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 alá 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 …..
purlingswine 
I don’t know if Melissa asked you, but do you actually give lessons? We need help deciphering the more intricate cast-on and bind off methods, especially for ribbing……….can’t seem to figure it out from a flat picture in a book.
I really don’t know if either of my grandmothers was a knitter. One would assume that they had at least learned at some point, and they were quite prolific in other areas of the “domestic arts.” Several years ago, when I was in the throes of a cross-stitch sampler addiction, Grandma B. admired my work and told me that her mother had taught her to embroider — and that she’d done it, but hated it, fought every step of the way, and never did it for pleasure. Might you have some dormant knitters on the family tree?
What a great sentiment, Ann! … I love that, “someone will think of me when casting on.”
That is another great reason to be a “good” knitter (and I don’t mean technically savvy): if you are who someone thinks of when they cast on, would you rather it be your sniping and criticality that is remembered, or your generosity and compassion? (That is rhetorical, I know *you* would be remembered for your laugh and warm spirit, Ann!)
I did ask Ann if she knew the Tubular caston, but she said no… Perhaps now that Worty is back on her feet, we could have a weekly knit nite… LI KNITS @ NITE kinda deal?
I don’t recall any relatives doing much, if any, needlework. I know my grandmother hooked rugs. My mother was into everything, but I never saw her with knitting.
My paternal grandma quilted and crocheted, my maternal side did lots of sewing and crocheting. I think my grandpa’s sister must have knit, because she saw me knitting my first scarf and gave me some of her old needles, I seem to recall. And there are those fantastic gossamer thin knitted doilies that got passed down to me, had to come somewhere from the Italian side of the family.
My mom is the proficient, loving knitter of the family. Nature is cruel because now arthritis has taken away this gift from her. I still have many of her beauties and saved the pieces she made for my girls. Hub even sleeps with her pride and joy….not me, the intricate blanket she made many years ago. I really don’t know where her beginnings in this art are but it is going to start some great dialogue. My big sis knits sporadically and I, well, never seem to have the time nor the patience to complete. I usually rip it out of frustration. My youngest has shown interest and gran can wait to get her hands on her this summer.