This is knitting/crochet-related, honest…
Sooner or later, the Tyrannical Twinnage are going to grow up sufficiently to develop social sensibilities and notice what a colossal embarrassment their mother is. For now, they’re young enough that I could, frankly, pitch up at school to collect them wearing full clown regalia* and they’d scarcely bat an eyelid. Long may these days last, because I fear that their teenage selves are going to be a bit less awestruck by the fact that Mummy (or ‘Mum’ as I’ve already become, it seems: they’re four, for heaven’s sake) can do a silly dance whilst balancing a pair of socks on her head. Heaven knows what I’ll have left to impress them with in a few years’ time, because the sock-dance is about as accomplished as I get.
Anyway, as you may be gathering from these pictures, for now I get to be that weirdo woman who strides the half mile through the village to collect the twinnage knitting or crocheting happily as I walk, sometimes in the sun, sometimes in the rain, and sometimes humming a tune. And whilst I’m not narcissistic enough to think that anyone who isn’t a blood relative cares about this, I know that one day, the twinnage will start to care very much, and any reports of maternal weirdness will get back to them and will force them to punish me by spending a week holed up in their bedroom refusing all contact with me or school, and smoking crack cocaine. Can you tell that I’m a little wary of the teenage years?
In the meantime, let’s celebrate maternal weirdness. I’ll happily French-knit in the pouring rain:-
And manipulate a huge knitted blanket whilst ambling in the sunshine:-
And I’m not afraid of puddles when I’m knitting:-
…Because unlike those non-knitters who say, “Oooh, I could never do that: I don’t have the patience”, I’ve found that knitting satisfies my impatience by giving me something useful to do whilst walking, talking, or doing anything else that doesn’t involve hands. And until the twinnage formally threaten to disown me for my behaviour, I’m going to make good use of the walk up to school by completing a couple of rounds of my work-in-progress. So there.
Surely I can’t be alone in this?
*Ain’t gonna happen. I have a lifelong aversion to clowns.
Seemed natural to me to walk or hike while knitting or crocheting.
What else are you suppose to to with your hands during those times???
I finished a trick or treat bag for my little one on Sunday while out for a hike. The little one was quite happy for the bag. 🙂
Couldn’t agree more. (You’re impressively organised ahead of time with your little one’s trick-or-treat bag!)
I could never knit and walk at the same time, I would fall over!! It is impressive to see you can do it in all kinds of weather!
When my girls were teenagers they used to make me walk ahead or behind them when I started singing or humming or quoting poetry about the weather ………. they also used to make me stop a block away from their destination so mumma dropping them off from her beaten up old VW wasn’t cause for any further teenage angst …………. Nowadays they sing or hum and quote along with me as we amble the streets 🙂
Glad it’s come full circle and they join you rather than shun you these days. I’m dreading the days of being too-embarrassing-to-speak-to.
Absolutely! My knitting or crocheting goes with me everywhere, even to the ballet, which I did last week – mind you, I was watching, not performing! 🙂
Now I would have been even more impressed if you’d said that you were performing and knitting!
You’re not alone – I knit at the playground, at the beach, and at the side of the football pitch during training!
Yup. I’m with you on all of those. 🙂
Crocheted at a karate competition this weekend just gone: Supporting not sparring 🙂 I have to be stationary though, I haven’t mastered crochet on the go – kudos to those that can!
I’m disappointed you weren’t crocheting whilst sparring! As for walking, I only do easy stuff whilst on the move.
It sounds perfectly reasonable to me!
Me too, but the rest of the world might disagree.
Seems like a great thing to do to me! If I could knit I would knit when I was doing other things, as it is I crochet when doing other things! I crochet at work! xx
Crochet at work? You lucky thing! That sounds like heaven…
Impressive! Like breastfeeding, knitting is not something I can do walking about. Hazardous for all concerned. My mum was forever knitting garish jumpers while waiting for us at various events, they called her the jumper lady. Now im the one turning up with the knitting at sports day. Made me pause. Then I realised I wasnt knitting a jumper so really im nothing like her at all…right?
Ha ha, NOOOOO, you’re not even remotely like her…. Not at all…
It doesn’t matter what you do (or don’t do) sooner or later they’ll reach an age where they don’t want to be seen within fifty miles of you, but they’ll grow out of that and I think eventually will be secretly happy how easily you’ll be entertained when they finally send you to a nursing home 😉
I know, I’m dreading both the stage when they refuse to be seen anywhere near me, and the stage where they dump me in a nursing home without a backwards glance. Hopefully, given that they’re only 4, neither of these stages will occur within the next year.
The very first crochet I ever did was a hem on a jumper…, done on the 3km walk from the end of the tram line to my nephews birthday party.
I crochet in the car whilst awaiting my son for school pick up, at 3am when I can’t sleep and any time I feel like watching some TV. Gives me a justifiable reason to sit and do nothing (it’s not nothing, I’m making _____). Not sure I’d brave a blanket on the go though. The jumper was unwieldy enough.
Yup, I’m with you on all of those things. (The blanket wasn’t my cleverest idea. I’ll stick to small things in the future.)
