My Dearest Knitted Cardigan,

As time marches forward and we continue to grow older, I find it necessary to express my earnest feelings for you. From the moment I saw you, I knew we would be lifelong companions. Your complimentary shades of blue and brown fill me with tranquility and keep me grounded. When I need comfort and warmth, whether physically or emotionally, you are always there. I’ll never cease showing my gratitude and adoration for you. I hope, after reading this letter, you will understand the depth of the love I hold for you, and you will continue to live on with the knowledge and reassurance that my love for you will never waver.

When I reflect on our life together, I’m reminded of where we started. Although you first belonged to my mother, it isn’t a coincidence that she purchased you while she was pregnant with me. It seemed, even before my birth, our fates were intertwined. Looking back, I often wonder if, when you caught her eye from your position on the rack, she debated on if your chunky, knitted wool blend was practical in our southern climate, or what prompted her to decide that she would not leave that store without you. I wonder if she felt your warmth and comfort as she wore you, even while consoling me, a newborn unable to express my wants and needs. It’s amazing to think that, even as a baby, you could be there for me through my mother’s embrace. 

As a child, I remember admiring your various shades of neutral colors and your thick needlework, whether you were aiding my mother in her daily tasks of raising children, or while you were resting on the back of dining room chairs throughout the years. I would wrap myself in your knitted solace whenever the opportunity appeared. It never mattered that you swallowed me whole. Even back then, I knew I would grow up, making us a perfect fit. To others, you may have seemed like any other cardigan, but to me you have always meant so much more. 

As I grew older and began my journey as a young woman, you followed me from home to college. How would I have ever made it through college without you by my side? Moving away from my family into an apartment in the city, I knew I could persevere as long as I had you with me. From the early morning classes to the late night study sessions, you have always been faithful. Through the harsh winters, you were always there to shield me from the cold; when the summer came, you were there to give me rest at home after exhausting days of double shifts. Early mornings, we would sit together, enjoying coffee and watching the birds sing while sitting on my balcony; late nights, I would curl up in your close-knit embrace to enjoy a movie. You helped me survive sickness and heartbreak, granting me reassurance that things would get better while wrapped in your cable-knit love.

It’s crazy to think that you looked after my mother during her pregnancy, only to turn around 22 years later and accompany me on my journey of becoming a new mother. Bringing you to the hospital when my water broke was a given. I knew that once my beautiful baby was born, I would need you there to help me in my new chapter of life. Like the steadfast ally you’ve always been, you helped me through those late nights and early mornings again. Now, as I watch my baby grow up, I watch her sneaking you off the back of chairs just like I did at her age. Your love and warmth continue to be felt by everyone around you.

We are 30 years old now, and through those years you have changed so much, however my love for you has not. When you lost buttons or became subjected to pulls or snags, I never hesitated to doctor your injuries, restoring you to your splendor–A loving action never done out of obligation, but a kindness that would never repay all you’ve done. Anytime I look at you, I long to immerse myself in your woolen refuge, cherishing every memory I share with you like a blessing. I look forward to spending my mornings with you and a morning cup of coffee, watching the birds like we used to, from now until the end of time. You will always have a special place in my heart, and nothing will ever change that fact. 

All my love for you,