What does a mom do when her nine year old son asks to grow dreads?

She does research with son. (Check out this web site!) She shows him interesting photos and then lectures him that there is no way he is ever going to be allowed to have hair past his collar in Catholic School.

But, then she realizes, with wool, all things are possible. The night before “Crazy hat and hair day” at school, she grabs 100% wool bought at the thrift shop, cranks out rows of 3-, 4- and 6-stitch stockinette on the knitting machine, throws the strips in the front loader with jeans and a little dawn and creates:

Said mother patiently sews dreads in hat…finishes up about 11:30 PM. Son is thrilled that he finally has dreadlocks.

When son gets off the bus, the dreads are braided. Our research included the incomparable knitting website knitspot. Even if you are not a knitter, you should check out this site, one of my daily reads. Anne Hanson is a fantastic designer who shares not only her creations but her creative process. Her lace creations are extraordinary. Well, her husband has some fantastic dreads which were the inspiration for my son’s.