Back in March, when we first went into lockdown here in BC, I ordered up some beautiful yarn from La Bien Aimée and cast on a Love Note sweater that would be a Christmas present for my mum. It felt good to start something simple (once you get through the lace, it’s smooth sailing). It felt good to keep my hands busy during an uncertain and scary time. And it felt extra good to work on a special gift – something meaningful when I couldn’t be with the people I love.
Last week, Mum and I went to the tree farm (my favourite yearly photography spot), and I gave her my gift a little early.
I knit often for my mum because she is the perfect knitwear recipient. She regularly wears her knits, takes good care of them, and proudly tells people her daughter MADE them. She organizes a lot of outfits around her knit sweaters and accessories. I couldn’t ask for more!
Mum’s favourite colour has always been red, and I ADORE this deep berry shade from the incomparable La Bien Aimée; it’s called Eric Northman. I used a sport together with the mohair, so the fabric is a smidge denser than the original Love Note – but I love the fabric and drape this way, too.
Mum was super pleased with her new sweater. It’s so light and soft, but also warm…the perfect sweater for her. It brought me a lot of joy to make it whilst thinking of her, and I can tell it brings her a lot of joy to wear it. Handmade gifts are the BEST!
I started mum’s Love Note so early in the year – this might be the earliest I’ve ever completed a Christmas present! But it was just what I needed at the moment: a special project for a special person.
Leave a comment and tell me about the most (or even the least) knit-worthy person in your life! What are you making for them this year?
~Alexa
February 4, 2021 @ 2:45 am
Great holiday sweaters, i found great knitting stuff thanks
December 23, 2020 @ 9:58 am
I’m anxiously awaiting our 5th grandchild, a girl, and have been knitting hat after hat!
December 21, 2020 @ 2:32 pm
It’s absolutely beautiful and she looks spectacular in it. Today I am wearing my Sarah sweater of nearly the exact same color. I had it died from a retired color and Madeline Tosh high twist yarn. They special order dyed it for me. It’s a bit heavier yarn but super warm and a luscious color. It reminds me of looking into a cranberry bog when they flood it and all the cranberries rise to the top.
December 21, 2020 @ 6:21 am
Such a beautiful sweater and you can tell it brings your mom Joy!
December 20, 2020 @ 7:19 am
My husband is the least knitworthy person. Still I express love in stitches so I knit him a cowl to wear when he motorcycles. I also knit socks for his cat. Since he never wears anything I knit, the cat can never wear things with him. It’s quite freeing. I don’t have to worry if the nice wool yarn I like is a little itchy.
December 21, 2020 @ 5:01 am
Cat socks so the cat can ‘never wear things’ with him… hilarious! ~Em
December 18, 2020 @ 8:57 pm
I knit 3 Love Notes for *me* this year! Does this mean I’m knit-worthy? Currently knitting a sweater for DH; it’s Dreyma by Jennifer Steingass. You have definitely made me fall in love with yoked sweaters.
I’ve been designing/knitting brioche cowls, and I’ve been giving away some of my samples to friends who are definitely knit-worthy, at least for small accessories! DH is the only person who gets sweaters.
July 11, 2021 @ 7:19 am
I have started my love note and I am stuck in row 5. I moved the bor marker one and did the first 12 articles but at the end to do the sl1 k2tog psso, I have to slip the last stitch on the first chart and two stitches from the second chart so if I knit 4 then the lady is on top of the center of the “flower” so the yo are out of place. I have started this row 3 times already and I cannot see what I am doing wrong
Help me please !
July 11, 2021 @ 11:54 pm
Hello – If you have markers at the end of each 12-stitch repeat, you will need to remove and replace each of them. To begin the round, remove the BOR marker, k1, then replace the BOR marker. Then work as follows: k4, yo, k1, yo, k4, … if you have a marker after 1 more stitch, then you’ll slip that stitch, remove the marker, work k2tog-psso (the remainder of the steps for that double decrease) then replace the marker, then proceed … always removing then replacing the marker at each end-of-repeat point.
December 18, 2020 @ 2:11 pm
Ok, you’ve convinced me—sport weight/denser fabric works for me—making a Love Note in 2021;)
December 21, 2020 @ 5:01 am
Enjoy!
December 18, 2020 @ 12:34 pm
You get the Eric Northman colourway, right? True Blood’s gorgeous Viking Vampire? Love it. Perfect shade!
December 21, 2020 @ 5:01 am
Yeah, it’s SO pretty!
December 18, 2020 @ 12:10 pm
Absolutely beautiful! I can tell that your mum adores this gift (and her daughter)!
The lace looks easy enough even for this relative novice and opens the design out a little.
I LOVE the colour that you have chosen!
December 21, 2020 @ 5:02 am
It’s pretty easy, and we have an in-depth tutorial here: https://blog.tincanknits.com/2020/06/18/how-to-knit-a-love-note-sweater/
December 18, 2020 @ 11:52 am
That’s lovely! A perfect holiday sweater
December 18, 2020 @ 12:58 am
What a beautiful gift for a beautiful mum. Our mum died in January (she was 93 and tired of life) so treasure yours while you can! She was a lovely knitter but I did knit her a few things when her hands got too arthritic. She got frustrated with herself because she could see her knitting deteriorate…
December 17, 2020 @ 11:36 pm
I recently made 2 gorgeous Northward hats for my dear little grandchildren, a big deal for me, thank you so much for the pattern and patient tutorial. A couple of days ago my d in law sent me a pic of Fox aged 18 months wearing his in a play park – made me feel warm inside.
