What age were your grandchildren when you taught them to knit?

penguinpaperback It wasn't a great chunky thing. Had 2 single strips of cable up the front and 2 up the back. Still rather impressive for my age

Glad the DD's are finally knitting NannaAnna. Your father's cable knit must have been a heavy knit for a 7 year old.
I have my Gran's Singer but it's not a treadle and not so old, a 1930's model.
I've noticed lots of children's learn to knit kits and french knitting sets in the shops, Cath Kidston and John Lewis do various craft kits for children.
Some are quite pricey though.
I did buy some pom pom makers last summer holidays. I had cereal boxes all ready to cut out and use but the pom pom makers are so much quicker and instant for young children. But I know it's silly to buy them.

You can still get French knitting kits for children. No longer any wooden cotton reels to make your own. You can also get larger ones for adults(!) to use to knit socks on. They come in three sizes depending on foot size. You can even turn a heel using them and do patterns.

As a very small child I was fascinated watching my mother knitting. I couldn't wait to learn. I think if a child wants to learn then they are old enough.
Do children still do what we called French knitting? Four nails knocked into a wooden cotton reel and off we went, making all sorts of things.
Maybe that's one way to get them going.
I know lots of people who regret not learning the skill when they were younger. It's a skill for life and I'm so glad I can do it.

My left-handed sister knits right-handed. I've noticed that many left-handers have a degree of ambi-dexterity which I certainly don't. My left-handed ex played (plays?) golf right-handed.

Again as a left handed person who teaches other left handlers to knit I agree with the approach taken by thatbag have the person sit next to you. Sitting opposite you increases the confusion. I do confuse when crocheting however as left hand crochet is really different!

I learned to use a treadle sewing machine at school. Then a great aunt gave me her old one and I used that for years. When I first bought an electric sewing machine, I took the motor off it and attached it to the old treadle stand, with the leather drive belt to drive the machine, because I was so used to the treadle action and disliked the electric foot control. I use an ordinary electric machine now.

Apparently the way to teach a left-hander knitting is to get them to sit opposite you and mirror your actions. I didn't know this until after I'd taught left-handed DD2 to knit sitting beside me! She managed – by sheer determination not to be beaten by her older sister, I think.

Yes, a certain kind of patience is definitely an asset if you want to be a knitter.

I have spent this afternoon teaching my 25 year old daughter to knit .
I did try with all 3 girls when they were small, but none took to it.
My eldest (now 33) learnt about 6 months ago!
Very different to when I was a child. My step-mother taught me from the age of 5 as a means of child labour! (I kid ye not!)
As the number of children in our family grew, I was given the job of knitting all the school jumpers! With 4 younger brothers that amounted to a lot of jumper-knitting every summer holiday (and I made my own of course).
I also remember making my father a cable-knit pullover for Christmas when I was 7!
In addition to knitting, I was taught to use a sewing machine - a Singer treadle. I was also responsible for all the sock darning.
As I said ... child labour!

Your son's knitting is so neat and even, they are beautiful designs grannyactivist
I'm secretly hoping my DD will return to knitting one day. I taught her the basics when she about 7. The last time we were in the wool dept of John Lewis she was picking up various wools, admiring colours.
Your GD's sound very enthusiastic Agus.
My GS loves sewing too Notso. Nice to hear both GSs are enjoying their sewing. A while ago I was reading of young people, away from home for the first time throwing away shirts and buying replacements if they had lost a couple of buttons and I remember just after this The Guardian had an article showing how to sew a button on a shirt.
I didn't know so many other countries knit as we do Margaret. If I'm knitting something large, heavy I will often use circular needles as straights. I find circulars are kinder to the wrists.

As a left handed knitter (. I am left handed and knit) I can say it's no different than right handed other than the relative importance given to each needle. I have taught quite a few left handlers to knit. Afterwards they wonder what all the fuss was about

The continental method of knitting is very fast and they whizz away on anything on 4 needles as well, but then suffer a lot from tension in the arms and shoulders. Our method is more relaxing but slower.
The whole of the Americas knit like we do in the UK.

I'm teaching my 5 & 7 year old grandsons to sew and knit. They're both very keen, especially with sewing. I love the bridge rhyme!

I taught GD1 to knit last year when she was 7. GD2 who was then 3 was quite happy with small wooden needles and a large ball of wool, told us she was busy knitting and the result looked like a pile of spaghetti on her lap.

Tried a few times to teach both DDs to knit and crochet but they didn't enjoy it so my hopes are now pinned on GDs.

Have put up a couple of photo's of my son's knitted cushion in the Picture thread.

Thank you MargaretX I've added DROPS to my pattern folder.
I'm quite a slow knitter and an Italian friend used to whizz along using the method your daughters were taught in school.
Hope your GD's are enjoying their knitting.

As I live in Germany this is difficult because Germans knit differently. They catch the wool with the left needle - a bit like crochet. We Brits wind the wool over with the right hand. I left the teaching of knitting to the school.
where my daughters learned to knit there in handiwork lessons.
My GDs are beginning to knit aged 10 and 7.
There has been huge upsurge of interest in knitting especially hats and scarves.
Don't forget to look at www.DROPS.com designs for knitters all over the world.

What sweet pictures they must be Flowerofthewest.
Thank you for the link to your website Maywalk. Fascinating and so many styles from the 30's-60's are back in vogue with young knitters looking for retro clothes and knits.

I was taught to knit in the 1930s and it came in handy for knitting balaclavas and mittens for the troops because I was 9 when W.W.2 started. We had to make do and mend then by unravelling old jumpers cardigans and whatever else that was grown out of. More so when everything went on coupons.

I cant hold big things now like I used to so I just stick to baby clothes that dont take too much effort.
I still have needles and patterns from W.W.2.
Been asked endless times for the snood pattern that was worn during the war years.
This is from my website showing the snood as we called it then.
www.memorylanehf.oddquine.co.uk/ladies2.htm

My (then) DGD was 7. Have some lovely photos of tongue out with concentration.

Thank you for the rhyme Gagagran I will give it a try especially as it worked well for you.
I have read on the www.ravelry.com forums it's harder to teach a left handed knitter ninathenana. for 20+ years of teaching your DD.

Oldest grandchild is 4y.o. boy so haven't tried yet.
It took me 20+ yrs to teach DD. Her excuse being, she's left handed.

I've got 2 basic knitting kits tucked away ready for Christmas and hope to teach DGDs aged 11 and nearly 9, when they come to stay as both are into craft things. We'll see if they have the patience!

I was taught to knit by a very dear Great-Aunt, ex-teacher (who also taught me to read) by the rhyme:

under the bridge
over the bridge
through the bridge
and off

It worked well as a teaching aid and I often found myself saying it under my breath for years afterwards!

That was my concern tanith I wanted my knitting to 'grow' quickly at 7. Hope you have better luck this time.

Oh yes I have some lovely little wooden people, I keep them on display as a little family, we have used for French knitting Lilygran. Multi coloured wool would make some little teddy scarves more interesting. Thank you.

I tried with my granddaughter last Winter she was 7 but she lost interest very quickly.. she's not very patient and couldn't quite get the hang of pulling the thread through there were more holes than knitting but I'm going to give it another go the Winter... fingers crossed she's learnt some patience..