Sunday, March 03, 2013

Storytelling Sunday: The jumper

At some point normal crafting service will be resumed but life has been filled with a holiday and then a whole lot of work catching up from the holiday. Hey ho! So instead I will share my story - and the layout I did that arose from last month's story too.  Sian encourages us to tell stories of things that are precious to us and link them here

So this month it is the story of the jumper. Alas I don't have a photograph of it from when it was first bought and worn. You would think that I would have made sure to take a photo of me going off to University for the first time. But I didn't. So you will just have to put up with a slightly less fresh faced person wearing the jumper (and who didn't check that her hair had moved from being funky and pixie cut to convict style thanks to changing clothes before taking the photo. Rats)

So it begins with the September 1983 edition of Look Now magazine. The 18 year old Lythan loved this mag and inside was an advert for the latest styles to hit Miss Selfridge. She saw the jumper. She loved the jumper. She must have the jumper.  The very next morning bright and early she jumped on her bike and cycled the two miles into Swansea town centre (downhill most of the way - it is Wales after all) and was there for when the store opened. "Please let the jumper be there" she pleaded, not having the common sense to ring the store and check before leaving home. It was. Readers, she bought it. And a pair of black cords to go with it. It was cropped and bat winged and comfy and fashionable and everything. And so just had to be what was worn to make an impression on the first day of University.

Did it? I have no idea. 1983 is a very long time ago now. But as this photo was taken at 12pm on 3rd March 2013 you can tell that I still have - and still wear the jumper. Its not quite as fashionable. But people still comment on it positively! And it connects me back to a girl who was at once shy and confident, eager to learn and have fun and to start life away from her parents and begin growing up. OK she thought she was grown up and learned the hard way that there was a lot more growing up to do. But that's another story...

I also still have a cropped black and white jumper that I bought in my second year that I have donated to Carys and it makes me smile whenever she wears it. I haven't given her this one yet, but if she likes it, maybe I will give it to her when she goes to Uni in 18 months time.

(NB for sake of honesty I admit that in a moment I will put a cardigan over the top because my tum and back are cold. I'm such an old lady now!)

And here is the layout I did for the last story. This was created using the latest Quirky Kit and it feels like all the papers were chosen just so I could tell my story!

for more details look on the Quirky Kits blog

15 comments:

Irene said...

That a great photograph and you don't look like a convict! I love the pixie style hairdo, very appropriate to match your smashing jumper. I had a similar one in the 80's; boy didn't we feel special... I love all the colours on your beautiful layout too.

Sabrina DS said...

I love your story a lot! I wish I could more of a keeper than you are.
Cheers from France

Sian said...

That's absolutely brilliant! In fact, I'm about to call my other half over for a look, because he remembers the very very similar black and white cropped sweater I made for myself round about the same time. I know that I copied it from a magazine picture: it could actually be the very same one! sadly, mine has disappeared now, but the memory remains..definitely precious!

Beautiful page, too. This month's kit was a stunner, wasn't it

Elizabeth said...

Great story about your jumper. I think here in the States it is the same as a sweater? To us, a jumper is a sleeveless dress under which a blouse is worn.

Anyway, I think we all have favorite clothing that is out of style, and may be a bit worn, but we wouldn't part with it for anything.

Thanks so much for sharing your story.

Missus Wookie said...

Oh how lovely to still have, wear and like the jumper! Glad you scrapped the story too.

Karen said...

A great design stands the test of time, and this one certainly does! You look fabulous in it.

SueH said...

Don’t think I’ve ever managed to keep a jumper that long Lythan, except an Aram that I knitted for dad back in the late 70’s . I still have it but it’s never worn so I guess that doesn’t count.

Love your story though and your new hair style, it was the first thing I noticed.
Sue
x

SueH said...

Oh I forgot to say, your LO looks amazing.
It’s seems so different for your usual LO’s, so I’m guessing that the kits are really challenging your creativeness……..with beautiful results I might add.
Sue
x

Sharon (glitterangel) said...

Well, I'd be delighted if any of the clothes I had at 18 would fit me now, but they most certainly wouldn't! I love your jumper, I had a similar one in black and white, and it makes me smile to see so many similar tops in the shops now.

Amy said...

How fantastic! I love that you can still wear it now!

Sheena said...

It's great that you still wear your jumper x
Many thanks for sharing.

Becky said...

Great that you still have the jumper and younstill wear it!

Jo said...

I think it's fantastic that you still have the jumper and wear it well!

Susanne said...

Oh you tell your story is a delightful and stylish way of its own. Thanks for sharing. Now I must go back and check for the last story.

Unknown said...

I love your sense of style! :-) I wish that I could say that I still fit into clothes from my late teens!