Wednesday, August 13, 2008

The knitting bag

My grandma (we called her 'Nanny') was an avid knitter. She always had something in the works and she knitted for everybody. When I'd go to her house for the weekends, we'd knit together. She had a HUGE stash of yarns and a giant bag of tried and true vintage patterns to pick from.

When she died many of her things were in disarray. I lived far away, couldn't attend the funeral, but the next time I went to visit my parents I was given Nanny's knitting bag. The pattern books had the same sweaters that I had seen her knit. There were also 2 zip-locs filled with misc buttons, all of her knitting tools, and her scissors. I have since knitted from many of the same patterns for my children and it's really an honor for me. >>fast forward.
So, I was working on a little 'next summer' outfit for girl-1 today and I reached the moment of choosing buttons. This moment is always a reflective time since I get to use Nanny's buttons. I know that when I buy craft supplies I always have a vision of what that item will become and what it will be like on a finished project. I wonder what she imagined for each set and I hope that my vision can make something equally as beautiful as her vision. Props to all of the great crafters out there who took the time to create beautiful things for their families and in turn inspired today's craft creators! She is the inspiration for many of the things that I create. Who is yours?

4 comments:

nathalie bearden said...

knitting is one thing i can't do! my hats is off to your nanny! the buttons are just gorgeous!

Heather said...

It's funny how we look back years later at those quiet moments we spent with someone, not realizing how much that time would come to mean to us later. Some of my fondest memories are of moments that when they were happening seemed more than mundane, but now, I reflect on them with so much happiness. And before I get too lame and sappy on you, I would have to say that my granny and my mom are probably two of my biggest inspirations. They are both incredibly creative, and innovative women, and I have learned so much from the both of them from the time I was a little girl to even now.

BlondieBlueEyes said...

Don't really have one. My mom is creative but we have such different taste.

Dana said...

I love old buttons. Especially when used in creative and useful ways. Cool!