Working towards Christmas

Almost a year ago (December 26, 2011 to be exact - I have the receipt) my mom bought me a bunch of yarn and handed me a pattern from 1985 and told me the only thing she wanted for Christmas was for me to knit a stocking for my 10 year old sister. See, my grandmother knit me this intricate, red white and green, huge fair isle Christmas stocking when I was born. It even has my name knit into it - not stitched on top, but carefully planned and sketched out onto the actual pattern from 25 years ago.

Three years later, Chris got a matching stocking with his name.

Eight years later, Jenny got a matching stocking with her name.

Three years later, Emma got a store bought stocking. My grandmother has some serious arthritis and there was just no way she could recreate the stocking - I believe she had given up knitting a few years before Emma was born. I know it was hard for her to knit Jenny's stocking.

{Emma's name in stitches}

So ten years after that, Mom finally asked if I would knit Emma a matching stocking. My grandmother taught me to knit when I was 8 or 9, but I had never done any fair isle work. I understood the basic concept, but it was definitely an accomplishment to read and follow a detailed pattern.

{Christmas trees, candy canes, hearts}

{almost finished}

I think it is really more of a gift for my mom than for Emma. They will both be excited but Mom will be happy to finally have four matching stockings for her kids after 25 years!