Friday, November 11, 2011

An incredible gift

Baby Sweater by Project Pictures
Baby Sweater, a photo by Project Pictures on Flickr.
I want to share with you all something that I find incredibly moving. I've had a hard time sitting down and putting it to writing, because I can't seem to convey how honored and amazed I am to be a part of this story.

Last month, I finished a baby sweater.

It came to me from a friend.

This sweater was started by her aunt. Her aunt had knit seventy-two sweaters in her lifetime. Fifty-five of those sweaters were knit for foster children in her care. This sweater was #73.

It came to me nearly complete. The back, sides and arms had all been knit to the yoke. In fact, they had already been joined on a long, circular needle, with two rows knit. It wasn't much work to read through the pattern, understand what had already been done, and complete this woman's life's work. I tightened up a couple of rows where the gauge had slipped quite a bit, and carefully seamed up the completed sweater. There were even buttons included in the bag of tools, yarn and notions that was given into my keeping.

I'm told the aunt passed away this year. She left behind four completed sweaters, this unfinished sweater, and five grandchildren.

The five sweaters will be passed on to her grandchildren, part of the story of an amazing knitter's life.

I'm so incredibly moved to be a part of this legacy to her family.

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