Monday, February 3, 2014

A Better Sweater

My mother's hands have been wielding knitting needles since she was a small child growing up in England. Learning how to knit at age 5 was one of the lessons taught at her school in Liverpool. It's no surprise that she's a pro with the sticks and she keeps us wrapped in warmth. There are sweaters and woolen slippers, mittens, fingerless gloves, hats, scarves and socks. Handmade cozy shields to protect us from the cold.

Every morning my mom checks the weather channel to see what the temperature is in my neck of the woods. I think she grabs her needles and begins a new pair of mitts for me every time Al Roker announces the Rockies are in for another snow storm. And believe me, she's been busy this winter!

My sweaters are custom made. You can't find them in a store. I tend to request my yarn to be in colors like taupe, gray, oatmeal, brown or tan. "You mean drab", my mother says. I guess I do like my sweaters to resemble dirt, dried up leaves, winter wheat and river rocks.

I'm not the only one she knits for. You should see the beautiful cardigan sweaters she's made for my dad. He has a favorite, the cyan blue one, a blend of deep blue and green, the colors of the sea, in a dense, tight stitch for extra warmth with braided leather buttons up the front. My husband sports one in moss green.

Whenever I wear my dreary colored vest, the one in the shade of a stormy sky, the one with the fancy cable stitches and deer antler buttons, it's a conversation piece all day long! "Why, thank you!" "No, I did not get it from the Gap, my mother MADE it." "Yes, really!'' "I know!" It's quite smashing, to say the least.

My mom covers me and my sister, both my brothers and their children in hand knitted, homemade love. All year round. She thinks nothing of it. It's amazing to watch her create something with yarn. She doesn't even need to look down at what she's doing, she just knits away. I've seen her make a pair of baby booties in the thirty minutes that Jeopardy is on! She enjoys it. She does what she does.

Who says a mother can't have beauty and brains and talent? I've got mine to prove it. And if you think that's astonishing, you should hear her sing!

 

24 comments:

  1. Lucky, lucky you! That pile of sweaters is gorgeous! I love those colors, too. Nice photos of you and your mom. She is truly amazing! :)

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    1. Yep, she truly is.
      You are so nice, Diana.
      Is it snowing like crazy up there too?? ;)

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  2. Oh my!!! I am envious of your talented mother, what beautiful things she makes and what wonderful gifts!!! I love that you shared all about her knitting!
    Are you getting any snow now? We got some today and another storm on Wed!
    Stay warm my friend!
    xo

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    1. I'm happy to share my mom with you, Britt. From someone like you who is also a pro knitter, and who can appreciate this story, it means everything.
      I'm going to show her a pic of your latest slouchy hat that you're wearing on your blog and see if she'll make me one!! Hehe. She will....;)

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  3. Big, Beautiful batch of awesome! Lucky you, indeed.

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  4. yes.
    bless your mum's hands and heart.
    and bless your heart, too.
    i don't have to worry about you staying warm….

    love and starlight….
    and a *o*….

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    1. Ohhhhh, Marie B.
      You were worried about me keeping warm, too??
      Bless your big ol' bear/coyote heart. x + OOO

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  5. lovely story about your mum! i love that she knits for you and the family. i've only just begun to knit and i am head over heels for it and have already knit for all of my tribe as a big thank-you for all their help when i needed it. knitting is very calming (except when you make a goof and that is not calming AT ALL, i find...) and there is nothing quite like the gift of a handmade knit anything! i love the stripes she has created, and quite believe in the benefits of teaching children such skills at a young age! this whole post just makes me smile!! ;-)

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    1. Your comments are so kind and enthusiastic. Thanks Janet.
      Glad to hear you are knitting! It is a relaxing thing to do. I agree with you completely on getting stuck, dropping a stitch, etc. Frustrating! Especially because I do not know how to back up and fix it. It's like whaa???
      You'll be a pro in no time. (Patience...which I have little of) hehe.
      I read they are making a comeback of teaching children knitting in the UK again. They are finding it promotes conversation ;) and they can't be on their phones when they are knitting! Brilliant! I don't think it would fly, here in America, do you?

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  6. Your mom seems so wonderful and she looks so sweet! Those sweaters are amazing. You look super warm in it :)

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    1. Hi Keith. She is very sweet and she has a wonderful sense of humor, too. We laugh a lot!

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  7. Op z,on moeder mag je heel trots en zuinig op zijn.

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  8. Yes, very, very proud and thankful.
    And thank YOU for being here!

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  9. My goodness, you have a lot of sweaters and assorted woolens. I love your picture together, Did you learn to knit from your mom? Did she teach you? Give her a big hug from us three. She is a lovely mom. xx

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    1. I've already told her of you and the boys. She really is a lovely mom. I'm a lucky daughter.
      She did teach me how to knit. I am hard to teach, tho, I have to admit. I'm very impatient if I don't learn something right away. I get frustrated easily. She is very patient.
      Thanks for always being here, Jeansy. xo

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  10. Wow, your mom is one talented woman! Her knitting is beautiful, her story is beautiful. it's not just her knitted clothes you are wearing, it's her love! Thanks for sharing this one and give her a big hug! xoxo

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    1. Oh, Sagey. I will give her a big hug from you when I see her in five weeks!
      She's the coolest thing around. She's got a lovely story, besides her knitting. If you find in the archives a story called An English Rose, that's her. It's a window to my mom. Thank you, for being my caring friend of the SW desert that I love!

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  11. Another mother who knits.
    My great-granny made socks, my granny made socks, my mother makes socks...
    Well, I do not knit socks. Do you?

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    1. Hello my Lily dear. That is wonderful, so many knit!
      I DO know how to knit. I just cannot follow directions!
      I knit one pearl one until I've made a scarf, and that's all I can do. ;)

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  12. a beautiful post ♥ and a beautiful mum

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  13. Wow loved this post!! You are lucky gal, all these things are priceless :) I am so in love with all! <3

    Well I was wondering if we could follow each other via bloglovin,facebook, gfc and g+? Do visit my blog and let me know!! :)
    http://www.myglossyaffair.com

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  14. Hellooo Mom, Where can I order a pair of fingerless mitts in one of "our" colors? "I do like my sweaters to resemble dirt, dried up leaves, winter wheat and river rocks." Also moss, Ponderosa bark and desert granite. We are soul sisters.
    xoxo

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  15. I enjoyed the story of your mum growing up with needles in her hands. To keep to something that you love and that provides so many with warmth and comfort.. what a beautiful legacy..~smile~

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