Heartfelt (Knitting and) Gifting

A woman in one of my online knitting groups complains 'I made an afghan for someone and have yet to receive a thank you. Should I worry?'

This kind of knitting and gifting insecurity is common.  If you're the kind of knitter that hears about someone with a special event coming up that needs a gift, and think it would be special to receive something crafted by hand and immediately start making plans, cast-on and knit frantically until it's done, you know the anxiety this woman is describing.  Every knit/crochet/craft blogger will discuss it. There's just as many conversations about crafting for the worthy, knitting for the knitworthy.

Here's what I know.

I know what knitting does for me.  I know that when my hands are busy, I'm trying to do something heroic one stitch at a time.  I'm trying to keep the receiver warm, I'm trying to tell them they are beautiful, I'm trying to tell them they are loved.  Is it unreasonable to expect that from every stitch?  I don't think so.  I've knit that stitch based on the thoughtful planning I gave for that person before I ever cast the first stitch.  I've considered carefully the colors they look good in, especially the ones they seem to be wearing when they are their happiest, if they've not told me directly their favorites.  I've given a lot of thought to their body shape and what they wear and how it fits. I've looked through the patterns I have in my possession, spent hours online, looked at my stash of yarn usually determining it's inadequacy, and then spent further hours online determining the availability of the materials I need do I need to order or can I stop in a local store and if there room on my credit card.

With every stitch, I recount all of our happy memories, I see their smiles and think of what they've meant to me. I think of what they will be doing when they wear or use my knitting gift, their pride when they show it off to their family, friends, co-workers, their world.  With baby gifts, if it's before the baby is born, I will imagine them doing all the things I did with my daughter as a baby and other babies in our family that are cherished memories.

And then you present them with the gift. If I can give it to them in person, I can tell them why it's that color, what it's made of, why I thought they could use this personally, unique-crafted thing. Then watch their eyes.  You can tell if it was too much or if it's just right.  

As a crafter gets older, you're better able to determine the heart of a person and how they will receive something. This summer I made a scarf/shawl for a friend of ours. It was for someone who was going through some medical issues on top of some really personal dramas, too. We were impressed with how she coped with this stuff which was always with laughter. Together, my husband and I looked for yarns that reminded us of her.  When it was handed to her, at that moment, she was having an especially bad day. When I was able to let her know what this was and why, she melted.  I couldn't take a picture of her during her awful day, but asked that she take one when it got cold enough to need to use it, which she did. At the time I gave it to her and when she sent the picture, she described what she loved about it and how it made her feel.

Knitting for kids is a pretty awesome experience.  A baby afghan for a newborn, becomes a nap blankie for a toddler and an adventure tent in play.  Sometimes garments are saved as mementos or passed down to younger siblings. One of my favorite garments to make a child is for starting school.  If you make it in their favorite color and with special details like pockets (POCKETS!) they are ready to do school, like Superman donning his red cape.

But here's where knitting for someone else is like paving a path through a blissful garden. Halos of Hope was founded by Pam Haschke after she fought cancer and beat it.  During that awful time she was given a hat.  When she'd lost her hair, this hat gave her a joy she hadn't expected.  (I haven't met Pam yet, I've heard her tell the story, but I imagine it gave her a lot more than that.) I've heard her say, time and again, she started this charity because she wanted to share the comfort of a soft hat with others still battling.  If you go to the website www.halosofhope.org and look at the notes under Stories of Hope, there are stories of gifts well received. The notes are mostly from the cancer centers where the hats were sent and it's because the writers of the notes were there when a hat was given and received, because the experience is so beautiful the note writing must be done. These people can't take credit, but pass the messages of thanks back to where it belongs, to the ones that thought they would like to, took the time and made the effort to make a soft hat, organized donation efforts and sent the hats out.  

Sometimes when you make something for someone else, you don't get the thanks you needed to hear. You can't let it stop your generosity because you didn't get a thank you card. You have to remember the joy you had in making it, just know that there is more good in the universe because you did and then do it again.
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If you are interested in creating hats for Halos of Hope, there is a big effort to achieve a high number of hats by the Stitches West event at Santa Clara, California in February. Several of the podcasters I mentioned a couple of weeks back are participating in a Podcasters Throwdown (challenge amongst themselves). You'll find at the website above the requirements are pretty relaxed, it has to be a new hat, of soft yarn, for a child or adult, male or female. There's even some great patterns that have been donated. Hats take no time to make, unlike a sweater or an afghan. When you're done with one, you won't believe that one hat can make a difference. 

