Geraldton, Western Australia, AustraliaSunday, February 8, 2015
I was going to date this blog in 2014, but I have now decided it should be on the anniversary of my dear 'Mum's death.
Mum died in Royal Perth Hospital on the 24th February 1988. So 27 years ago.
Fiona was in her last year at Stella Maris College and she had picked out a pattern and asked Nanna if she would knit the jumper for her. Mum loved to knit and had over the years, knitted many challenging patterns.
Mum had taken the pattern and wool to Perth with her to do whilst she recovered after her heart operation. When we visited Mum the night before her operation, she told me she had done about 6 inches of the back, but she couldn't concentrate on the pattern and had asked the nurses to lock the wool in a locker, rather than leave it in her bedside cupboard. She said to me "The wool was too expensive to not be locked away and that I would need to go and buy a bit more, because she was not going to have enough to finish the jumper".
Of course poor Mum only lived a few days after her heart operation and I brought the unfinished jumper back to Geraldton. Over the years I have got it out of the cupboard and done a few rows, but I did struggle with a desire to finish the garment.
So I decided to take it on our holiday and when we were travelling the outback maybe I could get it finished! I had managed to finish the back over the years. There had been times when I was motivated enough! I finished the front and started on the sleeves. Well they were a challenge!
I have knitted, unpicked and knitted again! It always seemed to be the 10th row of the 24 row pattern that gave me the grief! I would sit up at night, determined it was not going to beat me, and eventually I would get it worked out. If I hadn't had to increase on the sleeves, it would have been fine.
But I did eventually get it finished, despite Peter being convinced it was never going to happen. He did even suggest at one stage that I should "dice the damn thing"!
I have just had enough wool. Well not really! I didn't have enough to do the neckband, so I have found something that will have to suffice. Thank goodness Mum told me "To buy another 2 balls". Of course Patons no longer make Ritz wool after 27 years!
On the 24th February I thought I was going to be able to give the jumper to Fiona. All wrapped up nice and pretty. Well I was tested again! How could I have done it? I did say the pattern was trying. There wasn't much difference between the back and the front and I sewed one right side and one wrong side together on the shoulder and had picked up the stitches and knitted the neckband. A few days before the 24th February I got it out to finish the last of the 'sewing up' and realised what I had done! More unpicking! Enthusiasm gone again!
Finally on the 10th April I did wrap it up! She was surprised to be getting a gift, but as sson as she opened it she remembered. Fiona has never asked me about that jumper in the last 27 years. She told me "That Nanna Carrott had told her it was a hard pattern". So that gives me an even greater sense of achievement to have finally finished it. Whether she ever wears it or keeps it for Lani to grow into, is her decision. I have at long last finished it!
'Blog 150' includes some photos of these 'Special' family members. 'Thank You' Fiona for looking after the mail while we were away and keeping the OAM a secret.
Lots of lovely photos of Lani. So hard to choose, so lots included! 24 photos
Fiona was in her last year at Stella Maris College and she had picked out a pattern and asked Nanna if she would knit the jumper for her. Mum loved to knit and had over the years, knitted many challenging patterns.
Mum had taken the pattern and wool to Perth with her to do whilst she recovered after her heart operation. When we visited Mum the night before her operation, she told me she had done about 6 inches of the back, but she couldn't concentrate on the pattern and had asked the nurses to lock the wool in a locker, rather than leave it in her bedside cupboard. She said to me "The wool was too expensive to not be locked away and that I would need to go and buy a bit more, because she was not going to have enough to finish the jumper".
Of course poor Mum only lived a few days after her heart operation and I brought the unfinished jumper back to Geraldton. Over the years I have got it out of the cupboard and done a few rows, but I did struggle with a desire to finish the garment.
So I decided to take it on our holiday and when we were travelling the outback maybe I could get it finished! I had managed to finish the back over the years. There had been times when I was motivated enough! I finished the front and started on the sleeves. Well they were a challenge!
I have knitted, unpicked and knitted again! It always seemed to be the 10th row of the 24 row pattern that gave me the grief! I would sit up at night, determined it was not going to beat me, and eventually I would get it worked out. If I hadn't had to increase on the sleeves, it would have been fine.
But I did eventually get it finished, despite Peter being convinced it was never going to happen. He did even suggest at one stage that I should "dice the damn thing"!
I have just had enough wool. Well not really! I didn't have enough to do the neckband, so I have found something that will have to suffice. Thank goodness Mum told me "To buy another 2 balls". Of course Patons no longer make Ritz wool after 27 years!
On the 24th February I thought I was going to be able to give the jumper to Fiona. All wrapped up nice and pretty. Well I was tested again! How could I have done it? I did say the pattern was trying. There wasn't much difference between the back and the front and I sewed one right side and one wrong side together on the shoulder and had picked up the stitches and knitted the neckband. A few days before the 24th February I got it out to finish the last of the 'sewing up' and realised what I had done! More unpicking! Enthusiasm gone again!
Finally on the 10th April I did wrap it up! She was surprised to be getting a gift, but as sson as she opened it she remembered. Fiona has never asked me about that jumper in the last 27 years. She told me "That Nanna Carrott had told her it was a hard pattern". So that gives me an even greater sense of achievement to have finally finished it. Whether she ever wears it or keeps it for Lani to grow into, is her decision. I have at long last finished it!
'Blog 150' includes some photos of these 'Special' family members. 'Thank You' Fiona for looking after the mail while we were away and keeping the OAM a secret.
Lots of lovely photos of Lani. So hard to choose, so lots included! 24 photos
2025-05-22