purlingswine

A recent entry at SmallHands has got me thinking. Chelsea writes about beginnings – who taught you to knit, who taught your teacher and so on …..

Some of you may know that my maiden name is Smith. Yes, a very, very common name. It occured to me a number of years ago that my older brother is the last of our particular brand of Smiths. My father was the only son to have a son and his son (the bro) has no children. After my brother, we Smiths are through! Through I tell you!

What about our knitting heritage? My maternal grandmather taught me how to knit. I don’t know for sure, but can safely assume that her own mother taught her as well as her two sisters. Of those three knitters, there were three daughters. Only one of them, my Aunt knits. Although Grammy taught both of her girls how to knit, only one does. I have two female cousins – we were all taught how to do it, but I am the only knitter. Writing this, I see we seem to have some kind of mystical proportion al&#225 the DaVinci Code going on – 3:1. hmmmm…… (note to self: mull that one over)

Am I the last of Grammy’s legacy?

No.

My Aunt has three granddaughters, I have two daughters (right now odds are on Daughter #2).

And of course, my little genealogical knitting exploration does not take into account the hope of any male knitters (there are plenty of grandsons) not to mention the non-family members we have taught to knit.

I have taught a number of people to knit and I have re-ignited a knitting interest in people who were taught by someone long ago.

the ties that bind … I always think of my Grammy when I knit and someday someone will think of me when they are casting on …..