Karla grinned. “Ja, Mutter, I know the rule.” From the time they had been little children, they had waited in the kitchen until their father called them upstairs. He would open the parlor doors with a flourish, and they would gasp at the beauty of the lighted pyramid and the gifts that surrounded the pyramid table. Sometimes the presents would be covered with a sheet, and other times they would be wrapped in pieces of fabric their Mutter would later stitch into curtains or a shirtwaist.

  While Karla brewed the tea and arranged cookies on the large platter, Frank watched from across the room. He picked up one of the cookies, took a bite, and gave a nod of approval. “I was wondering if you would like to receive your Christmas gift from me when we go upstairs or if you might like to open it down here while we’re alone.”

  Karla pointed to the other room, where Antje and Paul were sitting on the couch in the lobby. “We’re not exactly alone.”

  “I don’t think we need to worry about Antje or Paul interrupting us.” He rubbed his hands together with childlike anticipation.

  “I’m guessing you want to give me your gift now, but the present I have for you is upstairs, and I cannot go up and get it. Mutter has already given me instructions that I’m not to come up there until Vater calls for us.”

  Frank crossed the room and removed a large package he had hidden in one of the cabinets where the family stored extra dishes and serving pieces. “I can wait for my gift until we go upstairs, but I want you to have this now.” The package was wrapped in a large piece of dark fabric with tiny white dots arranged in triangles. “My Mutter chose the fabric and thought you could make it into a new waist.”

  “It is lovely. Danke.”

  “The fabric is a gift from my Mutter and Vater.”

  Karla gasped. “Why would they give me a present?” She had sent a plate of marzipan with Frank when he went to visit his parents, but she had not expected them to send her a gift, especially something so costly.

  “They had to use some of their credit at the store for this fabric.” She ran her hand over the soft material, touched by their sacrifice. “But before you open that large package, I have another gift for you.”

  He handed her a small paper sack that had been carefully creased to keep the contents hidden. She unfolded the edges of the sack and slipped her hand inside. “Oh, Frank! I cannot believe this.” She held a pair of mittens in her hand and stepped closer to the lamp. A red rose had been knitted into the center of each black mitten. “You made these? From the Homestead Rose pattern?”

  His eyes shone with delight. “Ja, but don’t look too close for mistakes. I had to have Brother Hueber help me with a few of the stitches in your Homestead Rose.”

  She slid the mittens onto her hands and held them up for him to see. “They fit just like they were made for me. But when did you have time to knit these mittens? They aren’t what you were working on while I was quilting in the evenings.”

  “It isn’t so busy in the apothecary with two of us to fill prescriptions. And Brother Hueber took great delight in watching me knit. He said that I could begin a pair of mittens for him once I had finished yours.” Frank shook his head. “I told him I didn’t think I wanted to make any more right away. That’s when he demonstrated his own knitting abilities. He must have paid attention in strickschule better than I.”

  He motioned to the paper bag. “There is a note in there, too. I should have put it inside one of the mittens so you didn’t miss it.”

  She reached inside the sack, withdrew the piece of paper, and read the carefully scripted note.

  My dearest Karla,

  I knitted these mittens to warm your hands, but I hope it is my love that will warm your heart.

  Merry Christmas,

  with all my love,

  Frank

  Her breath caught as she read the words. “Danke, Frank. You could not have given me a gift that would have been any more special to me.”

  He extended his hand toward the fabric-wrapped gift. “I hope you will find this one a little more special than the mittens.”

  She truly didn’t know how he could give her anything more special than the mittens, but when he extended the package toward her, she again traced her hand across the soft cotton fabric. She guessed that Frank’s mother had tied the piece of red ribbon around the package. She had even tied a small sprig of pine into the bow. The extra gesture pleased Karla almost as much as the lovely piece of fabric that had been woven in the Amana cotton mill.

  She carefully untied the ribbon and lifted away the fabric. Her fingers trembled as she examined what lay underneath the dark fabric. Beneath the bodice of her dress, her heart pounded an erratic beat. “Is this?” She couldn’t bring herself to finish the question. It appeared to be a wedding quilt, but why would Frank give it to her?

  “It is one of the wedding quilts my Mutter made for me years ago.” He stepped closer and lifted her chin. “I want to marry you, Karla. Giving you the wedding quilt was my way of asking if you would consider having me as your husband.”