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” ― Mother Teresa

More Knitting Books (from the library)

I've had three more books from the library!

• Amy Herzog's Knit to Flatter (Published by STC Craft/A Melanie Falick Book, NY 2013) requested this when I heard she would be a guest on Fiber Hooligan and I had been wanting to read it for some time.  ( http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fiberhooligan/2013/12/09/amy-herzog) The book didn't come in for me to pick up until after that episode, but I had heard her on the Yarn Thing Podcast with Marly Bird which made my anxiety to get the book between these two events a bit ... necessary. Amy and her husband have put together a great website that incorporates the basic elements she's written about in her book and further personalizing a pattern to fit. ( https://customfit.makewearlove.com ) She candidly discusses the difference between Ms. Average fit and everyone else without using the words 'Figure Flaws', using pictures and candid description of body types, all beautiful just different. Having a book in hand with it's written messages of inspiration (including this one in the introduction 'You are gorgeous, readers. Let's help you knit sweaters that make you feel that way, too.') should be candy for any knitter who's been at all frustrated with the outcome of a finished garment for herself.
• Melissa Leapman Knitting the Perfect Fit (Published by Potter Craft, NY 2012) Totally a fluke that these two books came at the same time and I hope not to compare them... Lots of great advice about knitting, reading charts and making swatches that should help encourage a knitter, especially one not much experienced with sweaters. I requested the book for the pattern named 'Angie', which I am disappointed to say, turns out not to be for my body type, being one that an A-line is NOT flattering on. There are many cute designs in the book, I liked the 'Weekender', 'Merino Magic' and 'Jen'. I didn't care for the close-up pictures of the knitted pieces themselves which appear to me to be very poorly finished.  
• Edelgard Janssen and Ute Eismann Sock Art (Published in US by Trafalgar Square Books 2013, originally in German as Sockenhunst im Jacquard-look, 2010) This was on the NEW book as I walked in, so grabbed it and ran. There is no introductions or explanations in the front of the book and the end concludes with techniques for toes and heels explained. Is that a German thing?  The patterns are a pretty mix of florals and critters, done in bright stripes of intarsia. There is one paragraph that says Kaffe Fasset was an inspiration, that much is clear.

This American (Knitter's) Life

I've been on The Fiber Hooligan podcast for a few weeks now. Monday was my seventh appearance. I've featured lots of things from books, day long televised knitting events, Dr. Who...  

Are you surprised this is happening to me?  I am!

Here's the thing:  It's been completely voluntary.  Perhaps someday when it's time, I will pursue something further involved that takes me on more adventures in knitting but for the moment, I'm stretching my little world and it's boundaries. That feels pretty good for the time being.  

One thing that has been a little bit frustrating is the promotion end of it. (I know this is a first-world problem and not really important in the universal scheme of things... I hope you can hear that this isn't concern for myself.) I'm not the only one experiencing this frustration. I have been trying to help another knitting program producer who started a very involved knitting/fiber education video program which needs sponsors and/or subscribers. How can anyone hear or know about how great this creation of his if I can't make anyone hear me tell them about it?

And another podcast has recently asked for my help.  I also spent a lot of the last month promoting a fiber event several states away from me, without the help of those I was trying to promote, except for the coordinators.

I often feel inadequate because my internet 'voice' is so small. I can only promote these thing so many times in so many places before people get fatigued of me.  For instance, on Twitter I have less than 200 hundred followers.  That is NOT advertising.  That's standing in my corner of the world and humming a little melody, in the chaos of the cacophony...

I'm recording this frustration here because I hope to come back to it and see that there have been results. For the moment it just feels like spinning my tires, or being restrained.

I LIKE BIG BOOKS! and you can sing along

I have some books to return to the library, and since the majority were recent publications, I thought you'd like to hear a little more of them.

