Comments on: A Different Way Of Thinking About Gift Giving

By: Dixilee

Dixilee — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:09:00 +0000

Thanks Denise. I knew other women felt like I did, but it’s nice to see it written out like that.

By: Denise

Denise — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:04:43 +0000

Dear Dixilee,I also lost my second child, almost before I knew of his existence. I felt so bereft, so sad and also guilty for not feeling his presence early enough, not knowing he was there. I sometimes picture that middle child when I look at my two sons a wonder how much like them he might have been. We are lucky to have had that glimmer of these other lives, these little beings that remind us to take very good care of those can see and hugs and that we love. Those little beings were positives in our lives and are with us always.

By: Dixilee

Dixilee — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:08:48 +0000

I taught myself to knit and crochet as a child, mostly I learned from books! I sometimes go years w/o touching a needle and then get the urge and go at it again. I alternate between knitting and crocheting as the mood strikes and have finished many blankets, afghans, vests, scarves, sweaters even golf club covers!

I have 3 children, but carried 4. When I found out about #2, I was a little upset because my first was only 3 months old and the new baby was due on her 1st birthday. I worried about having a newborn and a 1 year old. So to concentrate I began knitting a sweater/hat set for the new baby. When I lost that baby I was filled with guilt. I felt that because my 1st reaction wasn’t immense joy, I had somehow brought on it’s loss. As many women know, people don’t always understand that miscarriage is a real loss, and I didn’t always get the support I needed at the time. Somehow I just kept working on that sweater and hat and then put them away. It’s been 37 years and I still have them. To me it’s a concrete reminder of that baby. I have asked that this sweater/hat be placed in my coffin when I die.

By: Estate Taxes

Estate Taxes — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:23:43 +0000

I’ve learned the art of crochet back in my fifth grade. It was a wonderful experience because my teacher was really patient in teaching us the steps. I cannot forget how my grandmother encouraged me to put my heart in creating a work of art.

By: Josette

Josette — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:30:31 +0000

I have really enjoyed reading all of your stories so much!
I learned to knit when I was about five. My grandmother, who lived 3000 miles away had sent some things she had knitted for us grandchildren. I was fascinated and wanted to learn to knit. My mother did not know how to knit, but she bought me an instruction book with good pictures and some fingering yarn and size one needles. The first thing I knit was a garter stitch scarf. I think it took me a couple of years to finish. (It was awful, but I still have it for the memories! That was over 50 years ago). Recently I found some tiny little doll sweaters and things I had made. I still have no clue how I did that without a pattern!
Two years ago I made my daughter-in-law a scarf for Christmas. She got really excited and had me teach her to knit. Now she is a knitting fanatic too! Pass it on!

By: Ilana

Ilana — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:50:37 +0000

Thank you all for sharing your stories and sharing of yourselves. Knitting and crocheting has brought you closer to loved ones and your stories connect us all.

By: Tracie

Tracie — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:50:44 +0000

I was about 8 or 9 when I watched my grandmother crochet and asked her to teach me. She taught me the chain stitch and double crochet. Last year around Christmas I bought a how-to book and re-taught myself to crochet. I have made so many wonderful things in the past year and have learned a ton. I am now teaching myself how to knit, as I was inspired to learn by a bunch of wonderful women in my church. We have a shawl ministry and I am using my new skills to help others who are grieving or are suffering from illness. I love keeping my hands busy with new projects and love using Lion Brand yarn!

By: Claire

Claire — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:21:17 +0000

I have watched my mother knit and spin for as long as I can remember, but I never had the urge to learn for myself until my sophomore year of college, when I came home for break and discovered that my younger sister had just learned the basics. Well, if she could do it, so could I! I remember sitting outside in the yard, in the wooden chairs my mom loves so much. I had picked out some mustardy yellow plastic needles and pumpkin-colored Lamb’s Pride. After a few mishaps casting on, I was knitting away, then purling and next came ribbing! It seemed so easy and I wondered why I had waited so long to learn.

I still have that very first piece of knitting, and a bigger love for all those sweaters and hats my mother made through my childhood. She had been taught by her mother, who knew her way around a pattern, but did not view it as a “fun” activity. All the same, we still have some of the most amazing Barbie clothes she made for my mom in the 50’s - mohair coats and tiny ski sets. I’m glad she passed the craft on anyway, giving my mom, sister and I a hobby that has brought us all closer together. Every holiday season since I learned, most all of my friends,and especially my family, have received various items, starting with basic scarves and moving up to lace hats and all sorts of gloves! I’ve also taught many of my friends to knit, and while they may not all keep up with it, I hope they remember enough to want to pass it on to their kids if they ever show an interest.

And now I’m also giving some knowledge of my own back to my mother! She ran into a pattern that required more crochet than her basic chain and single crochet and called me, since I had just taught myself to crochet. Luckily I was able to help her over the phone, but I plan on giving her a crash course when I head home again for Christmas this year!

By: Susan Stein

Susan Stein — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:09:11 +0000

I was given the gift of learning how to knit by my mother when I was about 10 years old. We were living in the South Bronx at the time, in a formerly lovely neighborhood that was on a rapid downturn. Most of my friends had already moved away, and I was lonely. In order to fill time during summer vacation, my mom introduced me to the wonders of spool-knitting with multi-colored yarn. We then rapidly progressed to Continental-style knitting (taught to her by HER mother, who learned it from HER mother somewhere in Romania). My first project was a groovy earth-toned (orange and brown) scarf for my older brother. I am writing this and I am back in 1967 sitting, knitting, on the stoop of our apartment building in the Bronx. Of all the gifts from my mom throughout my lifetime until her death 12 years ago, knitting is one of the most special. It brings me so much joy to create such beautiful things. When I give a knitted piece as a gift, it is as though I am giving a little piece of myself as well, as my mom gave a piece of herself to me by teaching me her craft. How precious.

By: Sandra Peters

Sandra Peters — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:09:24 +0000

I learned to knit from a book, with a little help from a “stitch and coffee”group. I was expecting my second child, who is now about to become a father himself for the first time. I wanted to make something and I decided on a pram blanket that was a kit. I could do the cast on and the main block of the pattern, but I needed help with the bobbles and the fair isle part, but I finished it in time and I was able to give it to my son, for his baby. I was so proud of it and have since made many blankets for so many different babies, but the first one has always been special.