  Her chest constricted until she could barely breathe. “You want me to marry you?”

  “Ja. I didn’t think it would come as a great surprise. If so, I have been a miserable failure as a suitor.” He gave her a heart-tilting smile.

  Was this really happening?

  “I didn’t permit myself to dream I could be enough for you. I feared there were pretty girls who would be much better suited for someone such as you.” Frank started to protest, but she touched her finger to his lips.

  “It has taken me a while to learn that I am God’s creation—exactly as He intended. I thought I didn’t trust you, but I now know I hadn’t fully placed my trust in God.”

  After inhaling a deep breath, he said, “So? I have already spoken to your Vater and asked permission to marry you. All that remains is for you to agree, and I will go before the elders and ask their permission.”

  In the other room, she could hear her sister’s laughter. The aroma of the freshly brewed tea filled the kitchen, and the floorboards creaked overhead as her father moved about. She leaned against the worktable to gain her balance. Everything seemed completely normal—but it wasn’t. Frank had already declared his love for her and now proposed marriage.

  He grasped her hand. “We will trust each other, and together we will place our trust in God to help us build a strong marriage.”

  Karla inhaled a ragged breath and looked into his eyes. “How could I refuse such a proposal?”

  A wide grin spread across Frank’s face, and the spark returned to his eyes. “So you’re saying ja?”

  She squeezed his hand. “I’m saying ja.”

  With his hands on her waist, he lifted her until her feet no longer touched the wooden floor. “You have made my Christmas complete.” Slowly he lowered her and captured her lips in a lingering kiss. “I’m the happiest man in all the Colonies.”

  “Karla! Antje! All of you! Bring the tea and come upstairs.”

  At the sound of her father’s voice, Karla jumped. “I haven’t gathered everything. They’re going to wonder what I’ve been doing all this time.”

  Frank laughed. “I’m guessing they’ll know.”

  Discussion Questions

  1. Karla allowed herself to be defined by a fleeting remark made to her years ago. Have you personally struggled with overcoming a negative comment that was once made to or about you?

  2. Do you struggle to see yourself as God’s special creation with specific gifts He has given you to glorify Him? Is it because you haven’t yet identified those gifts? Will you ask God to show you those gifts and then use them for Him? If you aren’t using your gifts for Him, what is stopping you?

  3. The comment that created Karla’s insecurity was about her outward appearance. In today’s world, appearance has become very important. What messages does the “world” send us about our appearance? How does this affect us? How do you overcome those feelings and push forward or counteract those messages to help a young person?

  4. This story is set in the Amana Colonies where the people lived a communal lifestyle. Though many lived in separate housing with their families, everything was owned by the Society. In Amana, the residents were permitted to leave if they didn’t want to remain a member of the community. What do you think the advantages of living in a communal society were? What were the disadvantages? Would you be happy or unhappy in such a community? Why?

  5. Karla compares herself to her sister and some of the other young women in the community and finds herself lacking. What is the danger in comparing yourself to others? What circumstances cause these feelings, and how can you overcome them?

  6. Karla feels Frank has betrayed her when he doesn’t do as she asks when her mother becomes ill. Have you ever felt betrayed by a friend, coworker, or family member? How difficult was it to begin trusting after that incident? What tools did you use to once again open yourself to trusting others?

  7. Karla overhears a bit of conversation between Frank and Gerta when she sees them at the pond. Karla makes some incorrect assumptions. Have you ever overheard a snippet of conversation and misconstrued what was said? If so, how did that incident affect you? How did it affect the other person or persons involved?

  8. Did the Amana lifestyle make you long for a simpler life? What things could you do in your own life that would fulfill those longings?

  9. You are the casting director for the film version of Seams Like Love. Who would you cast to play Karla? Frank? Gerta?

  10. If you were in charge of writing epitaphs for these characters, what would you say about them?

  Homestead Rose Mittens

  In cleaning out the old Homestead General Store, built in 1863, a pair of moth-eaten black-and-red woolen mittens bearing an exquisite rose pattern was found in a discarded box. A summer was spent transcribing the pattern onto paper, line by line, by Karen Jenkins who lives in the Amana Colonies. The following is a slightly edited version of that original pair, which is currently on display at the Amana Heritage Museum Bookstore, Amana, Iowa.

