Thursday, May 1, 2014

Mud and Knitting

Yesterday, all 6 of my children played happily and peacefully together for quite some time. I was on the phone with a friend and decided to let them go for it - even though it meant every last one of them was head to toe covered in mud. That's not an exaggeration. Spring storms coupled with, well, dirt, has kind of a messy effect. They love it. I'm a pretty "free range" Mama but I have to admit I cringed when I saw Rosie plop right down in the center of a mud puddle in some longies I had knit for Peter when he was small.

Ah, well. That's what it's for, right? I knit these things because I want people to use them, wear them, maybe even get muddy in them. I've never been someone who wants to put something pretty up on a shelf, far away from anyone, to be enjoyed from a distance. Perhaps it's my kinetic personality, but I prefer to touch and experience life...and I want my children to be able to as well. That means I let my girls wear dress up clothes outside because, to me, the point of dress up is to pretend, wherever you are. It means that sweet sweater I knit for Jonah has a little hole in it that needs mending after 3 children have worn it in every sense of the word. And sometimes it means letting kids do the dirty work/play of childhood and buttoning my lip against anything else. I can always get them another pair of socks, another tshirt, another pair pants. I can't manufacture these moments of theirs together, experiencing life in a way only kids can.

So, knitting. I've been doing a little bit lately. Mostly shorties for friends, which you may know if you follow me in Instagram (and you really should!). They go pretty quickly and are so cute! I finished up my third pair in less than a week last night. I can't wait to make Rosie a few! I hope that these, like all things I knit for children, are used, worn and played in. Possibly until they are worn clean out. I can't think of a better fate for something I made than to be worn and enjoyed to the fullest.



  1. Found you through Ginny. Just wanted to say I've spent hours here today reading. And loving it all. Thank you!

  2. lovely pics! giveaway pattern on my blog ;]

  3. oh my - they are so cute!!
    I always say, if they don't come back dirty from head to toe, they didn't play hard enough. LOL
    And what better way to thank mom for the loving work of her hands -- then to use that something to the fullest. :)

