Making Stuff: A Sweater Full of Memories

by This is Carrie on November 15, 2011

Way back when we lived in NYC, Maria was our adopted grandma. Since she didn’t have any family there and neither did we, we were happy to make her a part of ours.  She was adorably funny and super talented but was taken too soon by a battle with cancer. Stupid cancer.  After she passed, one of the ladies who helped clean out her apartment brought me a little bag of Maria’s knitting supplies. In the bag, among the supplies, was a half finished, lavender sweater. I couldn’t bear to get rid of it.

Six years later, those two knitted rectangles are now a sweater for Pumpkin.  A sweater that matches her new purple glasses.  A sweater that reminds us of our Grandma Maria.

STEPS:

Cut rectangles at top to match.  The shape of the sweater is just a rectangle with slits at the sides for arms and a slit at the top for head.

Sew up side seams leaving 5″ open for armholes

Sew across top (shoulders) leaving 8″ open for neck.

Finish neck edge with a bias tape facing.

Bind shoulder seams to prevent unraveling.

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{ 12 comments }

moxiemandie
Twitter: moxiemandie
November 15, 2011 at 1:43 pm

What a lovely sweater & even more beautiful sentiment! So glad you shared!

sara November 15, 2011 at 2:22 pm

Oh how we all loved Grandma Maria. She really was something special. I know that she was smiling from heaven as you were making that sweater. Its funny, there probably isn’t a week that goes by where I don’t think of her. She had such an impact on our little group.

The sweater is perfect 🙂

Linda November 15, 2011 at 3:16 pm

I love seeing this picture of Maria. She was such a wonderful woman!

McKay November 16, 2011 at 7:47 am

Maria would love it! I love that picture, such a great smile on her face. You’re right – stupid cancer.

Todd November 16, 2011 at 11:06 am

I got a little teary seeing that picture of Lucy and Maria.

Alice November 16, 2011 at 6:16 pm

That is such a lovely blog and it’s so beautiful that you were able to turn something so precious into something your daughter will value! My MIL died suddenly when I was 6 months pregnant with our first baby and she finished the baby quilt three days before she passed away. Afterwards we found a partially started blanket and my mother finished it for our second baby. So now each of the girls have a blanket made by grandma Diane, even if they won’t get to meet her. Your post touched me and reminded me how much we need to treasure these things, and you’ve inspired me to finally get the names stiched on the baptism gown that was made by my oma, and worn by my late sister, myself and now my daughters.

This is Carrie
Twitter: thisiscarrie
Reply:

Your daughters are so lucky!

kage November 17, 2011 at 3:40 am

Grandma Maria!!!!!!!!!!

Jen_Guzman November 17, 2011 at 8:30 am

That is a gorgeous sweater! I’ll never forget when Maria brought our family dinner shortly after Asher was born. Her cancer had already returned and she was quite weak. I’ll also never forget accompanying her to a couple of drs appointments and her great attitude and hope, despite all of the bad news she was getting from her doctors on her health.

I learned so much from her about generosity and love.

Diamond November 17, 2011 at 2:51 pm

This is an extremely sweet idea. It even better that it looks good too.

KP November 18, 2011 at 9:07 am

Yay~ what a beautiful way to honor such an amazing lady!

STUPID cancer!

Christina November 21, 2011 at 7:15 am

I found your blog while looking for a hat pattern.

This is so sweet… “God sets the lonely in families.” What’s interesting is she looks very much like your daughter in that picture.

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