  LEVEL: Intermediate

  MATERIALS: (2 sets) 4 double-pointed needles (sm/med adult mittens: cuff 2.25 mm/mitten 2.75 mm; med/lg: cuff 2.75 mm/mitten 3.25 mm). Sport weight wool yarn, 75–100 grams.

  GAUGE: 8 sts = 1”

  Abbreviations: k2tog—knit 2 together; psso—pass slipped stitch over; rnd(s)—round(s); sl—slip; st(s)—stich(s)

  Right Mitten

  Cuff:

  Using smaller needles, cast on 51 stitches. Divide among three needles. Pattern for cuff is K2, P1. 3 rnds color B, 3 rnds color A, 2 rnds color B, 2 rnds color A, 1 round each (B, A, B, A, B), 2 rnds color A, 2 rnds color B, 3 rnds color A, 3 rnds color B.

  Body of Mitten:

  Switch to larger needles while knitting Rnd 1.

  Rnd 1: Knit entire round in color A.

  Rnd 2: Knit 1A, 1B, 10A, 1B, 11A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, cast on 1A, 1A, 1B, 2A, 1B, (3A, 1B) 3X, 2A, 1B—(52 sts).

  Rnd 3: Knit 1A, 1B, 4A, 4B, 2A, 1B, 4A, 3B, 3A, (1B, 1A) 3X, 1B, 3A, 1B, 1A, (3B, 1A) 4 times, 1B.

  Rnd 4: Knit 1A, 2B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 4B, 2A, 1B, 2A, 3B, 5A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, cast on 1A, 1A, cast on 1A, 1A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 3A) 3 times, 1B, 2A, 1B—(54 sts).

  Rnd 5: Knit 1A, 2B, 5A, 4B, 1A, 1B, 1A, 4B, 5A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 5A, 2B, (3A, 1B) 3 times, 3A, 2B.

  Rnd 6: Knit 1A, 2B, 9A, 2B, 1A, 3B, 4A, 3B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 5A, 3B, (1A, 3B) 4 times.

  Rnd 7: Knit 1A, 2B, 1A, 1B, 5A, 1B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 3B, 3A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, cast on 1A, 3A, cast on 1A, 1A, 2B, 3A, (1B, 3A) 3 times, 2B—(56 sts).

  Rnd 8: Knit 1A, 2B, 1A, 1B, 3A, 2B, 5A, 1B, 4A, 4B, 3A, 1B, 1A, 1B, (3A, 1B) 2 times, 2A, 1B, (3A, 1B) 3 times, 2A, 1B.

  Rnd 9: Knit 1A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 4B, 5A, 4B, 3A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, cast on 1A, 1A, 3B, 1A, cast on 1A, 1A, 1B, 1A, (3B, 1A) 4 times, 1B—(58 sts).

  Rnd10: Knit 1A, 1B, 1A, 2B, 1A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 1A, 5B, 1A, 1B, 1A, 3B, 4A, 1B, 1A, (1B, 4A) 2 times, 1B, 2A, 1B, (3A, 1B) 3 times, 2A, 1B.

  Rnd 11: Knit 1A, 4B, (1A, 1B) 2 times, 4A, 6B, 1A, 3B, 4A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, cast on 1A, 1A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 1A, cast on 1A, 1A, 2B, 3A, (1B, 3A) 3 times, 2B—(60 sts).

  Rnd 12: Knit 1A, 1B, 3A, 2B, 1A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 6A, 1B, 1A, 2B, 5A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 2A, 3B, 1A, 3B, 2A, 3B, (1A, 3B) 4 times.

  Rnd 13: Knit 1A, 1B, 4A, (1B, 1A) 3 times, 1B, 6A, 1B, 7A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, cast on 1A, 2A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 2A, cast on 1A, 1A, 2B, 3A, (1B, 3A) 3 times, 2B—(62sts).

  Rnd 14: Knit 1A, 1B, 5A, 2B, 2A, 1B, 7A, 1B, 6A, 2B, 1A, 1B, 2A, 1B, (3A, 1B) 2 times, (2A, 1B) 2 times, (3A, 1B) 3 times, 2A,1B.

