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I-N Spells In

I-N spells in-- / I was in my kitchen…

In and outOut goes youLong rope

I-N spells in--
I was in my kitchen
Doing a bit of stitching,
Old Father Nimble
Came and took my thimble,
I got up a great big stone,
Hit him on the belly bone--
O-U-T spells out.

How to play

Run in on "I-N spells in" and out on "O-U-T spells out".

Where this rhyme comes from

Printed
1916
Where
London

We have copied these words exactly as they were printed in 1916, spelling and all. It is one of the London girls' chants Douglas lists alongside their skipping, clapping and ring games.

The 1916 London ancestor of the "Granny's in the Kitchen" and "Sitting in the Kitchen" rhymes that children sent in to skip-hop nearly a century later.

Source: Norman Douglas, London Street Games (London: The St. Catherine Press, 1916) (public domain).

Older and newer versions

The same rhyme, changed by children over the years.

In and outGranny's in the KitchenGranny's in the kitchen,
Doing some stitching…

Sent in by J B., Crockham Hill CEP (the first rhyme ever sent in to skip-hop)

In and outSitting in the KitchenSitting in the kitchen,
Doing a bit of knitting…

Sent in by Erica O.

More rhymes like this

In and outPrinted 1916Two in the RopeTwo in the rope, and two take end,
Both are sisters, both are friend…In and outCountingPrinted 1898Every Morning at Eight O'ClockEvery morning at eight o'clock,
You all may hear the postman's knock…In and outPrinted 1898All In, a Bottle of GinAll in, a bottle of gin,
All out, a bottle of stout…In and outc. 1960sHad a Little Austin in 1948Had a little Austin in 1948
drove it round the corner…

Sent in by Jan B., Hazelgrove (remembered from about 1966)