Pingouin Babies
November 27th, 2007 by BJB
I’ve just returned from a trip to Vancouver to visit my daughter. On the flight home, while in that marvelous suspended state of neither here nor there, my mind was free to cast about, eventually settling on something I hadn’t thought about for many years; my days of ‘ baby knitting’. In the ’80’s, when I was expecting my babies, Pingouin was a very popular yarn company. They produced the best children’s patterns, bar none. I believe I still own every baby pattern collection they published.
Once I arrived home I went straight to my cedar chest where all my most treasured keepsakes are stored. I was relieved to discover that I had saved most of the items I had knit for my small children, although a few items were missing. We are a family of 5 siblings and at one time or another I must have passed some things on to one of my brothers or sisters for their own little ones. For the most part though, my favourites were still there. Sweaters, blankets, and a bunting bag, all of which I had infused with love and hope for the new life growing inside of me.
There was the yellow bunting bag knit entirely in garter stitch - pregnancy hormones must have given me superhuman patience! And the soft, blue wool blanket, started by me but completed by my mother in law. It’s knit in an intricate pattern, with each square knit on 4 needles. My patience hormones let me down on this project and my mother in law bailed me out. I gently unfolded the newborn sweater, bonnet and booties set, knit from the same pattern my mother had followed in 1952, when she knit the same set for her firstborn. The sky blue knitted dress I had made for my daughter’s toddler years was in the chest as was the hooded cardigan, in fisherman’s rib with toggle buttons. That sweater elicited compliments everywhere she wore it.
It was obvious that there were more of my daughter’s knitted items than my son’s. That’s easily explained by the striking difference in their personalities. Although I knit just as much for my son, his clothes just didn’t have the longevity of my daughter’s. He has lived every day, since birth, at full speed, all-systems-go 24-7, and his clothes just haven’t survived that punishment! Whereas my daughter has always been calm and gentle. She inhabits the earth with a soft step while my son strikes the ground with a thundering stride.
All of these treasured items were knit with the best yarn I could afford at the time, mostly in Pingouin yarns, and that investment has paid off. Each little item looks and feels as good today as it did 20 some years ago.
I haven’t seen Pingouin yarns anywhere for many years but I’m grateful for the many hours of knitting enjoyment they once gave me. It’s a good thing I saved the pattern books. I may be needing them someday…
Posted in knitting