  Rnd 15: Knit 1A, 1B, 2A, 5B, 2A, 1B, 7A, 1B, 6A, 2B, 1A, 1B, 1A, cast on 1A, 3B, (1A, 3B) 2 times, 1A, cast on 1A, 1B, 1A, (3B,1A) 4 times, 1B—(64 sts).

  Rnd 16: Knit 1A, 1B, 9A, 1B, 8A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 1A, 2B, 1A, 1B, (3A, 1B) 4 times, 2A, 1B, (3A, 1B) 3 times, 2A, 1B.

  Rnd 17: Knit 1A, 1B, 11A, 4B, (3A, 1B) 2 times, 1A, 2B, 1A, 1B, 1A, cast on 1A, (1B, 3A) 3 times, 1B, 1A, cast on 1A, 2B, (3A, 1B) 3 times, 3A, 2B—(66 sts).

  Rnd 18: Knit 1A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 4A, 2B, 1A, 5B, 2A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 1A, 2B, 1A, 1B, (1A, 3B) 9 times.

  Rnd 19: Knit 1A, (1B, 3A) 2 times, 10B, 1A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 3A) 3 times, 1B, 2A, 2B, (3A, 1B) 3 times,3A, 2B.

  Rnd 20: Knit 1A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 2A, 12B, 4A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 1B, slip next 18 sts onto stitch holder, (cast on 2A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 1A), finish round with 2A, 1B, (3A, 1B) 3 times, 2A, 1B—(56 sts).

  Rnd 21: Knit 1A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 5A, 5B, 4A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, (3B, 1A) 6 times, 1B.

  Rnd 22: Knit 1A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 5B, 1A, 6B, 5A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 2A, 1B, (3A, 1B) 5 times, 2A, 1B.

  Rnd 23: Knit 1A, 1B, 3A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, 7B, 1A, 5B, 5A, 1B, 1A, 2B, 3A, (1B, 3A) 5 times, 2B.

  Rnd 24: Knit 1A, 1B, 5A, 1B, 1A, 8B, 1A, 2B, 3A, (1B, 1A) 3 times, (3B, 1A) 6 times, 3B.

  Rnd 25: Knit 1A, 1B, 6A, 9B, 1A, 3B, 3A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 2B, (3A, 1B) 5 times, 3A, 2B.

  Rnd 26: Knit 1A, 1B, 6A, 9B, 1A, 3B, 3A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 3A) 5 times, 1B, 2A, 1B.

  Rnd 27: Knit 1A, 2B, 5A, 2B, 2A, 5B, 1A, 3B, 5A, 2B, 1A, 1B, (1A, 3B) 6 times, 1A, 1B.

  Rnd 28: Knit 1A, 2B, 6A, 1B, 2A, 4B, 1A, 3B, 6A, 2B, 1A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 3A) 5 times, 1B, 2A, 1B.

  Rnd 29: Knit 1A, 2B, 2A, 1B, 4A, 4B, 2A, 3B, 5A, 1B, (1A, 2B) 2 times, (3A, 1B) 5 times, 3A, 2B.

  Rnd 30: Knit 1A, 2B, (2A, 1B) 2 times, 15A, 1B, 1A, 2B, (1A, 3B) 7 times.

  Rnd 31: Knit 1A, 2B, (1A, 1B) 3 times, 13A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, 2B, 1A, 2B, (3A, 1B) 5 times, 3A, 2B.

  Rnd 32: Knit 1A, 1B, 6A, 1B, 13A, 1B, 1A, 2B, (1A, 1B) 2 times, 2A, (1B, 3A) 5 times, 1B, 2A, 1B.

  Rnd 33: Knit 1A, 1B, 6A, 1B, 11A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, 4B, 1A, 1B, (1A, 3B) 6 times, 1A, 1B.

  Rnd 34: Knit 1A, 1B, 7A, 1B, 10A, 1B, 1A, 2B, 3A, 1B, 1A,1B, 2A, (1B, 3A) 5 times, 1B, 2A, 1B.

  Rnd 35: Knit (1A, 1B) 2 times, 5A, 1B, 10A, 1B, 1A, 6B, 1A, 2B, (3A, 1B) 5 times, 3A, 2B.

