A Hat Full of Memories

Some projects mean more than others. This one was truly special. My dear friend Jeff lost his mother some time ago. It took him a while to fully process her passing—grief has no timeline, after all. A few weeks back, he came across a box of her old knitting supplies. Tucked away inside were bundles of soft, well-loved wool, the same kind she had used to knit the most precious things—not just for Jeff, but for others too.

His mother had a heart of gold. She spent years knitting tiny garments for babies who were stillborn, giving grieving families something soft and handmade to wrap their little ones in. It was just the kind of person she was—kind, thoughtful, and full of love. She was always so lovely to me, and when she passed, I asked if I could take care of her plants. It felt like a way to keep a little piece of her spirit alive. Every now and then, when one blooms, I take a photo and send it to Jeff. A quiet reminder that her love still grows in unexpected places.

So when Jeff found her wool, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I asked if I could knit something special for him—a way to carry her warmth with him every day. As I worked, I couldn’t help but think of her hands working with this very yarn, creating gifts of love and comfort for others. I wanted to do the same.

Tonight, I’ll be giving him the hat. I hope I’ve done justice to the love woven into that wool. More than anything, I hope it brings him comfort, a little warmth on the cold days, and a reminder that love, like good wool, lasts forever.