Knit purl sew

When I had AnaSofia, my body itched to be creative and I began to sew. Without lessons, patterns or any guidance, I just tore up the little machine Soren bought me and taught myself the best that I could. Thankfully my mother in law, a sweet old lady at JoAnn's and many in between gave me guidance through the years that kept my passion alive and allowed me to continue sewing rather than shelving the whole idea like I had every year since I was 14 and first asked my Mom for a machine. Sewing still brings me such peace and satisfaction. If I have a bad day, rather than crawling into bed frustrated I often pound something out on the machine and leave a gift on the kids' nightstand for morning or send a mailed package to a friend filled with something a little special made with love.

When I had Kasper, I began painting again. AnaSofia and I covered one wall of our house in huge, Marrimekko-like flowers and in the kids' room I painted a tree with birds among the branches that we marked their height and many days the kids and I pull out the watercolors and just meditate. It is peace.

Pregnant with Magnus, I felt the longing to create again - this time with knitting needles. I have circled around knitting many times in the past six years, but always put the needles down and move onto something else. I was determined. This summer with a heavy belly in the hot sun, I sweat through a park date with little friends while their papa guided me through casting on. Little was absorbed as I hunched over needles and felt my shoulders burning unprotected in the sun. I went to Denmark armed with needles and yarn and never found a quiet moment with my mother in law to go through the steps she had taught me years before. Maybe it was my left handedness, my pregnancy brain, my busyness. I could not start knitting despite that I so desperately wanted too.

Last week was the final pull. Little AnaSofia came home from school citing cold cheeks and asked if I could knit her a scarf. Full stop. Mama can do anything, isn't that what we are teaching our girls and boys? So that dear Papa and his kids came again and we worked while our children methodically upturned our house and Magnus slept in my arms. And it made sense. Finally. I am knitting... In the in between moments, amidst chaos, with a babe on me, all while AnaSofia proudly sits next to me and waits for her cowl.

(Photo taken by proud 6 year old daughter)

So I decided to teach that little waiting one to knit. Finger knit that is. I remember teaching myself to do it at some stage in my youth, so I played around for a bit and thankfully my fingers remembered (you can find a great online tutorial here). Little brother tried it too, but really just dutifully held out his hand while I wound the yarn around it - maybe next year. But AnaSofia is stockpiling Christmas gifts and has made a dozen bracelets and necklaces. Fun little wintertime activity to keep her happy!

And we all gather together during this quiet time to be close.

And little girl has something of her own creation to wear when she is wearing one of Mama's handmades.