Yesterday, I had a genuine surprise. I did not see it coming at all. I wanted to go to the Textile Art Festival, and I wanted to go alone. Its everything to do with fibre, yarn and fabric. Unfortunately, I had to take Aaron with me because Richard was helping with Adrian and it was nap time. I prepped myself for lots of complaints and whinging.
Aaron sort of dragged himself around, not verbally complaining but definitely showing that he was not interested. And then, he saw a lady flicking two sticks around a piece of string. She was knitting but he had never seen that before and it fascinated him. The lady was more than happy to talk to him about it and he was completely engrossed with it. After that, he went around looking out for more people knitting and started identifying pieces of knitting clothing and pointing to all the yarns that were used. He thought that the knitting needles might have been sharp because they were called "needles" so a lady let him touch hers. He wanted to know all about it.
From there, the whole exhibition seemed to open up to him and he wanted to see everything. The weaving was another intriguing exercise that he was fixated with. Co-incidentally, he had recently been asking me how material was made so this was a perfect way for me to explain. We also saw ladies spinning some wool (almost straight off a sheep) into yarn. It was amazing to watch Aaron be fascinated with all this information that he previously had no idea even existed.
I bought him these kid's knitting needles.
He wanted to get started as soon as we got home. I don't know much about knitting so, this first ball of yarn I bought was a little hard for him to learn with. We eventually changed to an easier type. His aim is to make a scarf for Hector, the dog in the background.
I went for a shower and I came out to find Aaron trying to work at his scarf but dropping all the stitches. He had to knit before bed again and the first thing he did this morning was grab his knitting needles.
He was at it again after lunch!
I'm just showing him off here with all the photos because firstly, I never expected him to be interested. Secondly, and maybe this is what I am most proud of, I never expected him to persevere with it. It is something really tricky to get the hang of.
All the ladies we met yesterday went out of their way to tell him that knitting was not only something for women. I wish they hadn't because he didn't know what type of people did it. He's so into it he wants to tell all his friends about it. I just hope that they don't laugh and tell him its for grandmothers. One lady did tell him that in the past, knitting was a man's job. Women spun the yarn and men knitted. I don't know if its true but he has taken her word for it.
So, are there any knitting men out there?
6 comments:
Men knitting bis rarely seen. They may well at home
Claudia used to knit. I never knew any guy that did. But if you think about it, it is a mechanical thing to do.
Here:
http://themanwhoknit.blogspot.com/
an Indonesian crafter.
clever Aaron! :) soon you can request a cardigan from him!
This isn't a bad thing for men to know. Back when I was in high school and stressing out over college admissions, my mother taught me to do counted cross-stitching, which I found to be very calming. I was afraid it might be a bit ... um ... un-manly, but Mom pointed out that football hero Roosevelt Greer was a big fan of cross-stitching, too. In the end, I quit doing it because reading the patterns and sorting the yarn was too taxing for my somewhat wacky color vision.
JLP : Yes, I don't think many men would be brave enough to sit at a bus stop, knitting.
Mike : It is. And it also precise, mathematical and logical.
Fiona : THAT is a very interesting link. Thanks.
Bilbo : Cross stitch huh? That can be an activity for Aaron when he's done knitting. I do agree with you about how these repetitive actions can be calming.
You my friend who I don't really know except through reading your blogs are a precious mother.
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