Just came from a meeting where someone crocheted a shawl the whole time! Lovely purple stuff.
Whoever they were… I like them already (especially if they were working in purple).
Keep up the walking!!
Thank you. I intend to. And the knitting.
Agree(1) about clowns.
Yeah it’s odd. So many people say they hate clowns that I seriously wonder whether ANYONE likes them.
I have been known to knit in the car while stuck in traffic. I always knit while waiting in lines. 🙂
Yup. Been there, knitted that. 🙂
You made me chuckle – I’m all for embarrassing my kids (well I was but my eldest is 11 now and quite sensitive so I’ve had to rein it in a bit lately). I can’t multi task in such a way sadly – I need more concentration or crochet/knitting chaos ensues. Love your knitted skirt – you’re a very talented lady. 🙂
Thank you (although you’re kinder than I deserve). What, you have to behave yourself in front of your kids these days? That doesn’t sound good at all…
Well sometimes I do! 😉
Knitting/crocheting and walking is my favourite. I walk to work every day, and as long as its not raining, you can bet that I’ve got yarn in my pocket. I’m not sure I could do a full size blanket, thats pretty darn impressive!
Well the blanket was possibly a bit over-ambitious. But I’m glad I’m not the only knitter/walker. Enjoy your yarny commutes to work. 🙂
Impressive I take my crochet or knitting everywhere but have to be sat to do it. Can we see more of that beautiful skirt pleeeeez
Yes yes yes to taking knitting everywhere. Are you on Ravelry? The skirt is here: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Occles/jenna . It started out as someone else’s pattern, but I modified it almost beyond recognition.
I can’t knit and walk, too busy picking up stuff, pine cones, pretty leaves, stones etc. As long as no one sees you, you can get away with it for ages. Time you increased the dance repertoire, try the chewing gum dance! Hooray for weirdness I say!
Yup, weirdness is to be celebrated. As is picking up interesting natural stuff such as pine cones and stones.
I’m at the teenage years and everything I say/do/wear/………… Is soooooo embarrassing. God mum. I hate it and miss the days when I was a hero and everything I said was good. Sigh…………..
Still my 19 year old is coming out the other side and is once again listening to me and not tutting at every utterance. Lol.
Oh dear. I dread the future. These may be the only days of my life when I’m looked up to (sometimes). Glad you’re coming out the other side. 19 is pretty young for thinking your mum is a worthwhile human being, so you must be doing well.
Do you speed-walk or amble? I’m a speed-walker (usually because I’m running late!) and I don’t think I could manage to knit at the same time. Crochet may be easier, but I don’t think I’ll try that either. I did knit at the park last week though, and whilst watching a gymnastics class.
Pumpkin tried the Mum thing a year or two ago. I point blank refused to answer to it, and happily he’s gone back to using Mummy. Long may it last!
Amble, mostly. Speed-walking wouldn’t work. And I’m glad that Pumpkin is more biddable than my two pests!
fabulous pictures….you have brought a smile to my day….treasure these days they go all too quickly… impressed with walking and knitting…my hooking stretches as far as waiting in the car xx
Thank you for your kind words. And yes, I do treasure these days and panic at how fast they’re passing. Crocheting in the car is a happy way to pass idle time – glad you know this pleasure.
I agree with you completely… I’m the bad mother who doesn’t stand by the trampoline to cheer up her son during his trampolining classes or stand by the trampoline for safety reasons, because I’m too busy knitting… So far he thinks it’s normal, he hasn’t picked up on the fact that I’m the only one yet… I dread that day, because I will have to either tell him I’d rather knit than watch him bounce or I ll have to give up 30 minutes of knitting time 🙁
Tee hee, I related to your words far too much! Like your son, my two think it’s normal so far, but the day will come….
You know I have thought about it and I think that day I might point out to mine that other mums stare at their phones a lot and I don’t… I knit instead 😀
Yes, yes, and a thousand times yes.
I love walking and crocheting or knitting! I always imagine my neighbors looking out their windows with weird looks on their faces and giggle
Let them look, you’re doing something wonderful and worthwhile!
I think you are very talented. I really don’t think I could walk and knit at the same time without some catastrophe. Seeing as I am just finishing up a blanket, I can’t imagine walking and knitting it at the same time. Again, you are very talented and the Terrific Twinnage will soon recognize what a special Mum they have.
Well you’re kinder than I deserve, but thank you. The blanket was a bit over-ambitious whilst walking. And there will no doubt be catastrophe at some point, which at least will provide material to write about here.
Ohhh, I have just reached that stage with my 12yo son, and I wasn’t even knitting while walking. I wish you luck and fortitude once the preteen/teen stage hits!
Thank you! I’m nervous of those years that you’re facing now! Good luck…
I’ve done an insane amount of knitting and cross stitch in the pick up lane. Never walking thou. I’m not coordinated enough.
I don’t claim to be walking or knitting very quickly or neatly…
sometimes when I’m knitting on the bus to work, and the bus rudely arrives at my destination before I’ve finished a row, I continue as I walk to the office. I’ve never considered doing it the WHOLE JOURNEY though, thats inspired – I think I will do that this evening on my way home…. and hopefully,bringing them up surrounded by the wondrous wildness knittingness they will embrace it 🙂 jennyxxxx
Yes! Do it! The world needs walking knitters.
