Several times in my life, now, I've been graced to receive the nearly-finished articles made by another knitter who has passed away. When an aunt passed away in 2000, I received two unfinished sweaters, one of which only needed the pocket bands and button bands. Well, Canadian Guild of Knitters, a full-time job, and my own knitting projects kept me away from completing that one for a long time, but I did eventually get it done. The bonus was that it fit my father (Aunt Linda's brother-in-law) perfectly.
Several months ago, a lady contacted me with some "scraps of yarn" she had received for me to donate on to another cause. Yesterday, I took some time to go through the bag, and discovered this partially finished pair of booties and a matching bonnet. The yarn was cushy old Paton's Carefree Baby Sayelle. If you've never had the chance to work with Sayelle from the 1970s, you've missed out on a soft, comfortable knitting experience.
This morning, as I threaded my tapestry needle and started to sew up these wee articles of clothing, I wondered about the lady who had done the knitting. Was this set for the hospital gift shop? Were they for a specific baby? Was she just using up yarn, as I myself have done with so many baby things? Was she older? (the style of the garments would suggest that she was probably a little older than myself.) Did she intend to make a matching coat for this? There was an extra ball of yarn, but only one -- not quite enough for a jacket.
Just as happened when I worked on the final stages of Aunt Linda's cardigan, these questions floated through my mind. All the while, I knew that I wasn't only weaving in the ends of this project, I was helping to weave in some of the ends of another knitter's earthly existence. It felt good.
And, as if finishing these items weren't enough, once I've added the ribbons (I think white, don't you?), I will donate them to charity. I think the knitter, whoever she is, will be pleased.
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