There’s no shame in being a “selfish crafter”-someone who only crafts for themselves. Sometimes people don’t have a lot of time to craft or they’ve been burned by gifts they’ve given. I’ve been there. One time I gifted an adorable baby sweater to the family who were renting my house, for their third child. The wife looked at it with something close to scorn and said “did you make this?” I wanted to snatch it back..
Whatever you do, as long as it brings you joy, do it. I do make things for others, although not as often as I would like. I just finished a baby blanket (Sliding is FUn in Cumulus and Cumulus Rainbow) for my son’s friend whose wife is due at the beginning of December. I have some red yarn leftover and plan to make a red and white striped stocking cap. I just found out last night the friend is driving up from N.C. to help my son move in a month . . . better add a baby sweater to the ensemble! Luckily they are quick.
Men’s sweaters, not so much. I have a history of last minute crafting. When I was a child, I did knit but had no one to further me along, but I did a lot of needlework. When I was 7, I made my Dad a sampler which read “Some Day We’ve Got to Get Organized” for him to hang at his factory. (I think it was my Mom’s idea). Later, there were several Christmases when I let things go until the last minute . . .if memory serves me staying up half the night on Christmas Eve to finish a 3D Needlepoint Christmas Village to put under the tree. Why was that easier then than now?
I’ve been burned by this last minute gifting, especially when it comes to sweaters for my sons. You may or may not have experienced that there are not a lot of men’s sweater patterns. I chose one a few years back which was not a good pattern and a disaster and I didn’t get one sweater out of it. Then I had the great idea that I would make cable sweaters for them two years ago but again the pattern wasn’t great. Last year I started early because my younger son hadn’t ever received an adult sweater from me. I made him the Hanstholm Sweater by Petite Knits, on the recommendation of Mary who had made it for her son (thanks Mary!) and it was perfect. And best of all he loved it. The yarn was from our Sunset Fibers Trunk Show, thanks Val!
This year, thinking of making each of them another one. Sometimes a good pattern is worth its weight in gold. Thinking of LITLG DK or maybe Dream in Color Classy. Ordering now for men’s sweater quantities. Let me know if you want to order in advance, and I’ll add it to the orders. And with a lot of “boring knitting” (knitting stockingnette in the round), I can catch up on a show on Netflix. Hope you have something fun planned, whether for yourself or for others. The holidays will be here before you know it!
Jennifer