Saturday, November 5, 2011

Mother's love

Knit.Purl. Knit.Purl. Knit.
Two simple ingredients that create magic.
Cables. Moss. Basketweaves.Rosebuds. Ribbed sleeves. Rounded collars.
Of all the jumpers I have ever worn, I’ve never found one that didn’t have a breath of my mother’s love cleverly wound into its knits and purls.

Every pullover, every cardigan was crafted from thick, wonderful, warm wool that a beloved friend got for us all the way from Dehra—rolled together and unrolled stitch by stitch, knit by purl.

Hours rolled by as moments of borrowed time, thoughts, emotions, a catch of the sunrise, a long shadow of a November sunset  caught between her fingers, twirled deftly into a moment of love.
Into a story to be passed on through the years.
Into a marvel.
A masterpiece.
Crafted in love.

Each time I see a hand knitted jumper, I can’t help but think of the wonder it is. Of how it was created. 
There will always be an element of non uniformity that a machine can never churn out—
The imperfection of a human hand.
Of a mother’s sore hands.
A texture that no batch production can ever achieve.

A mother’s love is special for each of her children.
So are each of the marvels she creates.
Etched and knitted deep into their grateful hearts.

4 comments:

  1. omg! what a coincidence! was just thinking about a blue sweater mum had knitted for me when i was a kid, earlier today! and now i read this.
    written sooo beautifully too! fantastic! :)
    especially love the 'imperfection of a human hand' bit.
    everyone used to knit so much in ranchi, no??

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  2. I know--that's why I love Ranchi--it's almost like a modern Harappan culture--so many ancient things still exist there :) I sent this link to Ma in the hope of getting a Christmas jumper...she remains uninspired though :( I guess I will have to go and knit it myself all through winter and then don it proudly in the summer heat! :(

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  3. modern harappan culture...hahaha!!!! brought some strange visuals to my head!!! :D :D
    i can't believe i used to knit then too! and sew and darn and embroider too! the ranchi effect. must've washed off coz here, when a friend got to know that i had stitched the cover on the old tv, she nearly fainted, and said that it sounded sooo unlike me!!!! (makes me wonder if the general impression people have of me is a good-for-nothing time-waster!!)
    i like your sweater idea though. :D :D

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