The Original "Knittin For Britain"

was my grannie, Evelyn Fontaine. Here she is at 82 years old, with her crocheting on her lap. As she got older, she found knitting more difficult, and did more and more crochet work. Each of her granddaughters got a set of white crocheted place mats as a wedding shower present. Each of the grandbabies and great grandbabies got a layette set including a beautiful shawl. I still have the coming home shawl and baby sweaters for each of my boys. Grannie knit untold number of sweaters and cardigans for my boys. My, we were lucky.

My screen name in many forums, as well as the name of this blog, is Knittin4Britain. Grannie, in a round about way, gave that name to me. Here's how. When I was a little girl - about 5 and a half - we were at my Grannie's house for Sunday dinner. I had just started kindergarten. She was knitting a pair of grey work socks, and I asked who she was knitting them for. She smiled and replied, "Ducky, I'm knitting for Britain." I thought, "Okay, whoever Britain is." (I loved when she called me "ducky".)

The next Sunday, she was knitting a red item - I hoped it was the red cardigan I wanted for kindergarten, because Kathy Churchill had one, and I wanted one. So, I asked. She replied, "I'm knitting for Britain." I can tell you I was not pleased. I started to really dislike this Britain person.  Fast forward a week or two - before Christmas that year - and she was knitting the Figure Skater Jacket from Mary Maxim. Yes, that Figure Skater Cardigan that I wanted for Christmas. Actually in my 5.5 year old brain, I needed it. So, almost afraid to ask, I asked her who she was knitting it for. And, yes, you guessed it, she was knittin' for Britain.

That was not the answer I wanted. So, a hissy fit of the supreme order ensued. Down on the floor I went, screaming, "I hate that Britain girl. I hate her!" Then I noticed my aunts, uncles, parents and grandparents were laughing at me. That made it even worse. I worshipped my grandparents. And they were laughing at me and my tantrum. Grannie called me over, and explained to me that Britain was a country like where we lived, and "knittin for Britain" was a saying and there was no little girl named Britain.

And, yes,  for Christmas, the Figure Skater cardigan was mine - all mine!