This 1963 sweater has been cherished across three generations

Anne Idman-Mihailov from Mikkeli, Finland, has a treasure in her wardrobe that has been cherished across three generations. Her mother Ritva knitted a bright red yoke sweater in 1963 at the age of 16, designing the pattern herself.

“Ready-made clothing was scarce back then, but my mother occasionally got some yarn for knitting projects. She still remembers that the sweater’s yarns were in skeins when she bought them, as probably all yarn was at that time,” Anne says.

After Ritva, the sweater was passed down to her daughter. Anne says she wore it for years, especially when she did horseback riding.

The sweater is quite small, so I wore it until my teenage years. Now that I’m significantly taller than my mother, it no longer fits me as an adult.”

The 3-year-old sweater and its knitter on the steps of her home in North Karelia in 1966. The family always kept Karelian Bear Dogs.

The sweater has now been passed down through the generations to Anne’s daughter, Kaneli. Anne says that the sweater is still in fantastic condition, which has led her to think about its materials.

“I believe it’s worsted wool; the color is vibrant, and there’s no pilling whatsoever—it must have been made from very high-quality yarn,” Anne says.

“I think I’ve only washed it once. Regular airing has been sufficient for maintenance. It will undoubtedly last for my grandchild too.”

Kaneli poses in her grandmother’s handknit sweater in 2018, cuddling Pera, one of the family’s pugs. “He’s still with us, along with our other pug, Bella,” says Anne, Kaneli’s mother.

In Anne’s family, knitting skills have been passed down from mother to daughter. Ritva ran a weaving workshop and business in the 1970s, with her knitwear reaching customers as far as in the United States. Anne still has a rug woven by her mother in her bedroom.

“At that time, my mother made very fashionable long knit skirts, dresses, and slipovers with a knitting machine. We also had matching clothes. I remember a light pink knit dress adorned with bright red hearts, and my mother had a matching sweater. I was about four years old then,” Anne says.

“My mother only stopped actively doing crafts now, at 77, and somewhat reluctantly, due to osteoarthritis in her wrists and fingers. Until very recently, she was knitting socks in a church group for the homeless, among others.”

Her mother’s love for crafting has firmly taken root in Anne as well. She is a textile artisan by profession and has been doing crafts since she was little.

“Besides knitting and weaving rugs, I frequently spin yarn using traditional spinning wheels and spindles, dye yarns with natural plant materials, and make national and historical costumes,” Anne says.

“While Kaneli hasn’t—yet—fully embraced crafting, she is unbelievably good at drawing!”

A souvenir from a newly independent Estonia and a cherished wedding dress—garments that have stood the test of time

We asked our Meilläkotona.fi Facebook community about their longest-lasting garments. The responses revealed remarkable wardrobe treasures!

“My oldest piece is likely the sweater my mother knitted for her father in the ’60s. After Grandpa passed, it went to my dad. Later, my boyfriend wore it in the 1980s, and now it’s mine. The sweater has been darned and mended over the years.” Tiina

“My Nokia rubber boots date back to 1987 or 1988. They’ve proven to be an excellent investment!” Marjo

“I bought this cardigan in 1995 at a knit market in Tallinn’s Old Town. I was there for a month doing an internship in craft training. Estonia’s independence was still fresh, and many supplies were still scarce. Choosing a cardigan was difficult because there were so many almost identical ones! This one is incredibly warm and durable; after years of use, it’s only slightly pilled at the elbows, nowhere else.” Tuula

“My Rukka raincoat is from 1986. It’s my favorite color, matching my down jacket I wore at that time.” Anette

“While studying in Tampere in the early 1980s, we relied on student loans that required prompt repayment, teaching us to be resourceful with money. I think there were two Salvation Army thrift stores in Tampere at that time, on Kyttälänkatu near Stockmann and another on Satakunnankatu. Though thrift shopping wasn’t mainstream, I explored them out of curiosity and often found treasures. One such find was this pristine Marimekko tunic. Initially, I thought the color was bold, but after a color analysis in 1986, I realized it perfectly suited my spring palette. The tunic cost just five Finnish marks, and its pleated design ensures it never gets too small.” Helena

“I knitted this dress in the early 1990s and still wear it today. It even served as my wedding dress in 2006. The dress is made from 7 Veljestä yarn, and when I knitted it, I was just learning: I had only knitted three projects before it.” Melissa