Four Sweaters

A month of being grateful

My aunt, whom has so kindly letting me stay in her home for the past 7 months, sent out a text to me and my two cousins (who are her children) on the first of December. Simply put, she asked what five things we were grateful for.

She read that December is considered gratefulness month, and thought it would be nice if we started the month out strong.

There’s always easy answers to what you can be grateful for in life if you have certain privileges.

Food on the table, roof over the head, warm place to sleep, and so on. Not to say these things should ever be taken for granted, but I realized there was a bigger picture I was neglecting with my list.

I’m grateful for an aunt that I can talk about life with over coffee. A woman who is a compassionate listener, as well as the strong and smart captain of our ship. A person who calls it as she sees it,. Someone who, with all her power and might, looks out for others and cares for the souls that surround her.

I’m grateful for an aunt who would send me that text.

I’m grateful for a cousin who has become a sister. Someone who shows me what it means to be both loving and fierce in all aspects of life. A woman who doesn’t get pushed around, and won’t let those she loves get pushed around either. A person who tells you outright what she thinks and has not interest in settling for second-best.

A cousin who I can tell anything to, and know I’ll be met with love and honesty.

I’m grateful for an uncle who reminds me of what a genuinely good man looks like- in action, words, and spirit. A man who tells me I did a good job when I’m still trying to piece everything together. A person who is the best friend anyone could ever ask for, and is the kind of person to head over to your place when you give him short notice that you need help, only taking a beer and good conversation in exchange. Someone that can make just about anyone laugh, even in the toughest of situations.

I’m grateful for an uncle that goes out of his way to make me feel at home, and makes the best breakfasts and steaks.

I’m grateful for a cousin that brings humor and joy to life every day, even if it’s -50 degrees Fahrenheit, the wind is blowing, and I still don’t really know what I’m doing more than half the time when we’re working cattle. Someone who values working hard and still enjoying the real pleasures of life like good company and taking care of animals. A person who knows a good life isn’t just given, and therefore pursues what he enjoys at every opportunity.

I’m grateful for a cousin that I can joke with, watch good shows with, and enjoy life around.

I’m a selfish knitter. Few things I make ever belong to anyone but me because it breaks my heart to think they would go unloved. Knitting is one of my love languages, and many people, though no fault of their own (other than not being crafters), often don’t realize what a hand-made item takes to make. Making one of my love languages a tongue that not everyone knows how to speak.

That being said, you don’t have to be a crafter to love a good sweater either.

In these past months in this home, I have realized that I have rarely if ever met individuals so full of deep and sincere love, let alone a whole house of them. On top of that, everyone in this house knows me for my knits, and compassionately cheer me on as I finish each project and design each new item.

The day I knew this family should be covered in warm, cozy knits was when I finished the Forest Grove Shawl and my aunt applauded how quickly I accomplished finishing it, and my cousin lamented how long it took. The perfect balance of having my skill appreciated and valuing how much time hand-knit things require. I started buying yarn then. Well, more yarn. Yarn for them. You know what I mean.

In a seemingly counterintuitive act to combat stress, I decided to make each person their own sweater…..

In a month. For Christmas.

Obviously that didn’t work out for me, as you can tell from this post coming out at the end of February. Life’s funny that way.

Only two of the sweaters actually got finished in time for Christmas, and then the other two were patiently awaited for as I went through the fantastic realization that sweaters for strong, grown, adult men are far larger than the ones meant for a 115 pound woman. To be totally honest, I didn’t realize how much bigger men were until I made these sweaters. I think I sort of always pictured that they were only a few more inches around than me. Whoops.

Every stitch was worth it though, and as I chipped away at finishing each one, I got to have the sincere joy of seeing these sweaters worn.

Not just at the house to coddle my feelings, but out to work days, out to weekend-long wedding celebrations, and to family gatherings.

I even got a great laugh, as my cousin wore his sweater to a wedding, where no one believed that it was hand-made. No matter how long he asserted that his cousin had made it, apparently everyone thought that wasn’t the case, and that he must have bought it.

I have decided to take this as a wonderful compliment.

My aunt’s sweater. My own design, and a rich bright green that is better displayed in that second picture.

Yarn is Madelinetosh Twist Light, Oak

My cousin’s sweater, true to colour in the photo. The design is “Peaks” from Purl Soho.

The yarn is Madelinetosh Twist Light, Cardinal

My other cousin’s sweater, much lighter in person (and yes I should have taken a better photo, but I was excited to give it to him). The design is my own.

Yarn is Swans Island Washable Wool Sport, Pewter

My uncle’s sweater, true to colour (see I learned my lesson, and took a better picture!). The design is my own

Yarn is Swans Island Sport, Graphite

Tonight I’ll wrap this last sweater (because I refuse to not have this be festive, even though we’re almost into March) and I’ll be moving on to the other projects I’ve been queueing up during this three-month adventure.

Don’t forget to cherish the ones you love, cherish what they bring to your life, and be courageous in sharing the things you love with them. Life’s too short to not have a good sweater.

Stay sweet, stay crafty, and stay tuned.