elizabeth zimmerman and her much-vaunted sweater

An absolute eon ago, when Sam was on the way but not yet arrived, my parents gifted me with an absolute slew of baby things. Among them was the most gigantic sweater I'd ever seen (or so I thought at the time). When I finally held Sam in my arms, I silently scoffed at that sweater. "It will be AGES before Sam is ready to wear that sweater!" I remarked to myself. "I mean really, that won't fit him until he's THREE! Or maybe even four!" Oh, the silliness of my mom. I hung the sweater in Sam's closet and each time I looked at it, I thought the same thing. Too big. Crazy big. My baby is still a baby.

But.



He isn't. I looked at the sweater this morning and thought with a start that I'd better get it on him before he outgrows it. And then I had a moment of vertigo because wasn't it just last week that he was a tiny, squalling newborn and I was losing my mind and finding it all at the same time? Although the sweater fits his body perfectly, the sleeves are too short. I think I waited a bit long to try it on him. It just...never seemed time.

A week or so ago, Soule Mama blogged that she was going to knit through a book of Elizabeth Zimmerman patterns. Her first attempt was this funny looking object...which is exactly the pattern my mother used to knit this sweater for Sam. Mom, I apologize. Not only did you anticipate my child's insane growth, you also knit something vintage and hip that everyone, even the most popular of crafty bloggers, wants to make. I love you. (And thanks for giving me the pattern so I can make one myself!)