A Family Thread
I recently visited my daughter, and it reminded me just how special these one-on-one visits have become now that all three of my kids live in different cities (I’m still adjusting to this empty nest stage, if I’m honest). Each visit gives me the chance to experience them in their own worlds, and this time it was Audrey’s turn.
While we were together, Audrey pointed out that one thing that makes her very happy is how many things we enjoy in common. I agree! We can spend hours walking through neighbourhoods, riding the bus so we can see what’s going on around us, or exploring little corners of a city that surprise us. Just as easily, we’ll settle into a café for a coffee, stretch out a meal, or poke through shops. And somehow, whatever we’re doing, we manage to turn it into our own brand of fun (our family has always prized what we call our “idiot time”). Audrey and I laughed a lot on this trip; it always feels effortless being in step with each other, even when life has us in different locations.
It may come as no surprise that I’ve shared my love of knitting with Audrey. On this trip, as I sat knitting a pair of socks* on the train beside her (I always travel with a compact project), I realized how naturally knitting fits in with all the other things we both enjoy doing. Just as my mum once passed knitting down to me, I’ve been able to pass it on to her. I’m a fairly traditional, pattern-following knitter, while Audrey approaches her projects with a freer, more creative spirit, but that blend feels like us; connected, yet each doing things in our own way.
A couple of years ago, and to my sweet surprise, Audrey started an Instagram account to showcase her knitting. She named it Kath’s Daughter. I was very touched to be the inspiration behind her label, and to see that this old-school obsession of my resonated with her. I know knitting has been on the rise for ages, but her interested in it was especially validating. Here’s a little excerpt she wrote about her own knitting journey, along with some samples of her things:
“My mum has always been a knitter. Since I was little, she dressed me in tiny handmade hats, sweaters, and ponchos. Naturally, when I got older, I wanted to join in on the fun, and I fell in love with it.
I’m a bit of a fidgety person, so knitting has become my go-to obsession when I’m watching a show or chatting with friends. I’ll admit, I can really only manage rectangles, so most of my creations are scarves and the occasional makeshift pair of mittens. But I love the process as much as the outcome.
The best part is sharing this hobby with my mum. It feels like a thread that ties us together.
When it came time to choose a name for my knitting Instagram account, I knew I wanted to honor her, so Kath’s Daughter was born.”
Seeing Audrey put it in her own words made me smile. It’s funny how something as simple as knitting can become another thread that runs through our family story. What I love most is that she’s made it her own, with her creativity and her style, while still keeping the connection to where it began.
I suppose I can only hope that one day this tradition will carry on to another generation. In the meantime, I’ll keep creating, holding onto the thought that maybe one day my boys might let me teach them the craft! Every family story needs a twist.
*Sock pattern is Perfect Fit Socks using Fine Print yarn, both available from Purl Soho.