Monday was an adventure day, as the kids and I joined a good friend and her children on a trip to the coast. The whole day was so much fun – mamas chatting in the front seat, kids piled into the back of her minivan, picnic lunch on the sand, hunting for treasure, climbing sand dunes, and eating ice cream. It was such a necessary recharge for me; a chance to spend hours connecting with another woman, another mother, who faces many of the same joys and challenges as I do.
Her 5 year old daughter, C spent much of the car ride finger knitting. I had been taught a version of finger knitting by one of Ella’s Waldorf school teachers, but it was way too complicated for Ella – wrapping around 4 fingers, going over and under – too much. But the method that C was using was so simple – just a single chain created on one finger. Ella and I both wanted to learn!
So I found this Waldorf-inspired video on YouTube, that teaches finger knitting through a story about a fence, sheep jumping over the fence, and slipping a collar on the sheep. With that story, and this verse, we began:
Finger ring, finger ring
How many stitches can I bring?
Wrap around once, then jump over
Roll around in sweet green clover!
And within minutes she was finger knitting! Every few moments she’d say, with amazement in her voice, “Mama, look at how long my finger knitting is now!” And then she proceeded to finger knit for over two hours. Parked on the sofa with blankets on our laps, and a few balls of wool, we sat together and finger knit. And I cannot even tell you how happy this made me, to sit peacefully next to my almost 5-year old daughter, and knit.
Fingerknit chains can be used in so many ways, and are great for imaginative play. At our home, they become jump ropes, lead ropes for toy horses, scarves for dolls and fairies, coiled up rugs for fairy houses, ornaments, and much more. I enjoy seeing what others have created using fingerknitting, such as these inspirational posts:
5 Fabulous Fingerknitting Projects – Flax and Twine
A Four Strand Fingerknitting How-To – Keeper of the Home
Chunky Finger Knit Pillow – Design Sponge
I’d love to hear what projects you have created with finger knitting!
Angi says
This is beautiful. And I love your honey post too- what an amazing (and tasty) process! I’m in awe of all that you are creating.
homesteadhoney says
Thank you Angi! I wish I could convey how tasty this year’s honey is! it really us such an amazing process, and the more I learn about bees, the more in awe of them I am!
Sarah says
This just made my day! I feel exactly the same way you do about our day……it was just right! So glad Ella discovered the joy of finger knitting……just think it could be a necklace, a leash for an imaginary dog, a jump rope……so fun! And I LOVE the verse you found!
homesteadhoney says
Hurray for a wonderful day! Ella wants to spiral hers up and sew it into a rug for her dollhouse! And yes, a jump rope is also in the plans! So great!