Hand Spun

Hand Spun
Campfire Hat

Saturday, December 11, 2010

The Saved-From-The-Trash Sweater 2004- 2011

Here's a picture of sweater number 3 that my mom saved from the trash repeatedly. The story goes like this. In 2004, before I was married, when I still lived at home with the parental units, I began this sweater because I loved the color of yarn and wanted a fast, longer, tunic style sweater to wear over my clothes. I got it all crocheted in record time and had it sewn together only to realize that I'd sewn the left front panel on inside-out. I grabbed a pair of scissors and snipped the thread I thought I had used to sew the seam together. Instead of the seam coming apart, the back of the sweater began to unravel - in the middle. I reacted badly. I had worked so hard on it and now it was sewn together wrong and the back was unraveling in the middle. I picked it up and threw it away and went to my room. My mom pulled it out of the trash (thankfully Dad had just put in a fresh liner so there was nothing in the garbage but the sweater) and put it on the couch gently. She never said a word. When I came out later and saw it on the couch, I picked it up and put it back in the trash. Mom removed it again. This went on for a few days. She'd rescue it and I'd trash it. Finally I realized she wasn't giving up So I kept it in a basket with the rest of the yarn it was made from and it sat. Mom used to refer to it from time to time and laughingly call it her "rescued sweater" or something to that effect. I always meant to finish it and give it to her but never got around to it what with one thing and another. I moved 3 times and got married and moved again, and still it sat untouched in its basket of yarn. Finally this summer I tackled it. I re-crocheted the back, corrected my sewing and seams, put on the edgings and the silver celtic style buttons and submitted it to the state fair for review. With everything that sweater had been through and considering the fact that, once again, it was made from acrylic yarn, I HOPED for a ribbon but wasn't sure it would even place. The day the fair opened and drove down to see how it did and was happy to see  a 3rd place ribbon on it. I just know Mom would have laughed happily and then made me hand over the sweater AND the ribbon. lol!  Here's a picture of it at the fair.
It wasn't hung very flatteringly but I can't complain. The would-be-sweater I trashed that would have been rotting in some landfill somewhere if I'd had my way with it, was now hung on the wall at the Western Idaho State Fair, and had won a ribbon. It took me 7 years to finish this thing but it's my reminder that with a little perseverance, even a lost cause can become something lovely and when someone believes in you, it's best to listen. :)
I haven't worn the sweater yet. It's in my cedar chest waiting for the right day this winter. But I am going to wear it with pride and I just know I'll be smiling a secret smile all day and thinking of my mom.

6 comments:

  1. Okay, I'm all misty here over the sweater story. Thank you so much for sharing that, and God bless your mother, for teaching you a lesson in "your" language. I wish I had that wisdom.

    :)

    I'm going to tidy up my room before hubby comes home and finds my eyes all swollen from a bawl-out.

    :)

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  2. Renee- I love this story! Your mon knew best! I cried too! I am proud of you! You will have to let me know when you wear it!! Love ya!

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  3. This story touched my heart too, and I can just picture your Mom laughing over the 3rd place ribbon. Love it! (((HUGS)))

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  4. This reminds me much of how God works in our lives. How many times have we given up, "trashed" ourselves, thought we were irrevocably ruined and unable to be put back together again?

    And there God is, pulling us out of the bin, gently telling us that we are never - ever - too damaged to fix no matter how much we disagree and throw ourselves into the rubbish again and again.

    Through the weft and warp, the off-center seams, and panels incorrectly attached, we all have that promise of salvation and acceptance through our friends, our families, and God, who lovingly direct us through the process of our own reclamation.

    You're a very talented, smart, and blessed lady, indeed, Renee, and I'm doubly blessed to have you in my life. (((((hugs))))

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  5. I agree with Christine.What a lesson this sweater & you have given us,thank-you for sharing,phylliso

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  6. I hope you had a great holiday weekend.

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