Do you remember?

Do you remember the first sweater you knit? I could knit at a young age but didn't knit a sweater until I was 15. I worked at Wild Waterworks in Confederation Park and some of the lifeguards were knitting on their lunch hour and breaks. They were making great sweaters on circular needles. I could do that too. I don't have my first sweater (I think it is in a trunk in my parents basement) but here is the second sweater I knit.

Cathy found it while cleaning up the store. Many of you will recognize the pattern. It is a Patons book, 440 I believe. Knit in Shetland Chunky. The sweaters knit on circular needles were very popular 30 years ago. And this pattern was the most popular. Everywhere you went someone was wearing it.

I never took a knitting lesson. I knew how to knit and purl from my mom. I didn't have a knitting 'how to' book either. I read the pattern and came up with ways to do things. It was a long time before the Internet and great websites with pictures and videos. Since then my techniques are much better-casting on, increases, stranding colours....

I was born with knitting in my blood. My dad talks about his family coming from Holland after the war. They weren't allowed to bring much with them but my Oma had a suitcase of Scheepjes yarn. He had an Aunt in Holland who had a yarn shop as well.

What was the first sweater you knit? Who taught you to knit? I hope this brings back fond memories of your mother, grandmother, aunt, neighbour.....