Sweater(s) for baby

I don't think it was more than 24 hours after seeing those two lines that I cast on for this sweater. I looked through my pattern books, and Baby's Pure and Simple Pullover from Weekend Knitting (by Melanie Falick) was the first to pull me in. A quick trip to KnitWit for some Rowan Wool Cotton, and I was off. In the early, trepidous weeks of pregnancy, I found tremendous comfort in stitching this sweater - in all of its simple, rhythmic garter stitch. And in the busy moments of the work of spring, I stole away moments at a time - sometimes literally a row at a time - as a reminder to myself about balance, and what was in store for us. Blissful baby knitting, yes, indeed.

Yesterday, I put some buttons on this sweater - some favorite little vintage greens. And now it begins a little pile of what will surely be a 'pile' of handmades for baby that I will love making.

But there's a funny/funky thing about this little sweater. Just as I was sewing on the buttons - and not a moment sooner - I realized why this sweater felt so familiar to begin with. In that moment I remembered the very first sweater I ever knit - when I was pregnant with Calvin eight years ago. Yes - a very similar sweater - as in a sideways knit, garter stitch, pullover, knit in white cotton infant sweater. In other words, the same sweater. (To my credit, I guess...at least it was a different pattern! The original is a Debbie Bliss pattern, I do remember.)

I immediately went to the photo albums to confirm my memory, and here it was - this photo. That sweater! I don't remember if the other babes wore this sweater. I don't even remember if we still have it or where it is. But it's likely that somewhere in this house, exists an eight year old sweater just like the one I finished yesterday.

This realization brought with it a few facts: A. My taste has apparently changed very little in 8 years. B. Apparently, neither has my knitting skill advanced all that much. C. My memory? Uh...Not so great.

But instead of those facts, I think I'll focus on the fact that I began both my first and last pregnancies in the comfortable rhythm of knitting essentially the same pattern. A perfectly knit full circle. Yes, yes...let's go with that.