There’s a special kind of affection we reserve for our woolen garments – their longevity and comfort make them true traditional treasures in our wardrobes.
Many times, these pieces are handed down, their value only amplifying as they journey through generations. We have an exceptional connection with inherited knitwear, especially knowing that they are handmade tokens of love. Join me as we delve into the stories of few who have cherished, worn, and passed on these pieces lovingly crafted by experienced hands.
Echoing Generation Traditions through a Stitch
When you think of a handmade knitted vest handed down from generations, you might picture something like the ‘pineapple’ pattern vest that was lovingly crafted by Rose Marie Pengelly’s grandmother. Pengelly, a brand strategist based in Sydney, stumbled upon this treasure from her family’s past in her mom’s wardrobe, during her visit to Malaysia.
She recalls her grandmother in Perth, a woman of astonishing talents, who would grace every family visit with her handcrafted knits. Pengelly’s grandmother had a remarkable knack for replicating patterns, despite being illiterate. Memories of her grandmother, knitting diligently while hooked to her soap operas, still bring joy to Pengelly.
Dubbing her vintage vest as an “original Teresa Ee creation”, Pengelly wears it sparingly to preserve its integrity, and plans to pass it down to her sons. It is a tribute to love, talent, and family, a unique textile narrative – a rarity in today’s fast-fashion culture.
A Closet Full of Knitted Treasures
The tale is not much different for Melbourne-based architect Anna Castles. Her mother, a proficient craftswoman, furnished the family with beautiful cardigans and jumpers. Today, Castles’ nieces enjoy their grandmother’s beautifully crafted garments, seamlessly blending them into their wardrobe.
Castles vividly remembers her mother knitting at every opportunity – whether it was during swim meets or on vacations. She fondly notes how their home-made apparel wasn’t just handed down but ‘raided.’ As a teenager, even Castles’ sister Georgina tried her hand at knitting under their mother’s guidance. The creations, just like the memories encasing them, are tangible manifestations of affection, passed down to the generations to come.
Threads Worn with Love
One such emblematic heirloom sweater belongs to Viv Smythe of the Guardian Australia community team, made by her mother in the early 80s. The woven memories of her mother knitting to measure for her and her siblings make the warmth of the pullover reminiscent of maternal affection.
Despite the evolving fashion trends and tactile sensitivities of some family members to wool, Smythe hopes the meticulously woven tokens of love find a deserving home in the future. The pieces might seem simple, but their indelible connection to the warmth of family and tradition makes them irreplaceable.
Will The Knitwear Tradition Last?
Knitwear, created with love and passed down through generations, is not just cloth stitched together. Beyond their fibers, these pieces carry stitches of nostalgia, threads of love, and an enduring legacy. Whether they’re worn sparingly or styled up to blend with modern fashion, these textile narratives continue to bind families together. It serves as a humble reminder of how style and fashion are not always just about appearances but can also create a timeless memento treasured across generations.
Engaging with such traditional practices ourselves and passing them on might just bring us a step closer to preserving these intimate, palpable heirloom narratives. Perhaps, it’s time to pick up those knitting needles.
