I was reminded of my Mom and the knitting she did. One of the few things I have from my Mom is a knitted sweater. In 1964 Mom gave me a sweater she knitted. For about ten years she always had a sweater she was knitting . Dad liked them and wore out one a year. Other relatives received some of these sweaters. Mom died in 1973 at age 59 so not much thought had been given to passing things on. So here's a sweater that has significance because it's one of the few things I have from Mom.
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| Mom knit the same snowflake pattern |
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| These sweaters were very comfortable |
Mom was a prolific knitter. When we were little , many pairs of mittens were knitted. We had wool mittens under leather mittens and our hands were kept warm. Winter evenings would find Mom knitting. She wasn't a reader and there was no TV. Knitting seemed to be therapeutic. She could talk and knit.
One other thing that she knit for a while were afghans. She gave each of her grandchildren afghans. Two of them are still in this house.
I guess Mom gave me more than knitted things. Mom was a first class clutterer. I am a clutter bug. I have piles of stuff wherever I can put a pile. So there I have something else from Mom. Mom had four sons. There are four daughter-in-laws who to this day comment fondly on Mom's cluttered house .
So I have a network with knitting. Mom gave me things she knitted and also gave me at least one characteristic that I am well known for.
Like that snowflake pattern, and it is bound to be more warm because of the personal significance.
ReplyDeleteI haven't warn the sweater for a long time. I should wear it again.
DeleteSuch a sweet remembrance of your mom, and how wonderful that you still have one of her sweaters. It's beautiful! It looks like she was quite talented.
ReplyDeleteI can crochet, but I can't seem to get the hang of knitting.
Yes, I appreciate my old sweater. With such coarse wool , these knit up very quickly.
DeleteWhat a great sweater and it has pockets too! What a wonderful gift you have there! Clutter..not really ...you will have to work on that Red!:)
ReplyDeleteAt 74 I have no intention of getting rid of my clutter. I'm happy in my own skin.
DeleteOne of the many things that I love about my fiancee is her knitting. She is no expert, but it isn't her talent that I admire; what I love is that, in a time and a place when most people think everything should be bought readymade from a factory or a sweatshop in a distant land (or just down the street), she will quietly sit and turn out a piece (that might take months or years to complete) that might not be as beautiful as something someone else could make, but still... her first Christmas present to me was a little knitted bag that she had made, and I count it among my greatest treasures to this day. Thanks for sharing your story, and reminding me again of yet another reason why we are together!
ReplyDeleteGood story. My Mom was a fairly fast knitter and spent most evenings at it.
DeleteOh Red I would never part with such a beautiful sweater your Mother was very talented. It looks good on you and with the story and the memory it will never go out of style. I have socks my Mom made and even though they need to be darned I will not be throwing them away. Beautiful. Hug B
ReplyDeleteMy sweater looks more beautiful; as time goes on. Not many of these sweaters are made any more.
DeleteI knit a scarf once that went on and on and on - wasn't my thing - My Uncle Carl was the knitter in our family - He knit beautiful sweaters like yours, except the ones he always did for my Dad had deer on them - What a wonderful sweater your Mother knit for you Red, a lovely keepsake and good to see you wear it. I do like it.
ReplyDeleteMore men should knit like your uncle. One of my high school friends could knit.
Deletehow great that you still have it. she sounds like a kind woman.
ReplyDeleteMy Mom had a very soft heart...too soft.
DeleteIt's remarkable that you still have that sweater, and that it fits you! Your Mom sounds like a really good person.
ReplyDeleteI have not moved for 44 years so it's too easy to keep stuff.
DeleteMy mom was a prolific knitter, too. She would knit while watching TV and made at least a sweater a week. I've worn them all out, unfortunately. :-)
ReplyDeleteSome people wee incredibly fast knitters. Mom was fairly fast but put many hours into it in the evenings.
DeleteClassy sweater. My mom drew around our hands for mitten patterns, I miss these as well.
ReplyDeleteWool mittens were the best.
DeleteI am glad you could still find your knitted sweater...it look beatiful and fits you very well. Your mom did agreat job!
ReplyDeleteAs I said on another comment, I've lived in the same house for 44 years so it's easy to keep stuff .
DeleteWhen I have made handmade things I can remember all that was happening to me in my life at that time...so they have meaning for the creator as well.
ReplyDeleteA person spends a lot of time creating something so it is meaningful.
DeleteI looks like your mother was a very skilled knitter. It's so cool that your dad like wearing the sweaters she made. You hear so many jokes about ugly hand knit sweaters. Yours is wonderful,
ReplyDeleteI suspect your mother gave you many "gifts" besides sweaters and cluttering.
Yes , there were many characteristics and some physical things. People like to say that they inherited certain traits from one parent or another.
DeleteSuch wonderful memories of your mom. How nice that you still have these things to remember her by. I'm so sorry you lost her so early. She must so young when she passed.
ReplyDeleteYes, this one gets better with time.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this post so much. I love the sweater and it looks great on you. I cannot imagine knitting a sweater. I would love to have that talent.
ReplyDeleteI cannot knit. I've tried. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteMy poor daughter is clearing out the clutter from her late father's basement. Poor girl. I've begun clearing one room at a time. She is overwhelmed. She's also taking her step-mom to church this morning. She is so tired.
I love that sweater! It's the same age as me. :) Hopefully I have aged as well as your sweater, which is beautiful. It's great that you still have it. I have some things my Mum knit and sewed for me, which I will never part with. She taught me to knit, too.
ReplyDeleteAnd kudos to you for still fitting into that sweater!