Friday, April 01, 2005

Doing some thinking

Last night I bought a book from Amazon for my Mom. It will either be for her birthday or Mother's day. Both are in the same week. At the LYS that she works at, she is known as the sock queen. If anyone comes in that needs help with a sock, she is the one they call. So I though that a book of sock patterns would be appropriate. I picked Socks Socks Socks : 70 Winning Patterns From Knitter's Magazine Sock Contest.

I hope that she will like it....I mean 70 patterns? Maybe I will get a few :-)

I then got to thinking about knitting in my family. There is a small yarn shop here in town. No really, in my town of 1000 people there is a yarn shop. They offer classes and I have thought of taking one. But then I decided that I don't want to do that. I want my Mother to teach me to knit. Her Mother taught her, and probably her Mother taught her. Someday I hope to teach my daughter. I have doilies that my Grandmother made for me, and some that my Mother made. These are things I want to be able to pass down.

Unfortunately I have nothing from my Fathers Mother. She died when my father was a teenager, and I never got to know her. Dad remembers her crocheting, but not knitting. What I wouldn't give for something that was handmade by her.

I never knew her, but I feel very close to her. Maybe it's because I have heard that she was very kind and gentle. Plus she is my Father's Mother. How could I not feel close to the woman that raised my Dad. My Father is the man that all men should aspire to be, and I believe that my Father has many of the traits that his Mom had.

I hope one day that my children will appreciate the handmade items that I pass down to them.

On the knitting front, I am making great progress on my sock. And I am pretty proud!

7 comments:

Birdsong said...

What a sweet post about your family! I have been visiting with my mother-in-law today, copying some vintage patterns to make and discussing some of the knit items she made over the years and the crocheted ones her mother had made for my husband and sibs when they were little. It's a pretty cool thread to be attached to... good on the socks!

Catherine Kerth said...

Jenn, Family is so important! I learned last week that my grandmother (passed last year) was an avid knitter, before i came along. My great grandmother had taught her when she was a child. her only daughters, my aunt and mom, showed no interst in learning so she continued to sew and picked up scrabble. My great grandmother did teach a few of the great grandchildren before she passed 30 years ago but no one stuck with it. I wish my grandmother would have taught me but i learned from the next best thing one of my dearest friends:)my mom told me that they would be proud of me. i hold those words close to my heart.

jen said...

Hi Jennifer -- thought I'd drop by and say welcome to Fiber RAOK! I have two little ones, too, though mine are a little older (2 and 5) -- I bet you're kept pretty busy! I always say that knitting saves my sanity, however, which I'm sure you understand. Nice to "meet" you! Jenifer http://knittingat5337.blogdrive.com

Anonymous said...

Yay for socks! And that is a great book. I am sure your mother will love it.

Violet said...

Hi Jenn! Welcome to Fiber RAOK!

Your Mom works at Filati?? That is my LYS! Love the store, although I have to learn to stay away from there. I tend to want to buy everything!

Violet said...

Hi again! Just read your comments on my blog....

I know your mom. She is very nice. I hadn't heard that Sally had a blog too. I usually have Judy help me...she is the one that helps me with color choices.

What a small world!

Amy said...

Welcome to Fiber RAOK! I was tickled to see another N. California knitter! I live in Woodland and my sister lives up in the Sierras so I get to visit up there all the time! I'm working on my 2nd pair of socks and loving it too!
Amy
http://www.osbornz.net