A Final Word, About Family

There would likely be no knitting if someone hadn’t taught us. I’ve had my share of teachers along the way. I have finally gotten to the point where I can correct my own mistakes and try something new that requires a higher level of patience and focus. But I still need help, and when I drop a yarnover (or leave one out…will I ever get the hang of lace??), read the pattern wrong, or pull out the grey poncho one more time, my friend Marge (usually spelled as me: Marge? Her: WHAAAT?) will be there to patiently set me back on course with a “you can do it, silly.”

I have even taught some to knit, which is a humbling achievement. To see someone who had never touched yarn or needles blithely knitting away on a lovely project that makes her happy is well, indescribably satisfying.

So here are the three people who taught me to knit. Since it has become my passion, they deserve the satisfaction of starting me down this path many years ago and keeping me going even though there were times I thought it was a lost cause.

This is my mom. She knitted everything as far back as I can remember. Argyle socks for my dad. Golf club covers. A yellow mohair dress for me in the 60s that required huge needles (20s? 30s?) but that was so heavy it grew a few inches every time I wore it. A sage green 3/4 length Chanel coat in mohair for herself that was lined with satin and I thought was about the most gorgeous thing I’d ever seen. A forest green turtleneck poncho that she made for me to take to college and that I wore every day because the cold and clammy Northwest chilled me to the bone. I have it still (the poncho, I left the chill behind). Baby blankets for every grandchild, personalized Christmas stockings for the boys, the “owly” sweater and matching hat for my first son. I cannot remember (or, sadly find pictures of) them all. She is responsible for the project that got me knitting again recently and for all eternity, which I found in my closet after a hiatus of almost 20 years. She had bought me the wool and pattern after my second son was born. I guess we thought with a full time job and two boys, I’d have time to knit a cabled tunic in denim Lopi. Well, I did, just not in 1984. I finished it (with help from my sister) in 2003. My mom didn’t get to see it finished, but I don’t think it’s worrying her. I imagine her sitting in front of a fireplace somewhere, with a cup of coffee and her knitting, at peace at last. I still have her tapestry knitting bag and all her needles (save one pair which she probably snuck away), displayed in a glass vase like ever-blooming flowers.

My oldest sister (left in the 'then' photo, right in the 'now') is a very talented knitter who has got me unstuck countless times. As she rarely lived nearby, it was always days if not weeks before I could move along. [No wonder I keep stopping one thing and starting a new project. That’s all I could do for awhile.] So the first thing I’d do when I saw her is throw some sweater piece at her and ask her to fix it. She always has. This phenomenon must be common. Once I got my son’s grey cabled sweater well under way, I went to my LYS and asked for help, even though I had not bought the yarn there. I explained that I’d have to wait to see my sister and I was eager to keep going. The shop owner nodded knowingly. Her sister lived in England, and would always send her the sweater pieces to be sewn together, which of course she always did. My sister has maintained the next generation baby blanket tradition, for grandkids and lucky nieces, nephews, grand-cousins and the like. You can see one of them here (and another gratuitous photo of the granddaughter...). The only trouble with her is she knits really fast. I had begun my first pair of socks and was plodding along while on a trip together last year. She praised my tenuous efforts, and we knitted together while stopping at every yarn store between La Conner and Gig Harbor, Washington. (I think there were six.) I’d been home about two days and was probably a good two inches farther on the first sock, when she called to tell me she had made a pair for her granddaughter! Passive-aggressive braggart!

My older sister is also a prolific knitter, and now has three grandsons to knit for. We recently went to a Knitters Retreat at Alta together, and I think she finished something for each of them over that weekend. Always a bold public knitter, she knitted at major league baseball games before it was cool. Some of the fisherman knit sweaters she made for her husband 20 years ago are still worn routinely. If I’m not mistaken, she has knitted many items in the colors of various teams – and it doesn’t matter if they’re pro, collegiate or preschool.

As in many families, the craft has not stopped there. My three nieces (daughters of the above) and my daughter-in-law are now knitting. My hope is to put my needles in Baby Bo’s hands on my next visit, and ‘secure her future’ as well.

Since I talk a lot about my knitting friends, I thought it only right to end with my knitting family. I think Jean said it best in her comment on Tuesday about her great-grandmother, who she never knew, but whose scarf she still has: “”When I hold it, I feel blessed to have an insight into who she was and proud to take part in something she was so talented at. Maybe someday, my great-granddaughter will hold something I made and feel the same.”

What fun. Thanks Margene, and welcome home.

PS The pattern for the baby dress pictured in the first post is the Mini Pini, from the book "minnies: quickknits for babies and toddlers" by Jil Eaton. Yarn is Zodiac 100% cotton from Karabella.