  Rnd 36: Knit (1A, 1B) 2 times, 5A, 2B, 9A, 2B, 5A, 1B, (1A, 3B) 7 times.

  Rnd 37: Knit 1A, 2B, 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 1A, 6B, 4A, 5B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 2B, (3A, 1B) 5 times, 3A, 2B.

  Rnd 38: Knit 1A, 1B, 4A, 3B, 1A, 1B, 1A, 5B, 1A, 1B, 8A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 3A) 5 times, 1B, 2A, 1B.

  Rnd 39: Knit 1A, 1B, 4A, 3B, 2A, 1B, 2A, 4B, 9A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, (3B, 1A) 6 times, 1B.

  Rnd 40: Knit 1A, 1B, 3A, 4B, 3A, 1B, 14A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 3A) 5 times, 1B, 2A, 1B.

  Rnd 41: Knit 1A, 1B, 3A, 3B, 5A, 1B, 13A, 1B, 1A, 2B, (3A, 1B) 5 times, 3A, 2B.

  Rnd 42: Knit 1A, 1B, 2A, 3B, 5A, 3B, 12A, 1B, 1A, (3B, 1A) 6 times, 3B.

  Rnd 43: Knit 1A, 1B, 9A, 3B, 1A, 2B, 10A, 1B, 1A, 2B, (3A, 1B) 5 times, 3A, 2B.

  Rnd 44: Knit 1A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 6A, 3B, 1A, 1B, 1A, 4B, 6A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 3A) 5 times, 1B, 2A, 1B.

  Rnd 45: Knit 1A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 5A, 3B, 2A, 1B, 2A, 4B, 1A, 1B, 3A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, (3B, 1A) 6 times, 1B.

  Rnd 46: Knit (1A, 1B) 3 times, 3A, 3B, 4A, 1B, 2A, 4B, 4A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 3A) 5 times, 1B, 2A, 1B.

  Rnd 47: Knit 1A, 1B, 7A, 3B, 3A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 5A, 1B, 1A, 2B, (3A, 1B) 5 times, 3A, 2B. Slip end stitch from 1st needle to 3rd needle.

  Rnd 48: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, 4A, 3B, 10A, 1B, 5A, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, 2B, (1A, 3B) 5 times, 1A, 2B, k2tog A—(52 sts).

  Rnd 49: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, 21A, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, (3A, 1B) 5 times, 3A, k2tog A—(48 sts).

  Rnd 50: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, 19A, k2og B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, (1B, 3A) 5 times, 1B, k2tog A—(44 sts).

  Rnd 51: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, 4A, 1B, 12A, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, 1B, (1A, 3B) 4 times, 1A, 1B, k2tog A—(40 sts).

  Rnd 52: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, 3A, 1B, 11A, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, 2A, (1B, 3A) 3 times, 1B, 2A, k2tog A—(36 sts).

  Rnd 53: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, (1A, 1B) 2 times, 9A, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, (3A, 1B) 3 times, 3A, k2tog A—(32 sts).

  Rnd 54: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, 4A, 1B, 6A, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, (1A, 3B) 3 times, 1A, k2tog A—(28 sts).

  Rnd 55: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, 3A, 1B, 5A, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, 1A, (1B, 3A) 2 times, 1B, 1A, k2tog A—(24 sts).

  Rnd 56: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, (1A, 1B) 2 times, 3A, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, 2A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 2A, k2tog A—(20 sts).

  Rnd 57: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, 5A, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, 3B, 1A, 3B, k2tog A—(16 sts).

  Rnd 58: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, 3A, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, 1B, 3A, 1B, k2tog A—(12 sts).

  Rnd 59: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, 1B, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, 3A, k2tog A—(8 sts).

  Cut yarn with enough length to draw through final 8 stitches with crochet hook, pulling yarn through top into mitten’s interior and gently tightening.

  Thumb:

  Continue using larger needles. Divide 18 held stitches evenly onto 2 needles. Pick up 8 stitches from cast-on edge onto 3rd needle using crochet hook. End with color B.

  Rnd 1: (1B, 3A) 4 times, k2tog B, 3A, 1B, k2tog A, 2A—(24 sts).

  Rnd 2: 2B, (1A, 3B) 5 times, 1A, 1B.

 

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