As Christmas time is approaching, my mind sets on all kinds of knit objects that I could give to my family and friends. The problem is, very few of those people actually want any gift that is not purchased from a store. A few years ago, I spent 6 months spinning and knitting countless hats, scarves, shawls and mittens only to get some really nasty feedback. Oh sure, to my face on Christmas day it was all "Thanks!" only to be told later on how they hated what I had made. Not all hated them, some just put them away and never use them. It's a real downer to see something you've spent 6 months on laying on a top of a of pile mending in a dusty corner of a sewing room.
This cowl is a pattern called, 'Pretty thing'. I knitted it in a hand spun alpaca. That's when the intended recipient whom shall remain nameless (it's family) stated that she's allergic to alpaca. That was after she pronounced an allergy to pretty much every fiber out there. Oh I get it: she doesn't want anything I make, she wanted a gift card. She got neither. I sent the cowl to the first person that expressed interest in it on Facebook. My high school buddy in Greece got it.
I'm going to tell you something that you don't want to hear: It is emotionally devastating to a person who creates a gift for you to have you either snub your nose at that gift, or throw it out. Yeah? You don't like hearing that? TOUGH! You want that stupid gift card from Wal-Mart Instead? Yeah, you're not getting that either! It's time to stop thinking that anything home-made is crap that is beneath you. The true crap is that junk you covet so much at Wal-Mart.
I've got more than a chip on my shoulder, it's a flipping BRICK.
The best present I've received in recent years was created by my Father In Law. It is a home made wooden headboard for our bed. He took wood from his own land, made the lumber, constructed the headboard, stained and varnished it. I will treasure it for years to come. Heck, I treasure it now. His monetary outlay for this gift was for the electricity to run the router, and his time.
One of about a zillion reasons that I am grouchy at this time of year. God Bless my poor husband, who has to deal with my Christmas grouchiness. At least he will wear and appreciate what I make for him.
This cowl is a pattern called, 'Pretty thing'. I knitted it in a hand spun alpaca. That's when the intended recipient whom shall remain nameless (it's family) stated that she's allergic to alpaca. That was after she pronounced an allergy to pretty much every fiber out there. Oh I get it: she doesn't want anything I make, she wanted a gift card. She got neither. I sent the cowl to the first person that expressed interest in it on Facebook. My high school buddy in Greece got it.I'm going to tell you something that you don't want to hear: It is emotionally devastating to a person who creates a gift for you to have you either snub your nose at that gift, or throw it out. Yeah? You don't like hearing that? TOUGH! You want that stupid gift card from Wal-Mart Instead? Yeah, you're not getting that either! It's time to stop thinking that anything home-made is crap that is beneath you. The true crap is that junk you covet so much at Wal-Mart.
I've got more than a chip on my shoulder, it's a flipping BRICK.
The best present I've received in recent years was created by my Father In Law. It is a home made wooden headboard for our bed. He took wood from his own land, made the lumber, constructed the headboard, stained and varnished it. I will treasure it for years to come. Heck, I treasure it now. His monetary outlay for this gift was for the electricity to run the router, and his time.
One of about a zillion reasons that I am grouchy at this time of year. God Bless my poor husband, who has to deal with my Christmas grouchiness. At least he will wear and appreciate what I make for him.
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