The first is The Art of Seamless Knitting by Simona Merchant-Guest and Faina Goberstein published by Interweave Press.  Here's the Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Seamless-Knitting-Simona-Merchant-Dest/dp/1596687886/ref=sr_1_1/176-1124777-6734331?ie=UTF8&qid=1386259395&sr=8-1&keywords=Art+of+Seamless+Knitting

I first heard about this book on the Yarn Thing Podcast with Marly Bird, here's the link for the program: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2013/06/11/the-art-of-seamless-knitting-with-simona-and-faina-1 

It's a beautiful book, beginning with great advice at the beginning about measuring and gauge, there's even great advice about avoiding the jog in your color stripes.  It is not strictly about top-down knitting designs, as some involve picking up stitches along a knitted edge to create a sleeve or other design element.  There are three patterns I'm admiring, the socks! Titled Lace Stockings (I know, there's not a lot of sock patterns WITH seams, but these Knee-highs are so beautiful you won't mind) designed by Faina, they could have been worn at Downton Abbey.  There's a Lacy Cardigan designed by Simona that's made with Bijou Basin Ranch Lhasa Wilderness (a sport-weight yak/bamboo blend) that would be sweet in spring and cool nights in the summer and dressy enough for church.  There's a pull over that has a near commercial knit quality by Faina called Textured Pullover and another cardigan she designed Cabled Cardigan, long sleeved, thigh-length and a generous collar, both would be wardrobe staples in winter.

I picked up Kristen Omdahl's book The Finer Edge ~Crocheted Trims, Motifs & Borders, also published by Interweave, in 2012 (new to my library, what can I say?) Here's the Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Finer-Edge-Crocheted-Borders/dp/1596685549/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386260789&sr=8-1&keywords=the+finer+edge+crocheted+trims+motifs+%26+borders

In addition to miles of ideas to trim your projects, there are some projects to create.  I liked the Memphis Bag with features a bouquet of ruffles to carry around the market. There's also an afghan, a pullover, a shawl...  Kristen has appeared on several podcasts, including several appearances on Marly Bird's program as well.

I also have to return Nicky Epstein's book Knitting On Top of the World ~ The Global Guide to Traditions, Techniques and Design published by Sixth and Spring Books.  It's an older book, 2008, not the first time I've borrowed it and probably won't be the last.  The sections are divided into areas of the world and the styles inspired by those areas, including Far North, Windswept Isles, Old World, Around the Mediterranean, Far East and New World. The photography makes this a coffee-table quality picture-book, but the designs are Extreme Epstein. How about an heirloom quality pullover for your newborn that can keep your teapot toasty when he's outgrown it? Here's the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Nicky-Epsteins-Knitting-Top-World/dp/1933027673/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386261390&sr=8-1&keywords=Nicky+Epstein+Knitting+on+Top+of+the+World

Like I said, these are all going back to the library today, I don't own copies of any of them, and was not asked to review them by the publishers.  I just found them on the shelves of my library, brought them home and have been drooling over them when I've had quiet moments.

It's amazing to me how fast that due date came along!

PODCASTS, of the fiber sort

There's some great fiber podcasts out there.

A podcast is like a radio or television show, except it's online.  All are archived and some are originally aired live, that means you can listen in your own schedule.  Many people download the individual program and listen while doing something else, like jogging or commuting.  So I hear.

I listen during the slow days in the office.  I've been listening at night a lot because I'm working on a sweater and I'm in the slow part... It's top down, this is the part between the body/sleeve separation and the hem of the body.

So, here is a rundown of what I've heard this week (all had recent episodes within the last week):

Monday:

• Fiber Hooligan (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fiberhooligan) is originally live and then archived.  Chat room available during live episode. Started my list here, because of my own involvement... 
• KnitKnit Cafe (http://knitknitcafe.blogspot.com/) audio from Portland, OR.
• Knotty Girls Knitcast (http://knottygirlsknitcast.libsyn.com/) audio from Southern California.

