Knitting Baby Clothes - A Family Tradition

I am going to share with you a story about aMaking clothes for our children is more than just
woman who was taught by her mother on how tobeing able to save money or design clothes that we
knit baby clothes and how she passed on herwould want our babies to wear. It is our way of
knowledge on skills to her children and children'sshowing our love to them.
children.As the years go by, I continued to sew, knit and
When my grandmother was still on her prime, shecrochet clothing for my kids. They have a wide
would knit baby clothes to each of her children. Hervariety of knitted items on their closet, dresses,
children would always wonder, what makes so specialblankets, hats, sweater, and even pants for each
about knitting? And every time she would answerone of them. I never stopped knitting with love for
them that knitting is provides a nice personal feelingthem. Sometimes, I even wondered if this hobby is
for her, especially when she sees the knitted clothesgoing out of hand, and I almost gave up on it when I
worn by her children.came across something that tells me that I shouldn't.
When I was a small kid, my grandmother taught meRecently I paid a visit to my 22 year old daughter. I
how to crochet. As soon as my plump little fingerssaw the sweater I knitted for her draped onto her
could hold the needle without harming myself, shefavorite teddy bear. The teddy bear was placed on
made no delay on teaching me how to knit. By thetop of her dresser. On her table was a blanket I
time I was six and grandma sights were alreadymade for her.
failing, she made me thread the needles for her.My 19 year old boy is now all grown up and lives on
At eight years old, my mother knitted a completehis own. Though there are items that he left in the
spring wardrobe for me. I specifically remember thehouse when he moved out, he never left the knitted
items she knitted particularly that red trimmedblanket I made for him which he was wrapped in it
handkerchief. She would sit on a corner and spendon our way home from the hospital after my giving
most of her time knitting my clothes. I can evenbirth. He even creates clothes for himself which
remember up to now, the assortment of colors shemostly are patches and other strange designs which
used and the patterns came from my grandma whichI couldn't figure out.
my mom used on the clothes she made for me.My 15 year old put away her party dress which I
I agree and would attest that there is indeedmade for her when she was just six months old. And
something special in handmade clothing. It goesguess what where I found it? I found it neatly folded
beyond the designs used, the colors, and quality ofon her precious little treasure box, which contains
the work. It seems there is something really magicalspecial items that mean a lot to her.
that made me feel special every time I put them on.My 2 boys, one is a 10 year old and the other is 12,
Maybe because I knew that every stitch and knothas kept the blankets that I used to wrap them
was lovingly made for me and my brothers.when we came from the hospital after my delivery.
So, when I got married and got pregnant with myIt became their favorite blankets.
first child, I felt the urge to knit baby clothes for mySo you see all the hard work and long hours of
little one. I started planning out what clothes myknitting eventually paid off. When they grow up to
baby would wear when she comes home from thebecome parents and have families of their own, I
hospital and started knitting. The problem is, thesincerely hope that they will be able to pass on the
moment I started it was very difficult to stop.knitting tradition and the story that goes with it to
Knitting became endless for me.their children and their children's children.