My mom has a big box in her basement marked "Baby Keepers". It's full of baby clothes. My family has a long tradition of hand-me-downs. A lot of our wardrobe as kids came from my older cousins, and then got passed on to our younger cousins. But some things, mostly handmade, were just too special for my mom to pass on, so instead she squirreled them away in a big box and now that her first grandchild is on the way (my brother's baby is due this July and we're all so excited!) it was time to go through the box and pick out some of the special keepsakes that will get passed on to him.
Mom and I did that earlier this week. I recognized most of the adorable baby knits from seeing them in old photo's, or even remembering my sister wearing them. But I haven't really looked at them since I've become a knitter. I picked out a few of my faves to share with you today because I was so surprised to see that even though some of these things are over 30 years old, they're still totally hip.
Most of these sweaters were knit by my grandmother, she tended towards simple shapes, embellished with either seed stitch or garter stitch, sometimes both. When she hit upon a pattern she liked, she stuck with it (hence the photo above featuring 4 sweaters with the same yoke motif!)
I love them all! But then again, you know I love just about all wee baby knits. But obviously, knowing that Grammy stitched every stitch in these precious little sweaters makes them all the more special.
What treasures! I love the light blue cardigan, and the flower petal yoke on the white one is very intriguing. Congratulations to your brother and his family ♥
ReplyDeleteSo cute! Love the top right cardigan!
ReplyDeleteThis is an incredible treasure! How wonderful that your mom kept them all!
ReplyDeleteI understand where you're coming from, !cherish anything and everything that was knit by my grandmother!
ReplyDeleteThe white sweater with the petal yoke is particularly lovely!
those are amazing heirlooms! I love the texture of the light blue on with the button placket. They are all still so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYou're right ... each is so fresh and the thought of these being worn by the next generation is lovely. I have a box of "baby keepers," too, that were knitted by my mother. Each an absolute treasure.
ReplyDeleteSuch love! I think my favorite is the simple cream cardigan with garter stripes. And hopefully, if your brother is amenable, we'll get to see them modeled on a real live baby!
ReplyDeleteIt is so SO cool that your mom kept all of those baby clothes. How fun to look through them all! The colorwork-yoke sweaters are pretty amazing. Lucky baby(ies) who got/get to wear them!
ReplyDeleteThese are so precious and cute! These are definitely hip:)
ReplyDeleteI received 2 of the flower petal yoke sweaters, in two different sizes, when my first baby was born. They were both done in white, with a bonnet, by two of my husbands aunts. I think they must have traded knitting patterns. The sweaters are in my "keeper" box.
ReplyDeleteIs the water st cardigan a seamless/in the round pattern?
ReplyDeleteI think I have made both of the cream-coloured sweaters - from one of those Paton's booklets.
ReplyDeleteSadly I am sure I made them from acrylic ...
I wonder what the baby on the cover look alike now - he must be 45 or 50!
I've just discover your blog and I love it. Do you know if it's possible to get the explainations of the flower petal yoke sweater? I made one quite like it 20 years later but I've lost the book where it was. Just continue like that!
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