One Happy Customer
Hope everyone had swell holidays. Mine were spent largely knitting furiously. I’m not going to lie, I did not relax enough over my holidays. Between work and all that Christmas jazz (which I usually take great joy in) I have been all worn out. That being said I had some seriously happy and appreciative knitted gift recipients this year. The biggest project I took on this year was a sweater for my darling brother, Eric. I am very proud of my little bro. He was recently sworn in as a police officer and is also a really fun guy. Whenever we hang out I end up laughing so hard I have trouble breathing.
I would normally stay away from knitting a sweater for someone else (my dad is an exception because he loves everything I make no matter what), and stay even further away from knitting a sweater for someone in their 20s but when Eric saw this awesome retro sweater in the new Debbie Bliss knitting magazine he had to have it. I have to say, I thought it was pretty great myself. The colors are my favorite 70′s orange and brown and the snowflakes make it really retro chic. Eric didn’t just ask once either, every time I saw him for a couple of weeks he would ask ‘How is my sweater coming?’. My mummy very generously offered to bankroll the project so I decided to take it on. Risks be damned, it also fits my other brother (Jordan), and my dad so if all else fails, someone else will wear it.
I hit a few snags along the way of course, it just wouldn’t be Christmas knitting without a few obstacles. I ordered the yarn (the soft and machine washable Rialto Aran) and I accidentally ordered cream instead of natural. This may not seem like a major set back but I had already knit an entire ball of cream before I figured out where I had gone wrong. So I had to order the natural and play the waiting game. This set me behind by a couple of weeks, which I didn’t really have to spare this season. I did get it done in time though, zipper and all (something new for me). And wonder of wonders, he loved it!
The People I Love to Knit For
I frequent a few blogs (to say the least) and it seems that all people can talk about is who NOT to knit for. While I do find this advice to be helpful (especially the yarn harlot), it is also a tad negative. I am guilty of this knitted gift negativity myself from time to time but this post is an attempt to get out of that habit. So, here are the people I love to knit for:
1. My mom. She always appreciates a hand made item of any kind. She loves my knitting, never tells me how I might improve upon the design (anymore). She wears my gifts (where applicable) and raves to her friends. I could not ask for a better knitted gift recipeint.
2. My friend Robin: She is the most arty and creative person I know, so her opinion of my crafted items always means a lot. She appreciates how much time and energy I spend on her hand made gifts. She is also often heavily involved in the planning process of a new craft. She is there to offer a helpful ‘What about if you added this?!” while avoiding the ever unpopular phrases such as ‘Why did you choose that?” or “Really, that color?”. She also appreciates the finer materials in life, and understands what they are worth. Always a joy to knit for. (That’s her husband Dusting in the pic with her).
3. My Dad: Many of you may be surprised to find a man on the list but here he is! My dad would love anything I made, really no matter what. I could knit the most hideous electric purple cardigan with acid green buttons (side note: the right electric purple and acid green would certainly be awesome in the right combination and project, just not for my dad) and he would wear it everyday. Great to know that no matter what my knitted gift will get a lot of wardrobe play.
4. My grandmother. I have never met anyone who appreciates a knitted dishcloth as much as she does!
There are others I also like to knit for but these are definitely my top four.
Why?
It is that time of year again (as if anyone hasn’t noticed). As an avid crafter I have been working towards this time of year since boxing day of last year. Unfortunately, no matter what, there always seems to be a ton of stuff to get working on in December. Why is that? I think I just have an obsessive need to inflict knitting and crafting pain upon myself. It just never seems to be enough. If I have finished 2 projects before December I just add 2 more until I’ve added 1 (or 3) too many. The same thing happens if I finish 8 projects before December. I just never seem satisfied.
This year I am at school (getting my Bachelors of Education) so I vowed to avoid taking on too much and to focus on school instead. My friends and family are all very supportive and have suggested I try to ‘take it easy’ this year. I think this stems from last year. I was ‘only’ working last year and I went completely over the top insane trying to get everyone the PERFECT and most thoughtful possible gift. I was a maniac resulting in more than one complete and utter meltdown. My husband just shakes his head and asks the question for which I have no answer: “Why do you do this?”. That, my friends, is a very good question. Why do I do this? To myself, to those around me. Why?
In my search to find, make, or bake everyone the greatest gift of all time, I fall short on Christmas spirit. I went so far as to color coordinate the candy in the little bowls around the house on Christmas Eve. Not an odd things to do by itself but I didn’t just color coordinate, it had to be everyone’s favorite candy from a shop with rather specific hours etc. etc. etc.
That being said, it seems that I have learned nothing. This year is only slightly better. I have only a few knitting projects but a couple of them are rather large and intensive. I have even had the yarn for one of them since boxing day of last year and I just started them in late November. So I find myself asking yet again this year: Why do I do this to myself?
