Only problem is I have no idea where to start????

I’m wondering how everyone else who knits started, whether there are any good online tutorials with videos and how on earth I decipher the knitting language on the patterns?

Thank you in advance of any help/ suggestions

Alice

Feeling pretty low about it and just want some advice please. K x

But my kids are getting older, 7 and 9, and we’re looking for inspiring stuff for them now at this age. TBH its really nice visuals I want. At this point, without wishing to be arrogant, but 5 years into homeschooling I can generally work out how to make this stuff if I see if, if that makes sense, so its not a how to. (I don’t mean I’m after those lovely house type blogs but more that a picture of a finished product is fine-that’s actually why I used to spend a lot of time on Soulemama, but she no longer posts much about her kids after around age 7. Which ,as as aside, I really do respect her for)

I’d say the Crafty Crow, sadly, which was a big resource, is now consistently coming up too young.

My older one is very into 3d stuff-clay and so on, also wood/carving, any loves metal work if he can find a way to do it. My 7 year old likes anything. I’d say both have good craft skills but less good drawing skills.

Any lovely blogs you can share?

oh and yes pinterest but no because it eats my life

Also, my kids would really really like websites aimed at kids to tell them how to do crafts.

If anyone else is in this predicament, just to say a bit hit around here has been Vi Hart (find her through Khan Academy)

For some time now, I have been contemplating setting up an art station for my younglings (4.5 and 2.5).  They both love to draw, and have developed a habit of climbing onto DH’s desk (forbidden zone) to get pens for the purpose.  So it would start off being drawing based (no paints or other craft materials for the moment).

I think the 4.5 yo is old enough to be responsible with it.  My concern is with the 2yo.  She LOVES to draw, and would benefit greatly from the autonomy of such a station, but she is a crayon eater, and has a preference for drawing on non-paper substrates (i.e. the couch, walls, floors, tables….she even took a nail to an antique dresser to draw….not as horrid as it sounds, but bad enough and could have been heart-breaking).  So I can not trust her yet to be responsible, but would like to give her the opportunity (supervised) so that she can rise to the occasion eventually.

My kids prefer pens (of course), anything that mom and papa use.  They have a conniption if I offer crayons or colored pencils.  I resist markers- they scare me…the kids draw on their bodies too, and I just don’t know what’s getting absorbed and how bad it is.

So, specifically I am looking for:

1) suggestions/ (pinterest links??) for organization and set up, taking both the kids needs into account.  DS needs free access, DD needs restricted access.  I don’t have much shelf space (the obvious answer) at least until I’m further along with the Great Declutter of 2013. and

2) ideas as to materials.  Paper, I know, but I’d really like to wean them off of pens.  I just don’t have/want to have enough hairspray to get the ink out of everything, and every day involves at least one Great-Pen-Hunt when I need to write something.  I’ll provide colored pencils, and crayons if I can get my hands on some nice beeswax ones, but markers….can any of you recommend some brands that are washable, but non-toxic…. in our sense as opposed to the industry’s sense, iykwim…...

Thanks in advance, and I’m looking forward to your ideas!

S