knitting dilemma

Its a beautiful idea! Definitely find someone to finish it off and give it to your daughter. She will be delighted to have something knitted by her grandmother. It could become a family heirloom. And a hand knitted shawl is lovely for a baby.

I agree with jangly, not strange to me, a lovely idea and a way of your dad remember/thinking of his dear departed! Good idea, go for it .

frida I think this is a lovely idea and what a nice way to remember your mum

I think it would be great if you got someone to finish the shawl. When my Mum died I took over an embroidery that she was in the middle of, it was a bit spooky knowing which bits she did and which bits were mine, but I'm glad I did it just so there was some kind of connection.

What a lovely idea. I have an unfinished tapestry from a late very dear friend. I compare her neat stitches to mine and remember what a lovely person she was.

My mother - an avid knitter - was knitting a sweater for my then toddler son at the time that she was very ill. Sadly, she never finished it and so I thought I would try, but every time I picked it up it made me cry so I put it away and it never did get finished. I know that she would have loved me to finish it and I think it is a wonderful idea if you can find someone to finish the shawl. Good luck with it.

Imagine having the opportunity to pass this on to your daughter, she will be thrilled, and no money could ever buy something so personal and precious. There is love in every stich and I would say count your blessings and think how fortunate and lucky you are to be able to do this for your dad and also think how much your mum would have loved the idea of her great grandchild wearing something she had knitted. Wish I had had that chance.

Do get it finished. I'm sure your daughter will appreciate having something handknitted by her grandmother. When my mother died, she left lots of unused art materials, and it has given me great pleasure, putting these to use. Everytime I do, it gives a real sense of connection and continuity. She also left a collection snaps, many of which I turned into cards, and used when corresponding with her friends.

Frida - lovely idea. My Mum died 3 years ago and my sisters and I were happy to take all Mum's craft 'stuff' and share it. We made up basic sewing boxes for her 3 granddaughters - threads, needles etc and sets of knitting needles. Since her death, no fewer than 9 great-grandchildren have arrived and we've been able to knit up Mum's wool into little garments and to sew her buttons onto them. We've used lots of her knitting patterns too. My daughter had a tiny white matinee coat which Mum made for an older grandchild, and it was used again to bring the newest one home from hospital. Frida - if you can't find anyone locally to finish the shawl, please get in touch with more details and I'll see what I can do. I have knitted several shawls and it would be a privilege to help if I can.

What a kind gesture I am new to Gransnet but already feel at home with such nice remarks on the website

frida if you havent located someone to finish the shawl yet try www.ravelry.com - bound to be somoen on there who will pick it up.

Hi Frida,
I have knitted many shawls for my own children , grandchildren and nephews and neices as well as their children. If you are still looking for someone to finish the shawl your mum started and you have the pattern and wool to finish it I would be happy to do it for you. you ana get in touch with me via gransnet and i'll give you my address to send it to. I live in Aberdeen. Hope this will be of help to you

I too have wondered if Frida managed to get the shawl finished. The baby must be here by now. If you're lurking Frida, how about posting an update for us?

This is an amazing thread and I really hope that Frida has decided to have the shawl finished - and how fantastic to have an offer from someone on the forums! When my mother was terminally ill, she knitted each one of her three (grown-up) children a blanket in the 18 months she had left. At the time I just thought 'well, she's keeping busy and trying to take her mind off things', and she handed each blanket over to us with much fanfare as she completed it. In the inside corner of each one was a handstitched date and her name. Now 16 years after her death, I've gradually had this realisation that maybe it was her way of making sure that she could continue to care for us, cover us with her love, and I treasure her energy contained in every stitch (hopefully that's not too weird!) She was a single mother to the three of us in the 1950s and devoted her life to making sure that we were okay, although our circumstances were difficult. And we're just fine, the three of us, because we were raised with an abundance of love.

Great idea to have it finished for you Frida and so kind of those who help with such projects. E1saBe what a wonderful mother yours was

Thanks Carol, she truly was. This thread has given me a great opportunity to pause for a moment and remember that.

E1saBe, how lovely to have that blanket from your mother. It can be passed down through your own family with the same love within it.

I used to knit baby shawls for my Grandkids but cant any more, but I found some great hand knitted shawls here
www.millstonecrafts.co.uk

I had forgotten all about this post! Thank-you all for your comments and special thanks to the ladies who offered to finish off the shawl. I found a local lady who finished it off. My father gave the shawl to my daughter and she loved it. It has been used by the baby, who is now 16months old , carefully washed and now wrapped and put away.DD is hoping to be able to pass it on to her sisters if they ever have children. They all call it 'granny's soft shawl'.
Ahh, it was nice going back to this post.