This yarn is so old that it pre-dates my relationship with Bob, and since we've been married 34 years, that is old! And since the label is in Swedish, I know this yarn is from 1971 or 1972, since that's when I lived there. I had a friend there, Q, (yes, that's what she went by, I think her name was Karin but I'm not sure) who did knitting or crocheting and got me started on a couple things. I'm not sure if I bought this yarn or if it was given to me, I have a couple other partial balls in other colors. But it's cotton and colorfast, so now it's a dishcloth! Now it has me digging through my memory banks for glimpses of what I did back then. I was only 17 when I graduated from HS and my parents put me on a plane bound for Sweden, after having my own kids I'm amazed that--a: I was brave enough to go and b: they let me go! Maybe I was one of those unbearable teens that they were just happy to have away from home for awhile! Anyway, I ended up living with the Solberg family (Vilhelm, Elna, Carin and Brita) for 13 months and came back home much wiser! I remember being terribly homesick at first, and then terribly sad to leave my Swedish family over a year later. The experience was life-changing, to say the least. Things I learned:
I'm just one little bit of a great big world.
Always be prepared to take care of yourself, because sometimes that's all you have.
Don't ever say no to trying new things.
Love really can travel through telephone lines and a phone call can feel like a really big hug.
Swedish!
By the way, the directions for the Chinese Waves Dishcloth can be found at Maggies Rags website. It's free and easy!
2 comments:
I love this post Mom! I'm so glad you passed on din alskar om Sverige to me! Your new quilt pattern looks so nice! I love that you did the picture outside, too, it's a perfect setting for that quilt. Can't wait to see it in person! -Brita
Pam, I think I can say with certainty that you were not one of those kids that needed to be "sent away!" Even from my perspective as sister, and we all know how sisters can be to each other, you were very decent, even back then! No, I don't think anyone wanted to send you away. I've always admired that you did this exchange program, and I am certain that it made you a much smarter, braver, surer person.
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