After 67 years, they were reunited!

The other day my husband Keith received a package from his brother Dale. Wrapped in pink tissue paper was one knitted wool sock and a pink crocheted baby sweater with matching hat.  Notes were pinned on both; the one on the sock read, “Sock knit by Bestemor (Norwegian for Grandmother) for Keith, yarn from our own sheep.” On the sweater the note read,” Erna (Keith’s Aunt) crocket this for Keith as we expected a girl (to be named) Dawn.”

Dale found the items in a box that their mom gave him, but he didn’t notice them because they were between items that were for him. So after 67 years, the one sock was reunited with the other that we have in our Family Museum. Keith could never understand why he had just the one sock, now he knows. Here is a picture of that one sock among his saved baby toys.

As for the sweater and hat, his mother truly felt she was having a girl. She wanted a girl since her first child was a girl followed by three sons. So gifts made for the new baby were pink.
 Here is a picture of Keith when he was a baby, unfortunately, there is no picture of him with the pink sweater and hat. Interestingly enough, the sweater must have been worn and washed often because the pink is faded, unlike the hat that he must not have worn because it is a brighter pink.

I will but the sweater set into a shadow box and reunite the socks. I am sure they are glad to be together again!

Note: In the Grandparents Museum are heirlooms from Keith’s parents and grandparents. On the shelves designated to his mother’s Norwegian side, there is a small glass jar with two balls of wool yarn. When Keith received these precious balls of yarn from his cousin, included was a little note that read: “Dad (Keith’s Uncle) always had a few sheep and in the spring when it was warm he would clip the heavy wool off the sheep, then they would send it by Parcel Post to Cambridge, Minnesota where they had woolen mills. They would wash it and make it into yarn or wool batting for quilts. Mother (Bestemor) would knit socks, mittens, stocking caps and sometimes sweaters.”   

I did some research on the woolen mill in Cambridge, MN.  Opened in 1927, the mill took in wool from many farms throughout the counties. Not having the exact dates when Keith’s grandmother knitted the sock, it must have been before he was born in 1950. Keith remembers Bestemor but not wearing the socks. The mill closed and was demolished in 1970. The pictures and information was provided by the Isanti County Historical Society.

Interesting how one little sock could have so much family history!