My Son, the Spider

One of the wonderful things about having kids is seeing a bit of yourself reflected in another person.  My son, for instance, is as passionate about his yarn stash as I am over mine.  Watching him browsing the “three-dollar-a-bag” counter at my local discount yarn shop is a fun way to spend an hour.

Of course, the other fun thing about kids is how they then take things in a completely different direction.

I’ve taught Kai how to weave on a table loom.  I’ve shown him knitting with the following rhyme:

In the door, (insert the working needle)
Grab a scarf, (wrap the yarn)
Run back out, (pull the loop through)
Before the cat barfs! *blatt* (pop the knitted stitch off the resting needle)

(I’m not sure where I picked that up, possibly a Cat Bordhi book?  I don’t recall, but it really holds a kid’s attention.  I’ve had a whole room of kindergarteners in hysterics with that one.)

I’ve taught him finger knitting and crocheting.

But Kai has his own form of personal expression.  What does he do with his yarn: acrylic, chenille, and metallics?

Builds giant room-sized webs.  He calls them his “traps.”

They’re an interesting combination of geometry and art installation.  You leave him alone in a room for an hour or so with yarn and things happen.  Left in place, he’ll start tying in found objects (that’s probably the influence of the dreamcatchers his grandmother makes for him) and each one has a story.

This one is also part mechanical device.  Here he’s showing me how you pull a thread on one side of the room, and a bell rings in the other.

It’s not what I would do with yarn, but it’s an interesting artistic expression, and I feel lucky to have such a creative and sweet son.

Of course, he’s pretty lucky to have two parents who—upon discovering that the living room had been converted into a giant labyrinth say—“Wow.  That’s so cool!” and admire the web and take numerous pictures instead of throwing a fit about the mess.

We did eventually have a talk about art verses the need to “walk across the room safely” and negotiated a three-day exhibition in the living room, after which the project was recycled back into yarn.

My weaving?  Today I’m weaving samples for a rigid-heddle class I’m teaching on Sunday.  Examples of things you can weave using two heddles: double-width, 3/1 twills, fine cloth, etc.  I love the fact that my work now means that I have to spend a certain amount of time weaving.  I get to be diligent and have fun; how cool is that?

P.S. For those who asked: the sheep came through the cold just fine.  The sweaters, not so much.  But they gave their little polarfleece lives for a good cause.

Please share your thoughts: I enjoy your comments and feedback!