Posted by camille – April 17, 2008 4:39 PM

Guest Blogger: Nan Harless, Crafts Editor, DIY Network.com

A viewer asked one of our Viewer Services Representatives earlier today about a Knit Bit Vickie Howell did some time ago; it's a quick video showing how to knit using nothing but a ball of yarn and your fingers. Somehow that got me to thinking about way back when I first learned to knit (you know, with stone needles and woolly-mammoth-hair yarn…).

My sister, Betty, had a lovely homeroom teacher who was always doing gorgeous needlework, and she offered to teach some of the girls to knit (this was in a time and place when no one would have even considered teaching a boy to knit). Anyway, Betty learned the basics of knitting and promptly sat her little sister -- me -- down so I could learn too. That was probably one of the best things that ever happened to me, because I discovered a new favorite pastime that would bring me so much pleasure over the years -- and would see me through some rough spots too, as on the night my mom died and I sat on my sofa, unable to sleep, and knitted all night long.

When we did the Knit-In last year, quite a few people wrote in to say that they and their children or grandchildren were using the event as an opportunity to bond in a special way, by creating something to benefit someone less fortunate. One knitter even told us that her children learned to knit especially so they could participate. And I've been amazed at the number of teens at my church who either knit or have asked me to teach them -- I was an oddity back in the day since I was the only one I knew who really took to knitting, but kids nowadays seem to really appreciate the arts that our grandmothers were taught as a matter of course.

All of which leads me to the project of the week: knitting with kids. If there's a special young person in your life with whom you'd like to share something that's very dear to you, why not suggest a knitting session together? You might be surprised at how easily conversation comes when the fingers are flying (well, they don't really fly at first, but with enough practice they soon will). DIY has quite a bit of information to help kids, teens and other new knitters get going -- even without needles, which is what got me started on the subject in the first place! Happy knitting -- and happy bonding!