Knitting for a 6 year old

[edgeware]

My can't-ever-sit-still nearly 6 year old has expressed an interest in knitting as something to keep his hands busy. Should I start him with a knitting dolly (not familiar with those myself) or some jumbo knitting needles (which I already have)? Or is 6 just too young to have the dexterity for knitting?

I think it's great your son's shown an interest in knitting I started around that age I think there were / are specific knitting kits for children or yes maybe jumbo needles would be good. I started that age straight on needles. I also used to do children's cross stitch (plastic needles and wool as opposed to silks) which may interest your son too as it's same sort of skills in terms of working out stitches and following a pattern

If you know how to knit, then start him the straight needles and some light coloured yarn. I would not recommend investing in any specific kit until he has mastered the basics, this could just be a passing fad. Or a good excuse of you actually want it!
If he struggles with knitting you can always switch to crochet, it is alittle easier and there are loads of free patterns for cute toys.

I'd start on normal needles. Not too jumbo - they will be too much for little hands. You can buy children's knitting needles, which are a bit shorter, but normal ones should be fine. I don't think the dexterity required is necessarily too much for a 6 year-old. The issue (in my experience of teaching 11 year-olds to knit) is patience. They can get frustrated by how long it takes to master the initial bits, like holding the needles and yarn properly.

Hello Edgeware,

My DS8 started knitting at that age. I bought him children’s knitting needles, not jumbo but shorter length. I offered a choice of carefully chosen DK yarns (from my stash of leftovers), ones that don’t twist or split and are not too slippery, that I’d used before and knew were easy to work with. I cast on and off for him at that age. My DS’s first project was to knit a garter stitch scarf for his teddy. It was a case of very close supervision but some 6 year old’s can have the dexterity for it. Initially literally 5-10 minutes at a time and when the child has got the hang of it you can build up to longer sessions if desired.

If your son really is too young, would he give sewing a try instead? It offers the same benefits, keeping hands busy, but it’s easier. Amazon has nice tapestry kits for young kids, the canvas has a low hpi so each hole is large and easy to see, the tapestry needle is blunt. My son’s school introduced this type of sewing in Year 2.

Re knitting supplies, children’s needles are approx £3, available in high street knitting shops and maybe The Range; most charity shops sell new yarn, people donate the 1 ball leftover at the end of a project. IMO jumbo needles look awkward to work with. Buying needles and yarn is cheaper and better than buying a kit. OTOH, I like the little kits for sewing (unless your child has a design / image he wants to create).

I’ve attached 2 photos of the sort of thing I’d consider suitable at the 6-8 age range. Feel free to ask any further questions or PM me. It’s a lovely hobby to keep children entertained in wet weather 😀

Knitting needle sets for kids are generally 4mm shorter needles with Double Knit yarn, thick needles are more cumbersome and clumsy to hold so I'd stick to the 4mm.

Finger knitting is another option, you end up with a long tube like with French/dolly knitting but no equipment needed. It's the same concept as Loom bands if you've use them. You wrap the yarn round 2 fingers then pull the bottom loop over the top and repeat, there are loads of videos on YouTube.

Thank you all so much for the great advice! I think it's a good point about the jumbo needles, I find them quite clunky to knit with myself. I will have a look in the Range for some children's knitting needles to start him off with, and see how he gets on.
I vaguely remember doing cross stitch in school around the age of 6 actually, so may look at this as well! He is very fidgety but obsessed with crafts and projects so I think it might be a great way of focusing both his mind and hands.

@SnowRose1 I think I still had my grandmother cast on and off for me at the age of 16!

Knitting a scarf for a teddy is a good idea, he'd like that. Although I am quite sure he will immediately suggest to make it for our cat instead.

You've reminded me that one of the charity shops near us always has tons of yarn, I will have a look there!

Tapestry kit is a good idea, I do remember doing some sort of cross stitching before Year 2 at school with little sheets of perforated cardboard, string, and blunt needles I think.

Finger knitting - I second that, great idea. For knitting with needles, an i-cord is fun for a child to knit, I just cast on 5 or 6 stitches and it’s satisfying for my DS to knit a nice, long ‘snake’. Long rows can be wearisome 😁

If your DS likes crafts generally, what about making a rag rug by plaiting long scraps of fabric (maybe cut up an old pillow case)? Again you can make a nice snake, or a round coaster / placemat, these are small, doable, quick-gratification, low cost projects.

Agree with suggestions for children's needles, light colour easy to handle wool and simple cross-stitch and similar from posters above.

Six might be a bit young, but there are also books for children about all kinds of different KNOTS and how to tie them. Knots have a fascinating history - linked to boats, fishing, sailing, climbing, camping etc etc etc - and even games (such as cat's cradle). I have not read this book, for example, but I think it might appeal to some children I know: https://www.bestbooksforschools.com/products/knots-for-kids Other titles are available, of course.

What a nice thread. I am old and when I was in the "infants" (5-6 years old), both boys and girls had to do needlework - mainly cross stitch, though we did do a few other simple stitches. As far as I can remember, most of us enjoyed it (not sure my brother did though). At home, my mother taught us to knit and I liked that better. It was nice of her because she hated doing any form of needlework/knitting, perhaps as a result of having to darn socks continually.

@mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork when my mother was at school in the 60s, girls did needlework and boys did something else. My mother hated the needlework and her teacher was constantly on her case, saying she was terrible. My grandmother marched to school and demanded my mother be placed with the boys instead (and she was)!
Interestingly she did go on to make most of her own clothes in the 70s as a teenager.

@nameXname Knots, now there's a great idea - would have never thought of that but definitely has my DS written all over it !

@edgeware Thank you! I hope he enjoys them. Knots are really rather magical, I think, although of course there is a solid mathematical/engineeering reason as to how they work. And they're also very useful!

@nameXname engineer is one of the potential future careers on his list (alongside songwriter, DJ, and being in a band) so very fitting!