Coming Full Circle
Well, it’s that time. It’s my first bloggiversary. Yippee, I think I’ll have cake for lunch.
I thought today would be a good time to write about the first sweater I ever knit. If you saw my ten-year old stash, you know that I learned to knit first from a Patons “Learning to Knit” book that I mailed away for during middle school. Hey, it was free. I also had a fabulously colourful beginners knitting book that I can’t find anywhere — I loved that book and made a number of items from it including mittens, scarves and this sweater:
It’s in lilac-coloured 100% acrylic yarn from Kmart in Toronto… I managed to convince my mom to buy since it was already something like 40% off. Gee, even Kmart didn’t want it. It was knit on 5mm aluminum Aero straights — I remember because the hot summer weather made the stitches stick to the metal needles.
I knit this sweater during the summer before highschool. We had just moved from Toronto to Vancouver a few months prior and I didn’t know anyone in my neighbourhood well enough to hang out with them all summer. So I knit. Being able to knit in dark movie theatres now? It’s all because of the summer I spent watching Taiwanese soap operas on VHS and knitting this sweater.
I wore this sweater all the time and all through university… so much so, that I was teased about it at my bridal shower (”What was Felicia wearing during her and Richard’s first kiss? Uh, the purple sweater and Dr. Marten boots?”). Yes, this is also the sweater that I used to pick paint colours for the UBC Dance Club office. Hey, I loved this sweater.
But now, I can’t wear it anymore. It’s stretched out, threadbare, stained (is that Coke?!), and has a number of holes in it.
Sure, it’s old and ugly now, but it’s a 16-year old sweater. And I guess that’s a testament to how long (for better or worse) a well-loved, hand knit piece can (sort of) last. So now, even though I’m over Kmart acrylic and aluminum needles, I’m not over making things that I love to knit and love to wear.
Tags: Bloggiversary, Learning to Knit
i love that sweater! would you happen to know what the book is called? it’s lovely!
Your sweater is just perfect. Something you can pull out when you are 85 and just smile at the memories! Thanks for sharing.
Oh, nice, so that’s what the purple sweater looks like. It’s very pretty for a first sweater. It’s a perfect basic sweater, no wonder you wore it often.
i think that’s a perfect first sweater and i’m so glad to see that you’ve kept it all these years. i threw away my first knitted sweater, also my first FO. oh well.
congrats on one year worth of blogging. you’ve done so much and are such an inspiration!
Happy Blogiversary!
Your purple sweater looks like it has been well loved. I wish I could say the same of some of my own knits! 
I love your first sweater! How great that you loved it and wore it so much. My fist sweater was purple too (although I made it last winter) It is very similar to yours w/ crocheted edges instead of ribbing. I’m glad you have so many great memories in your sweater.
Happy Blogaversary! The sweater is perfect, I hope you always hold on to it, even if it is stretched out, stained, and holey. It’s a piece of art, and what memories it obviously holds.
Very lovely post! Thanks for making me smile.
Happiest Bloggiversary wishes!!!!!
Wow. This post made me a bit weepy. It’s a wonderful sweater and I’m glad you loved it so.
Happy Blogoversary!!
That’s a cute story about the sweater.
Your very first sweater, knit at age 13ish, is so well done! Nevermind the blemishes now, you have to save it. I can definitely see how you kept and wore it for so long… and it’s a gorgeous color!
Felicia, happy bloggiversary! It is so nice to see something good and loved and well-used in our little knitting world… it’s like The Velveteen Rabbit! It’s REAL. Have a great day.
that’s a sweet first sweater story.
Happy Blog-versary!!
happy blogiversary! love the sweater story - and the sweater. that colour is just gorgeous, no wonder you’ve stuck to it.
Beautiful story! Happy Blogiversary
Beautiful sweater! I can only hope that mine looks that good. Happy Blogiversary!
I love the story behind that sweater. Happy Blogiversary! Your blog was one of the first ones I started looking at about 9 months ago, and still one of my favorites. Here’s hoping it continues for many more years!
It may be worn, but in my family, we call that “loved.” Anything that was worn and used enough to show that kind of wear and tear is a well-loved garment (or book or doll or pot or…). It should be proud of its small stains and holes–maybe newer, trendier sweaters don’t have them, but they don’t have the vast world-experience that this one has, either. No memories. And, a very happy Blogiversary!
What a beautiful first sweater! That is so nice you got tons of wear out of it
Happy Bloggiversary!
My first knitted sweater is Zara in Lucky aka purple, lol! I’m going to rip it and do it all over again, since it has A LOT of mistakes.
My son still use his blankie, my first FO.
You should frame that sweater.
Wow, that is one loooooved sweater. I find it really interesting that your still lean towards the same color even now.
Happy Bloggiversary!! I love that sweater! It holds so many happy memories!! I hope that you never get rid of it!
Happy Blogiversary! Here’s to many more years of beautiful purple/lilac/lavendar knits!
This is such a great post to commemorate your one year blog-anniversary! The sweater is great and I hope you always save it!
You should be very proud of that sweater. It looks wonderful. I wish I could find my first sweater. It was 100% pastel rainbow acrylic boatneck fugly. Your’s looks quite classic! Congrats on your first birthday in bloglandia.
Tanya
Felicia, Happy Anniversary! I love your blog and am so glad that I found it. I always say this– but you are so inspiring to me!!
That is some mighty good acrylic, not a pill in sight. And, accompanied by a nice story. I like reading your blog.
Happy Blog Anniversary!
Your first sweater is lovely! A timeless classic! You must save it and show it to my great grandkids some day
I love all your purple knits, I hope they serve you as well as your first!
I actually really like the first sweater! It’s a LOT better than the first thing I knit, that’s for sure. Congrats on your blogiversary!
fix it and wear it again.you were crafty enough to make it,you can fix it too(just an idea).Not my color but a nice peace of work.