I have been contemplating starting to knit while I walk…haven’t gone for it yet though. I am afraid I might miss out on the natural scenery by being overly focused on my knitting. Or I might trip?
I love your striped rainbow boots!
But if you’re knitting something simple, you can still look around at the scenery. And thank you re. the boots.
My son is 9 and still likes that I’m a bit odd and embarrassing. Here’s to hoping it lasts! 🙂
Yup, agreed. Let’s just hope that they tolerate us when they’re teenagers.
Knitting whilst walking! I have so many questions…Are you some sort of god? how do you not walk into things? How do you remember where you are going?(I would get so distracted by pretty knitting-ness) Where do you put the ball of yarn? Do you have to keep unwinding it?(I am imagining it stuffed in a pocket somewhere)
There are so many more questions…but I think those will do for now!
H.
Well I don’t claim to be doing the knitting or the walking especially competently! I keep the yarn in a tote bag that I wear on my shoulder. Occasionally I have to give it an extra tug. And, um, no, I’m definitely in no way even slightly like a deity. I haven’t walked into anything yet, but it will happen soon, and I’ll document it here so that you can laugh at me. I only knit simple stitches on the move, so I can mostly look where I’m going rather than looking at my work. Feel free to ask more questions! And give it a go!
Wow, I might have to try it although I sometimes struggle not to drop stitches even from the safety of my living room so who knows what chaos would ensue if I took my knitting outside!
H.
Do it! Do it! What’s the worst that can happen? (OK, lamp-post injuries probably would hurt quite a bit.)
I knit on the bus and on the metro and for some reason I tend yo get the seat to myself. It can’t be the needles because I always knit with circulars. Maybe it’s the feverish glitter in my eyes……..
Never mess with a woman who has sharp pointy sticks (even if they are circulars).
I must admit to seeing the title of this post and thinking “what a sensible girl and what a delightfully English title for a post”. Seems I was led astray by a title (again…) and that this post is about British eccentricity (and love for socks with EVERYTHING) as a way of life. Having more than a brief smattering of Auld Blighty in my genes, I too, am prone to sudden craft binges. I am not at the stage where I can do this without taking at least a peak at what my hands are doing but I can do it when crocheting granny squares. I am able to knit stocking stitch without looking but the end result tends to have holes and come apart. I am stoically refusing to give up on knitting as I just found another scrumptious knitting blog and feel a slow tide of change washing over me in favour of all things “knit”. The blog I found was for a lovely lady in Queensland who lives in a train carriage out in the bush with koala’s and various other wildlife wandering around. She knits the most amazing simple and gorgeous things (well not simple but they “look” simple and sometimes that is more alluring than all of the fairisle and intarsia you can thrust at a gal) and is just about to head off for a few weeks to Denmark or some other Scandinavian country that gleams like fireworks in my minds eye. She sells patterns on Ravelry and I am tempted to buy some of them they are SO scrumptious. What do you think… should I jump on the 2 needle wagon?
I think you already know the answer to this. Really, you do.
(May I ask the name of the other blog please? It sounds intriguing.)
Anyway, you have far too much to be dealing with on your walks what with keeping the dogs in order and the fact that it’s usually 5am when you’re out there, so knitting as well might be a tad ambitious.
Tasty TASTY blog. Don’t blame me if you end up wanting to move to Queensland, live in a train carriage and listen to koala’s grunting their territorial songs for the duration…
https://ravensridge.wordpress.com/
I have 5 and a half weeks left of my course. Once that ceases I have ALL of the days to “me”. I get to garden and crochet and lay on my back (among the lizards and snakes) and ponder the intricicies of the sky and how fast clouds go and do sweet bugger all for the duration so taking up knitting might just keep me off the streets (a community service of sorts you might say) sides…I NEED to learn to crochet to make some of the scrumptious stuff I keep seeing on your and Ms wolfberryknits blog. I am twitching with lust. You started it all…
Oh, that blog is amazing. Thank you for telling me. And only a few weeks left of your course? Yay! Clearly what you need to recover is a vacation to the UK to recover…
Can’t say I have ever tried to craft whilst walking but I am very impressed that you can do it. I am sure I would end up making mistakes and spend more time repairing.
Well I only knit very simple stitches whilst walking, so there’s not much room for going wrong.
Good on you. (And I’m with you on the clown front)
It’s interesting how many people agree on the clown front. Does ANYBODY actually like clowns?
Hmmm, I’ve never tried knitting while walking. You may have inspired me! (And double ditto on the clown front!!!)
Do it! Do it! (And it’s interesting how many people dislike clowns. I wonder whether ANYONE likes them.)
The other good thing about knitting is it can be done in the dark if there is a power outage! ( well I can anyway , or while watching TV but not while driving the car! )
Wish I could knit without looking. I’m in awe of your skill…
You’re not the only one. I went on a hike/knit a couple weeks. It was great fun.