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.


If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to future posts.  Thank you.