Last week found me knitting furiously with my deadline fast approaching. I wanted to have Gabe’s sweater finished in time for quietly celebrating the day he joined our family, three years ago. I kept wishing for a bit more time. There was irony in that, because this three year mark in the early months and years was something I dreamed of sometimes, especially on the hard days. My friends with adopted children of their own assured me that things would get easier, but that it would take about three years for things to settle. I can say that we reached a certain level of comfort earlier even than that though, maybe about six months ago. I also realize that for many reasons Gabriel and I still have a long way to go, and that’s okay. He knows I love him, and I know he loves me. (His relationship with Jonny it seems was cemented before they even boarded the plane in Liberia.)
There were many stops and starts with this sweater early on. And even during the last couple of days, I found myself having to rip the cuff back on one of the sleeves and add another stripe in hopes that Gabe will be able to wear his sweater next year as well (I just had to edit because I accidently wrote “next week” that would be true as well at the rate this boy has grown these past years.) Every morning I would see Gabe picking up his sweater, checking my progress. I don’t think any thing I have ever knit has been met with such excited anticipation. Friday found me knitting the last few stitches, and weaving in ends for a good hour and a half or so. I plunged the sweater into a bathtub of water, soaked it a bit, and then carefully squeezed it between towels before laying it on the sweater rack inside our dryer. My plan was to run the dryer on low heat that night, and wake up to a nice dry sweater. Only the next morning, the sweater was still wet, and after another hour of attempted drying, I realized that our dryer was broken, not heating (it still is! oh, the laundry!) For the next day and a half Gabe’s sweater was stretched on that drying rack, in front of the woodstove. Poor Gabe, he was so anxious to wear it. Finally on Sunday he was able to wear it for the first time, all three boys wearing their sweaters I’d knit them to Mass. He hasn’t taken it off yet. And I know he likes it because not only did I hear him say that he is going to wear it every day from now on, but he actually let me take his picture wearing it.
p.s. Ravelry notes here. Yarn here. The song that got stuck in my head for weeks while I knit this here.
Just beautiful!
Beautiful sweater, lucky young man to have found such a loving family – Happy 3 years!!
Beautiful sweater, lucky young man to have found such a loving family!
It turned out gorgeous, Ginny! The colors are just wonderful!
I’ve been following your blog for a few months and I LOVE it!! Your warm heart is so evident and really touches mine. That sweater is gorgeous. I love your knack for picking colors. And that smile of Gabe’s, priceless. I think more that sweater strings were tied in the completion of this project. 🙂
Beautiful! He is so happy- you are an amazing mom, you know that, right???
No really…the truth is always that Grace is alive and well in my life!! Thanks Cary!
What a beautiful sweater! Your knitting skills are amazing to me. Your Gabe is such a handsome boy. 🙂
The sweater is gorgeous!!! Confgratulations on your family. Best wishes for Gabriel!
That’s a beautiful sweater, and Gabe looks very happy to be wearing it.
LOVE the sweater and the colours….he is so cute and clearly pleased/proud to be wearing his rockin’ handknit! Congrats for persevering and getting it done. It is seriously wonderful!
It’ such a pretty sweater. Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful. Simply beautiful. The sweater, the story, everything.
Beautiful Ginny. What a smile! Congrats on three years… Praying the next three are smooth sailing!
Thank you–we’re praying for the same!!!
Oh Ginny it is beautiful. You have a talent that I admire. It must bring such satisfaction to see an item that you have made on your children and to know how much they love wearing it.
This is a beautiful story with two beautiful outcomes: Gabriel and his sweater.
“There were many stops and starts…”
I don’t know if it was intentional for there to be a metaphor in your story with the three year comfort process linked with the sweater process, however, it is quite touching.
What blessings you have!
I hope to be an adopted Mother within the next ten years. My husband and I are slowly preparing for this.
Thank you for sharing your family stories with us. They are very inspiring.
No, it wasn’t intentional, but you are so right!!! Blessings to you as you pursue adoption!
It looks so great! I love the nice rustic colors you chose for the stripes. He looks really good in it and I loved reading the story behind it as well 🙂 Giving people gifts that they really appreciate is so worth it!
The sweater is just beautiful! I think Gabe’s smile says everything else you need to hear!
That is a beautiful sweater and he looks so handsome in it! You have a lovely family.
I think his big grin says it all.
The sweater looks terrific!
I’m so happy he let you take his picture!
My oldest son is the same way about getting handmade things. It’s so much fun to make him things because he really, really values the work I put into it. I love making girly things for my oldest daughter too, but she will often say “Just set it over there Mom. I’ll look at it later.” Sigh.
The pictures of your son make me smile. When I see his smile, I think back to his story that I read a few months ago. He has traveled such a long road for such a child. The things he’s seen, the things that he must ponder. When I see his smile in these pictures I’m so reminded that God has his hand on him. He has such an amazing plan for Gabe and I hope that Gabe knows that. I know God has his hand on all our children but sometimes I think it’s good to dwell on God’s blessings piece by piece.
