I don't think that's so bad; when I was a child one of my best friends was actually my friend's mom. I understood she was a grown up and she understood I was a kid, and we were just good friends. And you know, just about every time we've ever been to the playground I end up chatting with other people's kids as they play with mine, because their moms just seem to ignore them.

You could always start a children-only SnB!

The sleeve is beautiful! I just love the look of X's and O's! :) I am a volunteer for two classes of 5 year olds and you have no idea how much I look forward to seeing them each week. I totally get you on being eager to meet the young knitter than chatting with other moms! ;)

haha thats funny! Somemhow you have to get a photo of this cutie with her knitting. Or atleast of her scarf.

I love that sweater, always have. And I love your kip kid story. I used to knit outside of tutoring twice a week, and while their big sibs were inside, the little ones would chat with me about what I was making. One little autistic guy even brought me an intarsia design for a scarf. (It had a red cat on it). His mom was astounded as he normally didn't talk to folks at all... he'd worked on the design all week, and offered it to me to knit for 'someone who needs a scarf' but not him because he couldn't have anything on his neck. Kids of every flavor love knitting in public.

Aw! I have a knitting protege this soccer season. She knew how to crochet a LOOOONNNGG chain, but nothing else, and after watching me knit socks, insisted that her parents buy her needles and yarn so she could learn! I figured they'd probably bought acrylic, so I brought along a wool/alpaca blend in pretty "girl" colors to the next game. She tossed her acrylic aside and went to town! It was so cute! I'm going to miss seeing her progress - only one game left. :o(

My favorite was when I was knitting in Boston one day (waiting for Dan) and a little girl sitting next to me said "my mom does that, but she says more bad words". I almost fell over laughing. her mom turned bright red and stammered "i'm just learning". I told her, I use the bad words too, just at home, like she does!

One of my student employees knits, and she brought in a colorwork sweater today asking me to help! so, for 20 minutes before her "time in " she and I sat in my office and I taught her to twist her floats over more than 7 stitches.

Your sweater looks great--- there are goign to be some well dressed babies!
:) Kate

Perfectly okay and totally awesome! That child will treasure any advice and tips she can get from you. Man, oh man! She's a prodigy.

We've been playing outside a lot, too. I was knitting outside yesterday, but it started getting kinda cold on the hands towards suppertime.

Hey, I always look more forward to seeing the kids on the playground than the other mommies. I love it when kids ask about my knitting -- I'm not sure that my own daughter will ever care, so it's nice for at least someone to think that knitting makes for a cool mom.

That is so cool!

The sleeve is turning out quite nice. And no it is not wrong to be looking forward to seeing that little girl on te playground again. I would bring a spare circular needle and yarn and teach her how to knit in the round since she has grasped the concept already.

yeah we SO have some smart, smart cookies in our town, alison! must be something in the water. let's just hope it's not something sketchy they're dumping in the quabbin... maybe we should start a little knitting class for the playground kids? um...just in time for the snow. right. ;)

the sweater looks lovely! ~gabriella

I'm thinking about starting a 4-H knitting class. I was going to target grades 6-7-8 but maybe I'm aiming at the wrong age group! heh It's amazing how people can just completely ignore what you're doing as if it's not happening at all when you knit in public. Like they don't notice. Ha. As if. They're curious. But they're just adults and are covered up with inhibitions. Unlike that cute little girl at the playground. Great story!

Oh! That is so great. She would probably understand if you showed her how to use the circs. Children can be very surprising! Just think - maybe your wee one will be into knitting.
The sleeve looks lovely - your friend is going to love that sweater.

This is a wonderful story! I love that she plunked herself by you and started chatting!

That kid rocks. Get her name and tell us, so we know who the Next Big Thing in knitting will be. ;-)

What a precious conversation you had with that little girl! I'll bet you now have a new knitting buddy at the playground! And that could be your little girl in a few years!

Ah, how cute! The story and the sweater. You absolutely need to hang out with that little knitter.

The fact that you want to see her again makes you a natural mentor...

At our local knit shop, kids aren't accepted as students until they are 12. By the time your mentee is 12, she'll be able to teach - maybe earlier.

My 7-year-old son started knitting this summer--he made 3 scarves, 2 hats and 2 pairs of wrist warmers, so now he is making himself a sweater! He is such a high-energy, non-fine-motor boy, I didn't know he would like to knit, but he especially likes to knit while I read to him--it helps him not be squirmy. I wish more boys would try knitting!