Comments

[Kelly]

great post Margene! Your mum was beautiful!!!!

[Jenn]

What a wonderful post! Thank you for taking the time to share your family with us!

[Kim]

What a lovely post about your family! To think that the things we knit today will may be held dear by generations down the road is powerful.

[hillary]

What a wonderful post about your family's knitting. I just love the feeling of connectedness that knitting brings.

[Kim]

Fun pictures! It's been so nice to have you blog!

[Allison]

What a wonderful post. And you can post as many pics of your grand daughter as you like- she's adorable!

[Nancy J]

Your warmth shines through cyberspace as you share these Remarkable Women.

[Vera]

What a lovely and touching story. It's one of the things that can weave through families.

No one in my family knitted or crocheted, but I remember the ladies who knitted and crocheted on the subways in New York City. They sparked my interest in both as a child.

Even though I never knew their names, in a way they are like family to me, and it would be nice to meet them and say thanks someday.

[amanda]

Fantastic post! Sounds like a wonderful bunch of women :o)

[susan]

Another great post, Val. Hope to see you tonight.

[Pat K]

What a beautiful essay, and a lovely tribute to some lovely ladies! How truly blessed you are to have such a giving family and friends. Thank you so much for a beautiful start to the day!

[Nancy]

Val, that post was moving. The part about your Mom brought tears to my eyes. (I'm still crying.) You certainly hit some nerve and in a good way. Thanks for sharing your wonderful stories. Margene can have you back anytime.

[Sarah HB]

A LOVELY essay!

Thank you so much for guest blogging.

[beverly]

Lovely post. I've taught my sisters and one neice and nephew to knit. I learned to crochet from my gram and mom. Stitches connect us, and you wrote about that beautifully.

[Roxie]

What a splendid post! It will be a warm thought for me to touch all this rainy Northwest day. (Where's my poncho?)

[Nonnahs]

Thanks for sharing your family knitting history with us. It's wonderful that the tradition continues to thrive!

[Kristi aka Fiber Fool]

Oooo, what a wonderful tribute!

I learned a very little bit of knitting from my mother and grandmother and I'm enjoying getting to teach them new things now! It is a blast to see my blind mom knit up gorgeous lace baby blankets and such and know that I helped her learn to do that. I get to return the favor! :-)

[lorinda]

Hard to read your post through the tears. Beautiful. Thanks.

[debbie]

thank you so much for sharing your knitting family story! margene, i've enjoyed reading your guests' posts - thank you for sharing these wonderful ladies with us!

[Birdsong]

I just love reading about these fiber connections through the generations! Thanks so much for filling in.

[haikitay]

One of the nieces here. I love this blog I knew you would be good at it. I hope you can be convinced to do this again on your own. If you would like to guest on my blog hop on anytime. My aunt has helped me many times with my scarf it only took me two years and one baby to make but I got it done and she and Heather helped tremendously. I think that Val knits fast so Aunt Carla must be on the freeway. Aunt Carla did make me a gorgeous yellow blanket that I love it is so soft. (no thomas it isn't your blanket it is mine I did all the work having you and all) My Mother (In the middle of the sisters) has knit forever and does knit everywhere. She was so upset when she couldn't take her kneedles on the plane she couldn't figure out what to do. Aunt DD keep up the good work and get one of these for yourself. (you don't have to do an essay everyday) love ya

[Knittah]

Margene - Thanks for posing for a picture with SwatchGrrl at Rhinebeck! I enjoyed virtually meeting you, and I have also enjoyed your blog! - Knittah

[Laurie]

This is a lovely tribute to a long and fine heritage. I hope I can teach my niece how to knit, and have her love it as much as I do.

[Martha]

Speaking of moms...MY mom has been on my mind alot recently because she has Lymphoma. I'm running a contest on my blog to help get blood donations. She was in dire need of blood and we had to wait DAYS for her blood type to be located and transported. Simply, I need your help to get the word out. Please help.

Thanks,

Martha

[Theresa]

Here's a great family story for you: My grandmother is a master knitter who hasn't picked up the needles in years and - unbeknownst to me - has apparently been reading my blog for some time. When my grandfather became ill recently, she was reading about how I knit to relieve stress when I come home from work. She got inspired to make the same Mason-Dixon dishcloths I was making, went out and bought the book, and begun. It all came back around again.

[Kelli]

Oh, I just love your photos. Thanks so much for sharing.

[Paula B]

V- I loved reading about your family - I'm so sentimental. I learned to knit from my maternal grandmother. I am still working on passing on the craft to my 2 daughters.

[Heather Joins The Round]

I really enjoyed this, Val!

[Kim]

What a beautifully written and poignant post. Thank you for sharing your stories and photos!