Gretchen, you’re making me cry!! (Thank you!)
I love that sweater! The colours & the fit are perfect!
Beautiful sweater! Very handsome boy! Extremely talented mom! Thanks for sharing your life with me. Abundant blessings!
Oh, the sweater is just beautiful…and that boy even more so 🙂 Congratulations!
BEAUTIFUL sweater. You did a wonderful job. You’ve inspired me to cast on something for my oldest – 13. On the dryer front, if it’s your heating element, it’s SUPER easy to replace. Would never again pay the $75 show-up charge after watching the repair man unplug and plug in the part in 5 seconds. You or your hubby to EASILY figure it out.
I hope that’s all it is. The repairman is coming on Thursday (it’s under warranty still thank goodness.)
Awww…I’m so happy that he loves it so much. It looks wonderful on him. 🙂 I’m sure he appreciates your hard work more than he can express!
aw. That is one mighty fine sweater. And one mighty happy child!
Happy Family Day to Gabe! He has a beautiful smile and I really like his new sweater too! Great job Mom!
Great job, Ginny. He looks so happy and that tells me how much Gabe appreciates the time and effort you made on his sweater.
Ginny ~ that sweater is amazing!!! and not only did he let you take his picture ~ he was smiling bigger than I’ve ever seen. Love it!!
About the dryer – don’t call a repair man just yet – check your fuse box. Dryers typically have 2 ‘switches’ – one (which controls the heat) may be tripped, and the other (which makes it run) isn’t. Certainly worth checking…..
love, love, love it! both the sweater, and the story! marking it on ravelry for when my boy gets a bit bigger (right now he’s just four months)!
The sweater came out wonderfully. Thank you so much for sharing. And thank you to your son for allowing his picture to be taken…he looks wonderfully happy.
I love the sweater, and I must say Gabe has a gorgeous smile!:) Many Blessings to you all.
Ginny that sweater is gorgeous. Good job. The fact that you can even make sweaters with all of your lovely children to look after amazes me. Gabriel is such a handsome young man. I can see the signs of a teenage boy on him.
I really signed in here to say that I love that picture of your boys in a heap on the couch. Real stuff.
I know–he is looking soooo old. It’s crazy. Oh, and I barely got that first shot. By the second click of the camera, Keats was giving me a dirty look 🙂
Truly awesome sweater. Truly awesome young man (and his mama, too).
What a handsome, happy looking young man in a beautiful sweater. Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful sweater, and a beautiful story behind it. I love the symmetry of the 3 years too 🙂
The sweater is gorgeous! Congrats on three years with Gabe …
I love the color pattern! You did such a wonderful job choosing the colors!
And he looks so happy. His smile made my day.
Of all your knitting, this sweater is my favorite. Maybe it just sings a sentimental song to me, but it’s really perfect. It suits him so well. I love these pictures!
Mine too, quite easily mine too.
That turned out great, and he looks so handsome and proud in these photos.
Beautiful sweater! I love those stripes, and I have that book, you won’t mind me copying you, would you? Interesting about the 3 years – people told us the same about moving here from South Africa, that it takes about 3 years (our arrival was Dec 2008). And I am still surprised when the children remember things I thought they were to small to think about, like cloud shapes and trees… My hat is off to you, you are doing a wonderful job raising him.
The difference that Gabe has experienced since joining your family is so apparent in these pictures. To be able to knit him such a special sweater must make you feel just as transformed by his presence in your life. Not to mention that brillant smile of his.
Gabe looks so handsome in his sweater and I love his million dollar smile. You totally rocked it Ginny!
Congratulations – what a beautiful sweater. All the extra love you put into it certainly paid off. That smile is worth ten sweaters, at least! You really have a gift – and it’s a beautiful thing to share with your family. Love it.
You did a fabulous job on the sweater! I hope you get two years out of all of the knitting. On your dryer….check the breakers. I once had a dryer that would trip one breaker but still run without hot air. Also vacuum out all the linty stuff and see if the heat comes back. Otherwise, I am sorry you have a broken dryer!!
I checked—hoping!! But no…repair guy will be here Thursday (it’s still under warranty.) I am taking one carefully chose wet load to a friend’s house to dry today.
such a sweet boy! i always enjoy posts with gabe in them. the sweater is just lovely. congratulations on your family day (I can agree that about 3 years is right).
I’ve been following your blog for a little bit now, I believe you were 4 or 5 months pregnant with Silas when I began reading and I just had to comment on this post to say how handsome he looks in his hand knitted sweater! And the colors you choose flow so perfect together. Congrats too on making the 3 year mark!! He looks so happy and content!!
Beautiful jumper and the biggest compliment to be paid is for it not to be taken off I think. Gabe looks extremely happy with it and congratulations on meeting your 3 year anniversary, a special day.
What a happy looking young man! The jumper is just lovely, well done. x x x