Love the sweater you made for your Mom and love your new website!
Alison xx
December 17, 2020 @ 8:55 pm
My most knit worthy person is my daughter, Emily. She lives in northern California and actually had a suitcase filled with all the items I have knit her next to the door in case of evacuation during the fires this summer. That made me cry when she showed it to me during a zoom call. I knit her a lacy tank in a lovely green cotton for Christmas this year.
December 17, 2020 @ 3:14 pm
I’ve been knitting during this pandemic too. I made 3 men’s hats, 2 cable headbands, a pr. Of mittens for my granddaughter, and two hats for my two granddaughters. Also, a couple of dish cloths.
December 17, 2020 @ 3:05 pm
That’s a beautiful sweater and your Mom looks great. I have 2 little great nieces ( 2 1/2 and 7 Months) and I have been knitting for them. Just last Friday I got a pic of the two of them in their knitwear going to daycare. Next up for the older one is a Love Note sweater. I have a few other people I knit for but that is it. I think I knit to knit and once as the pandemic is over I have a ton of stuff to donate. I know where I want it to go but they aren’t taking donations now.
December 17, 2020 @ 1:04 pm
Very pretty sweater for a lovely mom.
December 17, 2020 @ 10:17 am
Hi Alexa; My most knitworthy person is my sweet husband of 36 years. Because he sees firsthand how much time and love goes into everything I knit, he has a profound appreciation for all of his knitted gifts. We went to the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool festival one year (we live in Upstate New York) and he saw a vest hanging in the Briar Rose Fibers booth. I bought the pattern and yarn and made it for him. He was blown away. We met Clara Parkes there at a book signing and she sweetly thanked him for sharing my craft (she’s a doll). I’ve also made him various hats, scarves, mittens and another vest which he wears with pride. I’m happy your Mum loves her Love Note, it looks beautiful on her. I love mine too!
Happy holidays to you and your family.
December 17, 2020 @ 10:03 am
A beautiful knit and lovely to have a mum who’s a perfect model and recipient.
December 17, 2020 @ 9:51 am
ME! I am knitworthy! (And will FINALLY cast on for my own Love Note at the end of the month.)
December 17, 2020 @ 9:48 am
My grandson, Oscar was born June 29th, 2020. I have only seen him in person once, but we have video play dates. I have knit him an extensive wardrobe and some adorable toys. The most timely was a teddy bear wearing scrubs and a face mask. He is growing fast so I am now working on a new wardrobe in Size 6-12 months.
Your mom looks so young and happy to have such a talented daughter.
December 17, 2020 @ 9:05 am
Leaving a comment because you asked, even though my answer is disappointing. I haven’t touched my knitting stuff since the beginning of the year. 😳
December 17, 2020 @ 1:08 pm
Aww what?! Sometime knitting needs to hibernate a bit…but it always comes back
December 17, 2020 @ 4:11 pm
I knooooow! I have too many hobbies..have you seen this year’s gingerbread house tho?!
Btw, that sweater fits your mom perfectly. It’s beautiful!
December 17, 2020 @ 5:24 pm
You are truly a gingerbread artist!
December 17, 2020 @ 8:43 am
My Dad gets Christmas socks this year
December 17, 2020 @ 8:26 am
My sister is the most knitworthy person in my life. She also knits, so she appreciates the work that goes into them and she wears what I make her till it falls apart, which, as all knitters know, is the biggest compliment. I’ve knitted her lots of socks and it’s a pleasure to do so, because I know she loves them.
Your mum looks lovely in her jumper!
December 17, 2020 @ 7:00 am
I love the love note sweater for your Mum..and live the color choice..I am using the recipe pattern which I call it from strange brew and knitting my Mom up a cardigan for Christmas too. I chose the bottom up cardigan and I love how it is turning out .Thanks so much for this ..it helps me to design the cardigans the way I want and choose the motifs I like alot..
December 17, 2020 @ 6:58 am
I handed my son a handknitted scarf and he described wearing a handknitted item was like wearing a hug.
December 17, 2020 @ 6:46 am
I made both a Fancy Ball ornament and my first pair of mittens (Tin Can Knits) for a friend on San Juan Islands, Washington. They are en route from Pennsylvania. She and I met in our work travels 14 years ago and she is 30 years older than me. We lean on each other with another friend via frantic texts and supportive calls throughout the past year more than ever. She is a great appreciator and artist and novice knitter herself, and will be tickled to get these gifts. And if she doesn’t use them because she’s a bit minimalist, will re-gift or donate for someone else’s enjoyment.
December 17, 2020 @ 6:38 am
I love that lovely Sweater, you have a lucky mum.
I used to knit socks with my mother – she would knit rounds, send them to me – I would knit the heels and instep decreases and send them back to her. I had been going to knit some socks for my dad, but not knowing this, he recently asked me to mend the shabby, holey ones my mother (and I) made him just before she died ten years ago. So…I am not sure who will get the size 13 socks this year.
I just made a pair of Your Rye socks for my sister-in-law out of yarn she stashed in 1985 and recently unearthed.
Hooray for Christmas stockings! Thanks for all your knitting fun!