Thank you to all those 'hip' folks for bringing back what has been described as ugly Holiday sweaters. There have been a variety of photo displays in various media showing these fine creations. It appears that the 14 and 15-year-old crowd has decided to wear them to school on "Ugly Sweater Day".
My memory bank is tuned into images of my mother, my aunts and my grandmothers. I can imagine them sitting around the kitchen table, or sewing room or in front of the wood burning stove. I expect that they would be talking and putting these sweaters together -- knitting, sewing, crocheting, darning -- all talking at once about their creations. They would talk about cooking and family recipes and Holiday meals. Family memories would be spun and strengthened like a strong Christmas stew. Younger women would be learning the craft of assembling these classic, long-lasting winter garments.
These festive and sometimes whimsical sweaters were many times a masterpiece of craftsmanship, handed out as special gifts to special people. They were "presents from the heart".
It concerns me greatly that this art form and lengthy assembly has been somewhat ridiculed by calling them 'Ugly". I see nothing ugly in them. I see love and age-old craftsmanship being on display.
Let's start a grassroots campaign to rename these as "Classic Sweaters" or "Vintage Holiday Attire". Let's not diminish the skills and love with which they were originally assembled and presented. It is nice to see them being worn and used. No matter what you call them. Let's keep them from disappearing from our wardrobes.