The Last Sweater

Thanks to my grandmother and my mother I have learned how to knit, sew and crochet, I think these skills are passed on genetically and I appreciate them. These activities have brought me great pleasure and have come in very handy over the years. Growing up it was a rare occurrence to see either one of them without a project in progress, but it was knitting  that was my mother's first love and she was not only good at it, she finished every single project she ever started. She claimed she just couldn't leave anything undone. I am mystified how this little genetic detail failed to find its way to me. Through the years, my mother kept her 6 children in mittens, hats, and sweaters. She even outfitted our Barbie dolls. She did the same for her 21 grand-children and continued on for her 31 great grand-children and finally her 1 great, great grand-child. Which is why this little white sweater feels so bitter sweet for me to see.

This is and will be the last knitting project my mom will complete. Sadly her fading memory makes it impossible for her to follow a pattern and her worsening macular  degeneration with her eyes makes it hard to see the stitches. The last sweater was a gift to her  31st great, great grand-daughter Kathleen.

At 86 years old my mother is for the most part healthy. She enjoys a wonderful life, full of many family gatherings and activities, just not knitting. She may be finally finishing knitting but she still has a lot more living to do!!