Hello, my name is Suzanne, and I am a knitaholic. There is nothing I love better than knitting, except possibly receiving knitting-related gifts. And because I feel this way, I also believe that there is nothing better to give a loved one than a knitting-related gift. If I had any loved ones who knit, I would know exactly how to make them happy for the holidays with gifts of yarn and needles and tools. But since none of my loved ones knit, I try instead to make them happy by giving them knitted gifts. This does not always work.
Hard as it is to believe, not everyone appreciates knitted gifts. Even those who have witnessed first-hand the amount of time and effort that goes into producing them may not be all that eager to find one wrapped up under the tree. No matter how lovely the yarn, how intricate the pattern, how well-executed the design, they simply are not interested in receiving, owning, or wearing wonderful, wooly things that would melt the heart of any knitter. I won't go into the many sad tales I could tell of knitted gifts that earned a resounding, "Oh...thanks," and wound up buried at the bottom of a drawer or lining a pet bed. You can probably imagine, and anyway, I don't want to make anyone cry.
So this year, in the midst of all the buzz in the blogosphere about holiday knitting and deadlines and stress, I have made a resolution. I will knit no gifts for the holidays. That's right. None. Instead, I will knit things for myself alone. I will buy the loveliest yarns and find the most beautiful patterns, and I will wrap the finished gifts in perfect, shiny wrapping paper and put them under the tree. When I unwrap them, I will ooh and ahh over the softness of the yarn and the detail of the stitches. I will exclaim over how long it must have taken and how much thought and love must have gone into each stitch. I will put them on and marvel at the fit and the comfort. And I will be happy to receive such wonderful, personal gifts. Everyone else is getting Starbucks cards.
Now...who's with me?
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22 comments:
Sign me up sistah! I can't think of a more tender way to celebrate the season and spread the joy around!!!
(Un)fortunately I have family and friends that likes handmade gifts...otherwise I'd totally be with you!
I am so all over THAT! On the flip side are the giftees who request knitted gifts with nary a thought as to the amount of effort required. Mostly the inner snark in me wants to write "I Don't Like You Enough to Knit For You-Here are Some Needles- Do It Yourself" inside that Starbuck's gift card.
I'm in and I'll get a placard with our slogan and march around the driveway.
I guess a button for our blogs would work too.
Becky's on to something too, anyone asking for knitted gifts gets the DIY kit.
Now what to knit for myself...
I'm in! There's nothing worse than having your handknitted gifts be poorly received. So I'm not doing any gift knitting!
You can knit for me!!! But I know what you're saying...last year I gave a couple of hand knit gifts and my guess is they're at the bottom of a drawer somewhere. But on the other hand, several people I knit for loved it (scarves) and wore them every day!
A Starbucks card would be a lot easier and cheaper!
A resounding "I'm with you, sister!" Said so firmly, you could probably hear me all those 1,400 miles to the north ;)
Also, in each of their stockings will be a beautifully gift wrapped parchment upon which will be written... directions on how to take out the garbage.
Have a lovely Thanksgiving!
I feel the same way. No one appreciates my knitting better than me! My mom is a close second and she loves hand knit shawls. I think she has about 15 of my shawls.
Knitwear is the perfect gift to give yourself! I am knitting for some members of my family -- but only ones I know will be genuinely enthusiastic. Life's too short to knit for people who don't appreciate!
Oh, I am so with you! I've made this commitment to myself the last two years only to cave at the last minute mainly due to my desire to buy yarn instead of actual gifts. Gift certificates it will be.
Not planning on much in the way of Christmas knitting here, either. Perhaps a couple of washcloths for an elderly relative who received them happily in past and could use some more. That's it.
Amen. All done. The minute my MIL took her beautiful green angora blend hours of anguish and redesign to make it fit her measurements exactly sweater out of the box and said "Well...it's...okaaaay" I was done knitting for people. EVERYONE loved it. It fit perfectly. One of my SIL's offered to take it.
BUT - there's an exception...grand baby. Grand baby must have Peace Baby sweater for Christmas, or maybe for birthday which should be any minute now.
Yes! I've already gone there! The worst offender for me was my own mother! A stunning and lovingly-made (expensive!) scarf found stuffed into a junk chest in the guest room. Geez.
However, my Nana is the one exception because even if it's only a dishcloth, she displays it as a work of art in her home!
And in light of the fact that I am a slow knitter, gifts would take all year---LOL!
I'm totally not knitting anything this year for anyone. Not even my children. LOL
I would sign up but quite a few people in my family really appreciate knitted gifts. I have cut down the list to just a few people so I don't turn into a sweat shop. I'm with you in spirit though!
I like knitted gifts for Christmas, or birthdays or any day is fine with me.
i totally hear you...........i hate when people do not appreciate my "stuff"! however, there are those who do, and actually want a hand knit...hat, scarf, blanket.....DARN, otherwise, i would be so with you on this!
i have so many things in mind that i want to make for ME!! :)
I already decided this about a month ago. Although I have some gifts I have been saving from last year that didn't get done, I will be giving them as birthday presents (which does not count as holidays since that is luck of the draw.) and only birthday presents to those who will value it.
I have had that philosophy for awhile now. When I first started out, I made things for other people. But now, I knit almost exclusively for myself. I've got one present on the needles for a cherished (knitter) friend who will most definitely appreciate it. But that's it!!!
I am SOOOO with you. No one else likes my knitted stuff. (The fact that it rarely fits might have something to do with it, but still.)
You go girl. I understand completely,
Li
I am so hopping on your wagon! And I have the perfect project to start for myself for Christmas...you are a star for suggesting this!
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