Last night, I put those new buttons on Harper's new sweater. It's the Baby Sophisticate sweater (created by, and available for free on Stockinette). Knit all in one piece, from the top down. And with an aran weight yarn (this is Mission Falls 1824 wool), it was a super fast knit (I started it on the way to camp last week). I love this sweater - I know it's going to be a go-to last-minute baby gift sweater for me from now on. Oh, that sweet collar.
The second I saw the sweater 'done,' it reminded me of my grandfather, who always, always had a cardigan like this on. He was a farmer - a dairy farmer. And my grandmother went to great pains to keep that man clean, and to keep these sweaters out of the barn, out of the garden and off the tractor. It never worked - they always ended up with holes. She'd mend them, and at each and every holiday - there was a new cardigan for him. My children never got a chance to know Grampie before he passed away, but stories of him are tales they know and love to hear. Like the time he didn't have enough cash to pay his electricity bill. When they came to shut it off, he hauled one of his cows downtown and right on into the office. Told them he was paying his bill - stated her worth, and asked for change. He was a stubborn man, a smart and loving man, and a really good farmer. I loved the time I spent with him, and so wish I remembered more of the things he told me.
Isn't it funny how these things work? I had no idea when I started knitting this sweater what it would end up meaning to me - to us. But now, I am so, so very glad that Harper has a Grampie sweater of his own.
