here in Australia that stocks many craft items, including a fairly comprehensive yarn and fiber section!) 2.
Children who are given the tools to make the things that they want and desire, very often inherit a value and currency associated with the item that they have made, rendering it far more "precious" than something disposable or store bought.
It becomes something with a worth, or currency, such as pride and confidence, two extremely vital ingredients of encouragement and growth, both physically and mentally, which has got to be positive.
3.
By instilling certain educational recreations, our children will grasp the techniques that we were taught, and hold them with the respect that they deserve, and provide them with the platform on which their own children can (and inevitably WILL) learn, and pass down to their children.
As long as we can encourage our children and grandchildren to participate in things that are exciting and reap rewards, there will always be a place for lets use an example of knitting, at the most basic level.
Remember the old wooden cotton reels, and 4 nails hammered in the top, commonly referred to as a Knitting Nancy? Well, why not go hunt up an old wooden cotton reel and bang a few nails into the top because I can assure you, time spent engaging a youngster to create something with these simple items, will force them to think outside the square in which they learn and play! The simplicity of French Knitting (the term used to describe this form of knitting) is so fundamental, it defies all reasoning.
What can they make with just "sausages" of yarns? Well this is the fun part! You can make smaller "sausages" and sew each one into a circle, and then link the next one, like a chain, and then you have a scarf!.
Make a long enough one, and spiral it around itself and soon you can make a rug, or a coaster or lots of circles joined together could make another style of scarf, or even a hat or some slipper!.
Set the goal, and then go chase it with your child or grandchild.
You know, you may just surprise yourself.
It may just be fun.
You might, just might, turn something so basic, into something that fills up the generation gap and brings you and your young one closer together, and make you elite in your own "club".
What have you got to lose? Except the time of day, and lets face it, the love and attention we can bestow on our little ones, whilst learning something so cool and so exciting, is purely an investment of love, and at the same time, giving them skills to share with their peers, and best of all, their own children.
So? Why are you still reading? Haven't you got some nails to hammer?