I’m really glad that Grace is enjoying the yarn stuff. I’d love to see the pictures of her other stuff! There are so many talented fiber artists out there, it’s amazing what some people can do! Check out the knitting and crocheting done for this recent gallery here in Santa Monica. . . http://www.lostateminor.com/2009/01/15/crochet-coral-leaf/ Now that’s someone who really knows how to control yarn!

Yes, this craft can add up to quite a bit of $, so I think getting free patterns online is a good way to start. The sock pattern I used for my very first pair of socks can be found at this link http://www.vam.ac.uk/images/image/13029-popup.html I think the part that looks like it doesn’t make sense really does make sense if you just follow the instructions. It’s the part where the heel turns and you do the short rows. What I did was look up a YouTube tutorial on “heel turns” or “turning the heel” then it
all falls into place and makes sense. Once you do it, and see how beautifully it works, then you go, “Oh, let me try that again!” And then you do it again, and again, and again, ha! I’ve lost track of how many socks I’ve knitted already, and just finished a pair today for Brian. . . But luckily I have 4 boys here who use socks, so I have plenty of sock takers here. It’s just that I don’t get a lot of practice doing “girlie” socks because I’m sure they would not like to wear eyelet or lace socks! I’ll try to do some for myself one day. . .

Marla

I let Grace read this tonight. She was so excited! Now she wants me to take pictures of her barbie doll dresses. I did take a picture of the crocheted slippers she made herself but I haven’t sent it to you. She loved those socks! Yep, Grace made those hats. The one Peanut has on was from a pattern that she changed to her liking. The other one is hard to see, but it’s actually a prairie type hat that ties under the chin. She just didn’t have it set on her head right at that moment. That one she did without a pattern also.

The web is a new thing for Grace. She has her own “favorites” folder now with three websites she’s allowed to visit. Of course, we are sitting next her as she enjoys it. Two of them are yarn and craft places. She is so in love with those sites! She’s getting all kinds of ideas. She found some free download patterns at Annies Attic and they had some of the crocheted sock patterns you mentioned. Not sure if she’s going to expend her funds on them or not. That is something that is hard for me. I want to buy her everything she wants for her hobby but she has been saving money since birth (okay, we started saving her money) so it’s time she learns how to manage it. She is a tightwad! I love it! She tries to buy most of her yarn at the thrift store right now because it’s so expensive she can’t stand the thought of spending money on it. However, I told her when it comes to socks she’ll have to get the right yarn or they won’t be comfortable. She’s learning the money thing along with the craft thing so that’s good. Right now she only uses cheap yarn. She doesn’t know anything about the different types. I figure that will come in time as she develops her talents.

I am enjoying watching her develop these talents and I’m enjoying her teaching Kassandra. She’s a good teacher. I wish I could say Kassandra’s a good student! She’s a little more impatient and doesn’t really want to learn to do it right. It’s funny. Grace is hard to teach (she likes to work things out on her own) but she’s a good teacher. Weird, huh?

Better jet to post on the other page. Thanks for sharing your stuff with us. Pretty soon you might have Grace posting on here! Hmmmmmm. I’d better get her a typing program first!

patti