Wow Alison...you met.....''a natural born knitter''...... I bet her Mum or Grandmum would be good to meet too (or aunty, friend etc etc!!!)...plus I love what you are knitting. She will come and find you again too.

too cool. I remember a year ago I took Gil to the Gymboree (in door playing ground) and a little girl came up to me and asked what I was making. She also said it was prettty....awwwwww....I think Gil would rather I gave up my hobbie...as it takes away from my attention time. I try to knit when he's asleep.

Oh I need to adopt her!

What a sweet story!!
I get a lot of questions about my knitting from the little ones and I think it's cute how curious they are about it!
How sweet she pulled out knitting and sat next to you. I love it!
Oh, and yes, the sleeve is lovely! =)

Last year around Halloween I had two little boys in Spiderman costumes admire my knitting on the T. :) I was making a Harry Potter scarf for my friend and the boys were very impressed. I'd guess they were about 5 and 7 years old, and their mom was telling them not to bother me.

What a wonderful story! I love it!

I love the pattern you're using for the sweater, the x's and o's are great! :)

Knitting since she was five? There is hope for my little girl yet, who just turned six. She keeps trying, and does well, but gets bored with it :)

Sounds like you've found a future Knitsmith! Or maybe she'll start her own playground knitting group :)

Man, someone has trained that child well!!! Did you ask who had taught her? Sounds like a natural. Wish my daughter would exhibit some interest *pout*

awww, get them while they're young!

That is SO cute! (The sweater and the little girl story.) She has a good teacher somewhere, and a sharp mind.

Whenever I have my knitting out somewhere I get lots of kids (girls and boys) asking about it. I was knitting on the bus on the way back from my kindergartener's pumpkin patch field trip and one little girl just wouldn't stop watching me, but she had this look on her face like she thought I was insane. She asked what I was doing. Then, what was I making? (Socks.) Then when we were almost back to the school, "Are they done yet?" Then she asked why I didn't just buy socks.

It's very okay, you two muses sitting together on the playground, fiber and needles a flying.

Oh, not only should you be looking forward to seeing her more than other moms, you should be looking FOR her. Period.

When the bug strikes and strikes young, it is our duty to be sure and feed the interest so that our craft can continue on for generations to come!

It's sounds like maybe her mom (or dad) is a knitter too. When they start as young as 5 there is usually someone in the household that also knits.

I need to get a learn-to-knit kit gathered for my grandaughter. How old is she? Umm.....she'll be born some time in March. ;-)

she sounds like a kindred spirit. Loving reading all the comments too! Wish I had started that early. Ah, never too late to become a knitter!

that story just made my day! i was that age when i first learned to do needlework, and it stuck because of kind patient grownups who would show me how to do stuff, or let me watch them make stuff. beautiful.

that's an adorable story! I started knitting when I was five too. One of my first projects (and oldest UFOs) is a "stomach warmer" for my grandfather. It's pretty comical. My grandmother still has it in her closet!

Love the hugs and kisses sweater too - it's very sweet. Lucky recipient!

How sweet. Arent little kids the greatest sometimes, especially ones that knit. Now you have your own knitting buddy at the playground, and the boys can play for longer.

Wonderful!!
My daughter, now 6, started knitting a year ago. She's knitting mittens now on dpns. It's kinda like kids and school, they'll go as far as you let them. :)

Oh that and tell them they "can't" and you'll be sure they will. ;)

That'll be YOUR knitting little girl before you know it!

I love the X's and O's! That was an adorable playground story.

That's a heart-warming tale! I only hope my daughter will want to knit!

Totally okay! That's great!

I think in these days of "stranger danger" it is a blessing when children find interested, non-condescending adults. (Not to mention that in these days of gangmember wannabees it is nice for adults to meet eager, smart, interesting children.) My daughter did not respond well to knitting when it was presented at 10, 12, 16. But boy, when she was ready (22, I think) she really took off. She now needs a whole room for her stash!

What a lovely story, it made me feel all warm inside, thanks! My 5-year old has her own knitting, but prefers Mummy to do the work on it as it's all a bit too time-consuming for Miss Speedy-pants at present. She already appreciates the end results very much and said this morning that she is going to buy me some nice wool for Christmas-at last someone who knows what I really want!