My design ideas have been coming up in pairs lately, where discoveries made in the first spawn revisions and additions in the next. And although I do enjoy the opportunity to go back at the math and construction in a second go-round, I admit that it hadn't been my initial plan. It's just what happened along the way and accounts for the lame naming of Brooklyn2 following the previously published Brooklyn – alas.
So when I saw it happening again in my current design duet I decided to get out in front of it by determining a family sourced name pair from the start.
This is a favorite family photo – my parents, Bern and Marlene on the left, with my aunt Kay and uncle Clem (aka Junior or Luke) at a night club somewhere. I enjoy this point-in-time glimpse into their lives, and imagining them then. It's 1951, Marlene was 20 and working full-time at a Boston insurance company. They married the following year.
I remember Dad would happily recount how she'd laugh out loud watching I Love Lucy on TV during those years and I like to think of that. Watching those early episodes gives great insight into the society of the times and the roles of men and women – a time when a clear hierarchy existed between the sexes. During those years most women gave up jobs and became homemakers after marriage, but Marlene wanted a career. So bucking the tide and amidst some gossip (I'm told), she continued working. By the time of her retirement years later she had become a beloved fixture and integral member of the staff of the Harvard Athletic Department.
I know she never felt that she had achieved the career status she wished for, but she was definitely ahead of her time. I hope she found pride in that, and for being a terrific role model for me – this yet another in the myriad of things I should have told her.
Lucy and Ethel – 2 button-less garter stitch cardigans with shrug and wrap-around variations – are currently underway. Updates to follow.
Update – Lucy published 2/22/2017 followed by Ethel on 3/1/2017.