I was going to share some new ideas with you today; directions I was thinking of taking with my knitting. But I cannot find comfort in knitting today. Yesterday was a very sad day for the UK, for Europe and for the world. I am too sad and angry now to think about the present or the future. So instead I will look to the past. Below is a post I had prepared for a rainy day; that day is now.
I found this photo the other day in a shoe box. It is a (rather awful) photo of me, circa 1989, knitting on the back porch of my in-law’s house on the Seymour River in North Vancouver. Not only am I knitting in the photo, but I am wearing a hand-knitted sweater.
The sweater that I am wearing is a very traditional fisherman’s sweater, and is one that has sadly been lost through the passage of time. (See here for a post about long-lost sweaters; it is so sad to lose track of hand-knitted items). Though the sweater is lost, I still have the pattern book I used:
As you can see, the sweater was unisex and came in all sizes, including children’s. Looking back on this now, I can’t imagine why I didn’t knit it in off-white; it’s so much prettier and more classic than the tweedy pink I used.
In the photo I am knitting a red baby sweater, with an intricate cable down the front. Below is a photo of the completed sweater, courtesy of said shoe box. For the life of me, I can’t remember who I knit it for. Given the very small number of baby garments I have knit in my life, you would think that I could remember this one.
In addition to the huge glasses and the funny hair, note how enormous the pullover is on me. Clearly, this was a time for lots of positive ease. You could have probably fit two of me in there. (Which means it would likely still fit me today! Alas!)
PS – If you’ve never heard of the Wayback Machine (or WABAC Machine), that’s just sad. You can read about it here. Mr. Peabody says so.
It’s a lovely photo. So nice to look back. Personally I prefer the tweedy pink than the classic off white but I think that’s just the old rustic in me.
Thanks. I vividly remember knitting this sweater; such fun to see the purls creating shifting patterns across the fabric. Maybe I need to think about doing another one.
I think you look fine – we all had huge glasses and funny haircuts in the 80’s and 90’s – at least you didn’t go all “big hair” 🙂 Both sweaters look great.
You should see the photos from the seven years in which I had a perm – now that probably counts as big hair!
It probably does! I worked hard to get my baby fine thin hair big but never achieved it. 😖
My heart feels your pain. Thanks for the pics of yester-year. Your friend across the pond in the US.
CJ
Snugglebuggknits
Thanks for the sympathy. I am sitting here today watching the country imploding. At least I’ve got my knitting needles out today.
Constantly living under the threat of Quebec separating from the rest of Canada, I can relate to the emotional vicissitudes of politics. Usually, and hopefully, sanity will prevail.
You look so intense in your knitting….I’m sure you’re much more relaxed now.☺️
I do look rather intense, don’t I? I am definitely a more relaxed knitter these days. It would be nice if sanity prevails, but I think we will have to wade through a great deal of craziness first.
I have that Pingouin book too!!!!
Which just goes to show that we knitters never throw anything out!
So nice to reminisce, particularly in these troubled times. I was devastated by the referendum result and, like you, had to change the post I was planning to published on Friday. It is great to see these photos and good that you have kept a record of things. I was utterly photo-phobic when I was younger, so I don’t have a track of my past knitting. I can remember some key pieces, but I am sure there are plenty that have disappeared in my memory banks – perhaps I need to fire up the WABAC to go find those memories! 🙂
Hi Liz, I actually don’t have a record of anything pre-Ravelry (2007). I have found a few photos of past-knitted items, but that is all. However, I do have all of my knitting books and magazines. As to the referendum, it is heart-breaking. It’s hard to see any silver lining at the moment. I read your post, and I do hope that the healing will begin.
Hi Kelly, you are right – one’s pattern library is a good memory-jogger. I often find myself spending hours browsing through past mags etc (not least, I have every Rowan magazine published!) – even if I have just been meaning to dip in for something quick – my husband always laughs if I say this is what I am doing and expects me to be buried for ages! 🙂
Looking at the picture I immediately guessed it was a pengouin sweater. I knit one in the mid 80s, which was very similar in style and pattern, using the purls for effect. Mine was dark blue at the bottom and then a green line and light blue at the top, boat neck. Unfortunately I don’t have the pattern book anymore and haven’t been able to track it down (despite much searching on line) and I have no idea what I did with the jumper. I think I got rid of it in my non knitting time (1990-2012). it is a pity because although styles have changes I am sure the patterns would provide inspiration.
I have been watching Brexit unfold from not so far away (Ireland) and can understand your feelings. Friends in the UK are very upset and we are in shock here too..