Tuesday:

• Yarn Thing (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing) another audio originally live with chat, from Colorado.
• Knit Girllls (http://www.theknitgirllls.com/wordpress/) is a video podcast. Leslie is in New Jersey and Laura is in Mississippi.
• Gentle Ribbing (http://www.gentleribbing.com/) Annette is in New Zealand, this is a video podcast, too.  This week was the first time I've viewed her podcast, it was referred to by Leslie this week of Knit Girllls.  Podcaster's mentioning each other happens a lot.
• CogKNITive (http://cogknitivepodcast.blogspot.com/) is an audio by Dr Gemma who organizes the CogKNITive retreat.  (Note: I've heard of the retreat, but have not been)

Wednesday:

• I started the day listening to an archived episode of Yarn Thing, because it featured a book I just brought home from the library.... I listened to it this week, so I'm counting it in this list.
• Savvy Girls (http://www.savvygirls.ca/) Audio podcast from the Savvy Sisters (real-life), one who lives in Edmonton, Canada and one in New York. This week is the first time I've listened...
• Knitting Samurai Plus One (http://knittingsamuraiplus1.blogspot.com/) is video, from New Hampshire.  Another new one for me.
• Double Knit (http://www.doubleknit.net/) is audio, from Seattle, Washington.  New to me, too.
• Knitabulls (http://knitabullspodcast.blogspot.com/) is video, from Colorado. (I've been watching Diane's program for a couple of months, love, Love, LOVE her dog, Bella.)

Thursday:

• Yarn Thing.  She has been doing a program twice a week lately, which is not her normal, but I've been enjoying it that often as well....
• KnitMore Girls (http://www.knitmoregirlspodcast.com/) audio, mother and daughter program from San Jose, CA.  This week, they mentioned a BUNCH of podcasts they listen, so I have more to find. If you want to find the list, look for the episode posted 11/20/13.
• WEBS (aka yarn.com) Steve and Kathy Elkins has a very informative podcast also (http://blog.yarn.com/category/ready-set-knit-podcast/) audio, which began as an actual radio program
• Twinset (http://twinset.us/) Twins, Ellen and Jan, live in Minnesota and Pennsylvania. New to me...
• Geeky Girls (http://geekygirlsknit.blogspot.com/) video Mother CC and 13-year-old daughter Damaris, from Scotland! Also new to me, love Damaris' mad knitting skills.  She recently finished a sweater, I think that's how I heard about them...

Fridays I look forward to:

• Craftlit (http://crafting-a-life.com/craftlit/) audio, is one of my favorite podcasts, I really look forward to it all week.  Heather Ordover puts this together in Virginia, discusses crafty things and each week reads a chapter from a classic book.  Most of the books in her archive (which I recommend doing) I've read, but never took a lit class, she used to teach literature to high school students, so, you can imagine I'm learning a lot.

Some others I like:

• 2 Knit Lit Chicks (http://www.2knitlitchicks.blogspot.com/) is audio, mother and daughter podcast also Northern Californina (separate cities).  I've listened for a few months to the ladies, because they talk about my two favorite topics, knitting and book.
• Knitting Pipeline (http://www.knittingpipeline.com/) is audio from Washington, Illinois.  She has posted updates as blogposts to keep everyone informed of her situation, not podcast postings, as there's been a tornado in her area.
• There's a brand-new video podcast from Germany, featuring a pair of knitters (one from the UK and one from US) but for some reason, the program doesn't play on my laptop computer set up, perhaps on everyone smart phones and tablets it will play better. They contacted me on Ravelry: (http://homespunpodcast.blogspot.de/) This is the link, I hope you like it, I'm sad about not getting it, because I loved their voices... 
• It Take Balls to Knit (http://ittakesballstoknit.com/) is a subscription video SHOW which Steve Malcolm of Vancouver, Canada, has branched off from his own blog.  He's featuring a knit school for learning techniques, and then exploring lots other topics in fiber.  

NOTE:  I think the reason I've listened to so many of these is because they are all posting right before Thanksgiving week. 

All of these programs, being fiber related, have groups on Ravelry.  In fact, Ravelry has a list of active and inactive podcasts.  Unfortunately, they haven't updated the list since 2011.  You can do a search in Groups and type Podcast and come up with a list of hundreds.  I've resorted that for the most members to find some of the ones listed here.

Many of the programs have prizes by various means, either live during the live programs, through their Ravelry groups or on their own website comments areas.  Most of the programs review books (knitting and otherwise), some chat fiber stuff, programs on television or popular things online.

Wouldn't you like to know JJ Foster?

Did I ever tell you about JJ?

This is a photo taken by Steve Malcolm of www.ittakesballstoknit.com I hope he will forgive me for copying it off of his blog.  That's me on the right knitting the pink, JJ is knitting green and that's one of her three boys on the left.  We were in Seattle for the Mariner's Stitch & Pitch in July.   I've posted about it before.

