Some Things I Inherited From My Mother
NOTE: I hope to take pictures of some of my mom's vast doily output and the crocheted tablecloth I made one of these days, after which I'll post them.
My mom left any formal education behind early and spent much of her life working on the family farm in Yugoslavia near the Romanian border. Her family raised chickens and pigs and grew various vegetables and grapes. Besides working in the field alongside her parents, in the growing season, and helping out in the kitchen year round, she spent the winter months knitting and crocheting. There weren't any pattern books to follow but samples were shared among the women she knew and copied.
Crocheting ... I never really saw the attraction of most of the items my mom crocheted. One can only have so many doilies, regardless of the patterns. I DID like the afghans she made though. They were lovely and warm to wrap around oneself when the weather got nippy to keep you warm, while reading a good book. The rugs were pleasant to step on when you walked into the tiled bath room in your bare feet. Though she DID make slippers as well from odds end ends of yarn. They wore out quickly from the heavy use and I miss them.
Salmon Shawl
Afghan - You can just see one of the few doilies I still use under the lamp
I have no idea what this piece of crocheting was for. Maybe to be attached to something as a decorative finish.
Knitting ... Sweaters and scarves were always useful. I remember making myself a pair of mittens. They were a bit misshapen, to be honest, but they fit and they were warm. Buying them as I have for the last 40yrs seems like cheating, somehow, but I've never had the urge to make myself another pair since. I found this gray sweater that my mom made for my dad, when I was clearing out their cottage, and brought it home. It fits so I wear it.
Macrame ... When I was about 20, my mom got it into her head that she wanted to learn to macrame so I bought a bunch of pattern books. Since she didn't really read English very well and translating the instructions was hard even for me, it took a while to translate the instructions into Romanian. Especially since I didn't have the Romanian vocabulary to really explain what to do. But we managed and she made some pretty impressive pieces. I use one of my mom's smaller macrame projects every day. It's an ugly looking brown toothpaste (I put my comb in the sleeve instead) and toothbrush caddy and still hangs on a hook next to my sink. I give it a quick hand wash every 5 yrs or so. The big plant holders she made were relegated to the attic, when we moved into our current home. There just wasn't any place to hang them.
Looms and knitting needles - I can't remember what was made on those looms. I think it was flowers on the round ones. I should really donate everything.
Along with these tangibles, I've inherited my frugal nature, my ability to be happy with what I have rather than what I DON'T have, my fondness for savoury rather than sweet, and my tendency to put on weight regardless of what I eat. Three out of four isn't bad, right?
My mom left any formal education behind early and spent much of her life working on the family farm in Yugoslavia near the Romanian border. Her family raised chickens and pigs and grew various vegetables and grapes. Besides working in the field alongside her parents, in the growing season, and helping out in the kitchen year round, she spent the winter months knitting and crocheting. There weren't any pattern books to follow but samples were shared among the women she knew and copied.
Crocheting ... I never really saw the attraction of most of the items my mom crocheted. One can only have so many doilies, regardless of the patterns. I DID like the afghans she made though. They were lovely and warm to wrap around oneself when the weather got nippy to keep you warm, while reading a good book. The rugs were pleasant to step on when you walked into the tiled bath room in your bare feet. Though she DID make slippers as well from odds end ends of yarn. They wore out quickly from the heavy use and I miss them.
Salmon Shawl
Afghan - You can just see one of the few doilies I still use under the lamp
I have no idea what this piece of crocheting was for. Maybe to be attached to something as a decorative finish.
Knitting ... Sweaters and scarves were always useful. I remember making myself a pair of mittens. They were a bit misshapen, to be honest, but they fit and they were warm. Buying them as I have for the last 40yrs seems like cheating, somehow, but I've never had the urge to make myself another pair since. I found this gray sweater that my mom made for my dad, when I was clearing out their cottage, and brought it home. It fits so I wear it.
Macrame ... When I was about 20, my mom got it into her head that she wanted to learn to macrame so I bought a bunch of pattern books. Since she didn't really read English very well and translating the instructions was hard even for me, it took a while to translate the instructions into Romanian. Especially since I didn't have the Romanian vocabulary to really explain what to do. But we managed and she made some pretty impressive pieces. I use one of my mom's smaller macrame projects every day. It's an ugly looking brown toothpaste (I put my comb in the sleeve instead) and toothbrush caddy and still hangs on a hook next to my sink. I give it a quick hand wash every 5 yrs or so. The big plant holders she made were relegated to the attic, when we moved into our current home. There just wasn't any place to hang them.
Looms and knitting needles - I can't remember what was made on those looms. I think it was flowers on the round ones. I should really donate everything.
Along with these tangibles, I've inherited my frugal nature, my ability to be happy with what I have rather than what I DON'T have, my fondness for savoury rather than sweet, and my tendency to put on weight regardless of what I eat. Three out of four isn't bad, right?