Solveig, now a whole two days old, is wearing the O’Neill “coming home” outfit. It’s a sweater and cap knit by my grandmother for my dad, her first child, 66 years ago. It’s been worn by every one of her decedents. My grandmother had five children, and she has three grandchildren, and now four great-grandchildren (she knit a blanket for Solveig!), so it’s been worn at least 12 times. I’m not sure if the first generation wore it for more than a photo shoot–but in the third generation, we’ve taken it off quickly after photography to preserve it. The outfit still looks like new.
Solveig is lying on an alpaca blanket crocheted by her mom, Sara, who’s a new crocheter. As she labored over the border and called me over the last few days to help her decipher the instructions, she said to me more than once–“I don’t think the baby will come until I finish this!” I love the shell edging, and tho’ you can’t see it very well in this photo, there’s also a ribbon woven through the border.