I think it was about this time of year that I met her, she and her mom had a shop for crafting that hadn't been open very long before I wandered in there with Superman on our day off to find out what night, if any, was knit night.  I've posted about the shop before. (http://knittwhisperer.blogspot.com/2011/03/work-space.html)  I loved it.

At that time, we were miserably underpaid.  We were working for a company that employed both of us, my husband and I, but he was only paid to work an hour a day and never received a raise.  I tell you this because it broke my heart not to be able to support their shop more than I did.

JJ is wonderful at making people feel welcome (she used to work for the resort at Disneyland so I think that was a skill she will always have) and the shop wasn't about selling foreign-made virgin crafting materials.  The found great materials and recycled them for sale, and taught others to do it, too.  To be that creative is some kind of ingeniousness most craft stores don't have.  And never will.  The other thing that she is great at is social media.  She knew how to use it to her business' advantage.  Also, she supported other businesses she came in contact with doing the same things she was doing for her shop.

She became involved with the other shop owners in organizing the local Yarn Crawl right from the start.  The next spring after I'd wandered in there, she posted something on her shops page of Facebook, asking for someone to knit for the shop (she was going to Madrona and won't have time) that was required for the Crawl.  I said I would and waited for the details.  That became the first piece I designed AND wrote the pattern to be sold.

The second and last Sock Summit happened that summer, she was there for most of the event.  I ran into here there on the Sunday of the event, having gotten separated from the others I went with and she ... well, I got a case of nerves and couldn't make myself walk up to Benjamin Levisay of XRX books.  She cattle prodded me over there, and took our picture with our cameras for us.  Benjamin wasn't what I expected, very kind and correctly identified the sweater I was wearing, which was from Knitter's Magazine, published by XRX.  That acquaintance as become an even dearer relationship than I would have ever thought (see the post just prior to this one).

She asked me to design for shop in the Yarn Crawl again the next year, even though I didn't live in the area any more.  And the next year.  I flew there for the event, this was last February.

By this time, JJ was struggling.  Her mom no longer wanted to participate in the shop, and without her, the shop would have to close.  It did in June.  I cried for days after she called to tell me.  She didn't have to call me, that was a huge kindness on her part.  I'm sure it was hard for her to do. Supporting everyone else's grief over the shop's closing must have been a huge burden and I hope she knew she and her efforts make her beloved.

In spite of the shops just closing, when it came time for the Mariners game, she would not tell me no, she wouldn't go.  She picked me up at the airport in Portland, and we drove to Seattle.  Walked all over downtown, and went to the game.  It was hard for her, financially, but I think she felt committed to her boys to take them, and to me, too.  It was the first time I met Steve Malcolm, who has another knitting program I will be assisting on...

She has got to be struggling even though she'll never say a word.  She helped out at the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival, and she's taking vintage buttons that she finds, putting them on display cards and offering them to all the fiber shops she can get to.  Some of her buttons appeared in a picture that Franklin Habit posted a picture of (I can't find it now, but it happened about September 6th)!  That's all exciting, but I worry about her and her rent.  She has some irons in the fire and I pray, or put a wishes out into the universe, or hope good Karma flows heavy toward her that things happen that are as good for her as she's been to me.

But mostly, I want to say, Thank You, JJ Foster.  Whatever Chances you take I know are opportunities for the sun to shine on you as you have shined on me and been there for my benefit, and I will support whatever you hope to do, to the best of my ability.

(You can use this as a recommendation letter if you want.  Any future employer can know we are not best friends, I will need your home address to mail you anything, you don't know my birthdate, we don't know each other middle names.... and I had to bribe your dog with cookies so that I could scratch his ears.  With love, from ~t)

So very honored!

This morning was my debut on Fiber Hooligans.  It's an online podcast hosted by Benjamin Levisay, CEO of XRX books and also the Stitches events (the next one is Stitches East in Hartford, Conneticut). The guest was Steve Malcolm of www.ittakesballstoknit.com.  

I hope you can go there now to listen to the archived episode, I thought it was pretty great before I got on the phone! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fiberhooligan/2013/10/21/steve-malcolm