Today, we interviewed Kerry Bogert, founder of Maker Books, and asked about her favorite handmade heirloom:
Q. What is the heirloom you’d like to commemorate?
A. I treasure a sweet little hooded cape that my great-grandma crocheted for my first birthday.
Q. How did your heirloom, keepsake, or collectible come into your possession?
A. Although I don’t remember receiving it, I’ve seen plenty of photos of me wearing the cape.Years later, my mom gave the cape to me again when my daughter Lauren was turning one. She thought it would be fun to dress Lauren up in my cape and compare our first-birthday photos. At the time, I didn't think to ask who had made the cape. I assumed it was one of my dad's sisters who made it. He has ten of them, and I have received many handmade gifts from them over the years. I loved finding out that I was wrong! It’s the only thing I have that was made by my great-grandma.
Q. What do you know about its history?
A. My great-grandma was an avid maker, and I was very lucky to have her in my life when I was little. I have a lot of fond memories of visiting her at our family's farm. The farm stand always smelled of green grapes, and today that scent sends me right back to Grandma's kitchen. She passed when I was in third grade. I don't know much about the history of the cape itself. I haven't found a pattern for it, so I'm guessing she made it up herself. It was a bright, petal pink when it was first made; it's now a faded, bleached gray. It's lost a couple of pompoms, too, but it's still just as special.
Q. Why is your heirloom, keepsake, or collectible important to you?
A. My cape is a special tie to a shared love of making with my great-grandma. When I hold it, I know each stitch was made by hand, with intention, and with love. I put that same love and intention into the gifts I make for others. It's like I'm channeling her, in a way. I wish I had a chance to make something for her! Continuing the legacy of makers in our family is important to me. My daughter crochets now, too. So we have five generations of stitchers, and that sweet little cape is a symbol of our tradition.
Q. Do you have a fun story about your item?
A. Oh my stars, my mom totally shrunk and bleached my cape! She doesn't work with wool very often, so she thought she could throw it in the wash like an old quilt to freshen it up before Lauren wore it on her first birthday. So now it's the butt of many jokes. When I give my mom something made with wool, I tell her, "You can't wash this. Remember the cape."
Q. If you could look forward in time, what do you think will happen next with it?
A. I hope to have a granddaughter or grandson someday who will get to wear their great-great-great grandmother's handmade cape. Until then, it's safely tucked away in a cedar chest.
