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Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Yarn Along: Playful

Joining in with Ginny's Yarn Along.
I just love Noro yarn for small projects like this Puerperium Cardigan (pattern available for free on Ravelry). Watching each color bloom into the next is like watching the sun set, gazing into a tulip, or wondering at a rainbow. It's hard to tell where one colour ends and the next begins, but the overall effect is magical. A soft rainbow sweater seems to be the perfect welcoming gift for a brand-new soul, encompassing all the mystery and beauty of life in this world. 
I got Playful Parenting by Lawrence J. Cohen through interlibrary loan (my new favourite thing). My husband has taken on the role of Playful Parent, wrestling, swordfighting, slap-fighting (don't ask), playing board games, and so on, while I get on with the busyness of running a household. I need to get my play muscles back in shape (I was an expert at it when I was a child)! What's nice about this book is that it isn't about the harm parents can do their children by doing x or not doing y. It offers joyful, practical ways to play in small and large ways to foster trust, emotional support, and fun in your relationship with your child. 

It also reminds us that we can get our children to do the things we want (e.g. putting their shoes on to go to the library) by being playful about it, instead of just giving directives. It works! The other day Margot ran away from me as she always does while I was trying to put her hair in a ponytail. Usually I'd count to three (or some other lame, desperate tactic to get her to return), but instead I told her I'd put my (very short) hair in pigtails instead. She ran back giggling, and stood in place. I was happy, she was happy. Sometimes we just need a little reminder!

I'll be starting a course in a week to work towards becoming officially "qualified" to teach Kindergarten, so I've dug out some of my old education books. The Art of Teaching Writing by Lucy Calkins is considered a classic, and is very readable. It rings true after 20+ years: teach the writer, and the writing will come. I came out of a school system that marked up children's writing with red pen pointing out all the mistakes. I remember how thrilling it was to me as a young teacher to use purple and pink pen to encourage my students' writing rather than cut it up with criticism. 16 years later, and I'm still passionate about my work. I'm blessed!

We've really enjoyed Giant Tree and the Boy, a poignant tale of a tree's life cycle and the legacy we leave our children by planting seeds. And Spoon is silly and charming, like my Krouse Rosethal's Little Pea. Simple illustrations and cute stories to make the kids and grown ups giggle. Win win!

What are you reading and knitting these days?

23 comments:

  1. Noro really is magical and the end item is always so lovely.
    Congratulations on getting your quaifications to teach, that's wonderful.

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    1. I am a qualified teacher since 1997, and have been teaching...this is an additional qualification course!

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  2. Oh wow ... for some reason I have never thought of using Noro for baby knitting, but that looks fantastic and fun! I will have to add that to my mental "to do" list. :)

    Very interested in the Art of Teaching Writing ... that time is a few years off for me yet as my little guy is just 14 months, but it's never too early to prepare. :)

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  3. Who wrote Giant Tree and the Boy? I'd love Jamie to read that.

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    1. It's an adaptation by Jill Barnes. It's lovely (reminds me of Mr. E's tree next door)!

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  4. Beautiful sweater. I've never used Noro... just lusted after it on other's blogs. ;) I read your review of playful parenting with definite interest. It's time to pass the torch to the next generation and I think my son in law would glean some goodness here. Would a man read it or does it really speak to the feminine?

    Blessings, Debbie

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    1. It's written by a man! My husband is already playful but at designated play time. I see this helping him to be playful at times like brushing teeth, getting into bed, etc. I think as parents we're afraid of being playful because we don't want to lose control. But I find the kids responding really well to playful!

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    2. I appreciate your response. I'm definitely looking into this one.

      :) Debbie

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  5. What a beautiful cardigan, the colours are just wonderful!
    xo
    Linda

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  6. i want you to know i went out as soon as i read your post last week and bought some noro rainbow yarn to knit another puerperium. i was so inspired by the loveliness. can't wait to get started on it. :) i think i got more than enough, maybe enough to make a pair of booties and a hat. lol
    that playful parent sounds very good, i find i get stuck in chores and "have tos" and for get to play.

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    1. One skein looks like it's going to be just enough for this little sweater! I bought 5 skeins, so I should get three sweaters plus matching hats and booties.

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  7. The colors are vibrant and fun... keeping with your theme from the book. :) m.

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  8. That color way is really fun! When i knit a hat last fall from a yarn called sky it came out like a sunrise to sunset color way. So cool. I just started reading A history of London.

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  9. Love Noro yarn. I made some treasured felted bowls from a skein. Knits soo beautifully, like working with butter. And I like your description of Playful Parenting. I have it on my kindle, I should really read it.

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  10. I love Noro but the couple things I have knit with it their Silk Garden seemed too scratchy for good baby knits - can you share what kind of Noro you used? Maybe it is just my sensitive skin. I just love the way their yarn knits up in color.

    I love Little Pea, Little Hoot et al so will have to look for Spoon!

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    1. I always assume the sweater will be worn over a long-sleeved onesie (I do the short-sleeved version). It is Silk Garden. I don't think I'd make a hat out of it, though!

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    2. Thanks! I did make a long jumper for my baby out of silk garden and she did wear it over a onesie... unfortunately her two sisters both fit into it in summer and it is too hot to wear that many layers where we live! It is a gorgeous jumper because of the yarn and I was sad I could get more wear out of it!

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  11. I love the little sweater and the yarn! I'll be keeping that in mind for a project? The Playful Parent sounds like a good suggestion too!

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    1. That's supposed to be an exclamation point after project, not a question mark. Ha!

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  12. The cardigan looks absolutely gorgeous - the colours are just amazing! The flowers are beautiful too.

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  13. So pretty! I love that yarn!
    ~Liz

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  14. That yarn looks lovely. I've been wanting to knit a puerperium for a long time, and two friends are expecting babies soon so now could be the time!

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    1. Debbie, it's a very straightforward pattern with awesome results! Check in next week to see the finished project!

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