January 01, 2008

A KNITTER'S SORROW

Knitting woes are universal:

I am convinced that all that jazz about the big Christmas Knitting Deadline and the Will it Fit/Will They Like it Debate fluffs up the project so much in our minds that if, when the recipient finally opens their gift, they have a heart attack and go totally blind from from the joy of it all that our knit-gifting experience will never be exactly what we expect. I mean, really, let's be honest. A heart attack and total blindness--add to that a small amount of some sort of incontinence or maybe a swoon or two would fall just a tiny bit short of what we'd expect, once we add up all those skyscraper dreams, etc. that we graft into all those stitches, bulky or not.

I can so relate. This year the two things I knitted for people in my husband's extended family, they didn't even understand what I had knit them. I had to mail their gifts, and apparently both of them spent a week staring at the items and wondering what they heck they were and why I'd made them.

My husband keeps telling me to stop knitting for non-knitters. But when you're a knitter, you can't go out and buy a pack of onesies for a baby gift; you have to make something for baby. So I have to live up to that expectation while balancing the fact that it takes about 60 straight hours of knitting to make a baby blanket.

So I keep going. I'm 3/5 of the way through little Tucker's gift. And it totally doesn't match the nursery. Sad.

Posted by: Sarah at 07:02 AM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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1 SARAH! Stop freaking out! If it is anyone that will appreciate a knitted blanket to the point of heart failure or blindness, it is me. Tucker will love it, I will love it, and it doesn't have to match the nursery. I'm not as matchy-matchy as you may think. I look forward to receiving it, and even if it takes you four more months to finish, I would rather you enjoy the process than let it cause YOU heart failure.

Posted by: Erin at January 01, 2008 10:59 AM (XRza7)

2 Just wanted to say hello! I read often but don't post a comment. I am a non-knitter and I have always loved your gifts! The boy loves them too! Some people just don't appreciate a gift that is made . . . aren't those the best!

Posted by: Heidi at January 01, 2008 01:20 PM (GnQGs)

3 Sarah, I have a friend who is a knitter and a rather part time blogger. She just asks people what they want... *grin* That way they're expecting it... of course you could always enclose a card that says... "I hope you like wearing this..." If they see that, it will probably fall into place. In any case, Happy New Year! I hope you have a terrific 2008 to make up for 2007.

Posted by: Teresa at January 01, 2008 01:58 PM (rVIv9)

4 This comment is for Erin since I cannot post a comment on her blog; I messed with it for l0 minutes and then gave up. I love the name, love the colors of the room, and love the creative decorating. Very clever! Tucker _________ sounds like a dreamy movie star's name. I love it! Sarah's Mom Sarah, you're too hard on yourself. I've been bundled up all day long in the cream/sand blanket you knitted for me. I love it and it's so nice and warm and special because you made it for me!

Posted by: Nancy at January 01, 2008 03:27 PM (i47jP)

5 Don't worry! Your gift will be loved. And, trust me, your gift WILL be used & therefore, doesn't need to match the nursery given that the little buggers don't spend much time in there anyhow!

Posted by: Guard Wife at January 01, 2008 05:32 PM (BslEQ)

6 Thank you, Momma Nancy. When are you coming to see Tucker?

Posted by: Erin at January 01, 2008 06:44 PM (XRza7)

7 When someone MAKES something, it is an heirloom. At least, that's how I see it. Every stitch that goes into it was a thought the creator gave the receiver.

Posted by: airforcewife at January 02, 2008 08:44 AM (mIbWn)

8 Oh, get this. The other day I dropped off a hand knit blanket with a note for a pregnant friend I used to work with (she was off the day I brought it in). So I went in today, and she said, "Hi Erin." I waited for more, but it never came. "HI ERIN?!," I thought. The nerve. Scout said, "Well, maybe nobody gave it to her. Maybe someone stole it." Heh. That better be what happened.

Posted by: Erin at January 02, 2008 03:19 PM (XRza7)

9 Erin, remember when I made that hat and scarf for the Christmas gift exchange and the lady who opened it said, "Oh...a hat and scarf" and dropped it on the floor? Sigh.

Posted by: Sarah at January 02, 2008 03:48 PM (TWet1)

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