Knitting Memories


One of my favorite things is knitting.

I first learned to knit when I was eight years old. My mother taught me the basics the summer that we moved from the Bahamas to New York. Maybe I was bored; maybe she just thought it was time I learned. I remember sitting on the porch of the apartment building and twisting the yarn around the needles, trying to knit. Knowing me, I probably had my tongue sticking out while I concentrated on the task.

Later, I was given some big wooden needles by woman that we were just visiting. I don't remember her name. I made a long, long scarf with those needles because I didn't know how to do anything else. I still have them, and I hope to someday teach a granddaughter to knit with them.

When I married Randy, his mother was always knitting something for her family. She had nine children and almost thirty grandchildren by the time I met her. She knitted mittens and gloves and hats and slippers for all of them. It might not be a birthday or Christmas gift, when they eventually received it, but it would be warm and beautiful. She taught me to love knitting. She said, "It's not hard if you think of it as pulling one loop through another."

That's basically all it is! Either you pull the loop from front to back, or back to front, to either knit or purl. Of course, you can increase and decrease,and learn how to mix the different stiches to make cables or other interesting patterns.I'm just know learning to use more than one color at a time to make a design.

My sister-in-law taught me to knit socks at our family reunion on the Fourth of July.It's not easy to make a heel! There we were, sitting in lawn chairs in the hot sun, waiting for the parade to come...knitting socks. *smile* I'm sure we looked quite out of place!

I've also made a few sweaters. Since the day he was born, my nephew, Landis, has gotten a sweater for his birthday each year. When he was five I wondered if he'd want a sweater for a gift. I was thrilled when he put in his order. "Aunt Yvonne, I'd like a red one with a zipper." I've made him some with hoods and pockets and buttons and various colors. This year, he wants one that's green and purple and red and blue and with a zipper. Hmmm...I'll have to think about this a little bit.

I've also decided that each new grandchild should have a Grammy blanket when they're born. I'll make them mittens and sweaters as they get older, but they will all have a knitted baby blanket from Grammy.
Ephesians 4:17
"From whom (Christ) the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

Our pastor told us something interesting last Sunday. He said the words "jointly fitted together" in the Greek gives the picture of cords being "knitted" together, like a net. Actually, that's where knitting came from originally. Fishermen knitted their nets. We need to be looped in and out of each other's lives, so that we become one "blanket" of comfort and love. We need each other. If one thread is broken, the blanket will become unraveled.


3 comments:

Dee Yoder said...

I wish I could knit, Vonnie! I learned to crochet while I was in college, but I couldn't keep it up with my arthritis...but it was so fun to make little things, and I'm sure your family has cherished each and every item you've made them over the years. What a cool legacy!

LauraLee Shaw said...

What a precious idea!!!! Wow, I admire you, Vonnie.

Larie Carlice Proverbs 27:19 said...

That is a beautiful blanket!

smooches,
Larie

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