Bittersweet Knitting

If you regularly read my blog or know me, you might be aware of the fact that I love knitting for myself, or for others.

The last three days I've spent most of my spare time knitting one small item. It's something I've never knitted before and I hope I never will again. It's a burial gown for a baby. A baby that died inside the womb of my friend's neighbour at only 24 weeks. My friend has been distraught because she was very close to her neighbour before and during the pregnancy.

Not surprisingly, I have not enjoyed knitting this tiny little dress. Usually I knit with a sense of joy and anticipation of the finished item and of the happiness my work may bring the recipient. But as I knitted this gown, I really felt very morbid and sad that this tiny baby never really had a chance in life and that her death has caused a great deal of sadness and pain to many people.

My friend asked me to make it...she really wanted me to make it, so I did it for her, to help her grieving process since I hardly know the woman who's baby it is. 

The tiny gown is finished and ready for the baby to wear for its burial.

I feel guilty because I am glad it's over with; that I can concentrate on more positive things now...my guilt heightened knowing that the parents will carry this sorrow for the rest of their lives.

I knitted the gown using 4ply wool blend (nice and soft when washed) and 3.5mm needles.

I vaguely followed this pattern form the BBC website, making it about 1/5th larger:

Gown for Baby Born Asleep