Waltzing Knitilda: Where are they now? Xmas present followup

First off, sorry about the light postings, but I've been kinda down because of still more memorial services and news of more near-and-dears-to-my-close-friends dying. I'll be back in full swing though soon.

In the meantime... we bring you..

Where Are They Now? aka what's become of this year's knitted Xmas presents.

Many of you know that when you knit up a present it takes on a life of its own upon giving.

Sometimes, the gift is received joyfully and worn with panache and enthusiastic words of appreciation are uttered. Every time you see the recipient they are wearing it, and they gush for years about how meaningful and beautiful the gift is, and how it saved them from a pit of despair, or turned their life around, or something like that. This is optimal.

Sometimes, enthusiastic words are uttered but the item is preserved unworn in a closet because it is "too nice" to wear. The recipient marvels at the beauty and care, the perfection of the craftsmanship, but this stops them from wearing it. This is less than optimal. You want them to enjoy this loving stitchwork for pete's sake, not preserve it like Stinky Pete the Prospector from Toy Story 2 in a box, resigned to a bitter fate as moth treats.

On the other end of the spectrum, you get the recipients who say things like, "Why did you make it when you could have bought it?" Or, "I put it in the machine and something happened to it. Can you make me another one?" Or, "I'm allergic to wool." Or they never wear it. Or never comment about it. Or you see it crumpled up with the paint rags. And you get that sinking feeling. And vow that's the last time you'll ever knit that person anything again.

This year, I'm pleased to report that my gift list was on the good end of the spectrum. Without further ado...

Told you it would look better on her than on my piano. How cute is this picture. And what a clever way to wear that scribble lace stole/shawl.

And she even sent me the picture of her wearing it ! This is good.

Now this one was interesting. Intended recipient loved them. However, so did her college-age daughter. She begged her mother for them, saying that she would be just the coolest on-campus if she had them.

Mom? You guessed it. These are now being flashed around at USC's film school.

They've gone Hollywood. Not at all what I expected.

As for lil Juju.

She of the devilish glint and gold lame.

I'm pleased to report that the recipient's luck appears to be turning around since her arrival. My angst about contributing to bad karma have been eased.

Heh.

It's not because lil Juju's had pins thrust into her.

How indelicate.

No.

Rather, she has become the favorite toy of Whiskers the wonder cat.

Everyone's a winner.

But I probably should make another pair of gauntlets for my SIL.

julio 2006

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Where else to find me

Debbie Stoller: Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker
Strut Hat, p. 128
http://www.wildfibersmagazine.com/
Crocheted Capelets of Northern Spain
Spring 2005 !
Debbie Stoller: StitchnBitch Nation
Razor's Edge http://www.bust.com/knithappens/snb_nation.shtml
eds. Roghaar & Wolf: KnitLit (Too)
"What Does War Have to Do With Knitting?" http://www.knitlit.com/too/about.htm And KnitLit 3 (October 2005)