Thank you all very much for the nice comments and e-mails over the past few days about the store's 5th anniversary. Obviously, I wouldn't have a successful business without all of your support. And while your reorders are an indication that you appreciate the service I provide, it's always nice to get verbal and or written confirmation of that. I like hearing good things!!
But now, I have some bad news. Well, depending on how you look at it, it could be bad. I've gone against my 2010 resolution to knit only for myself. I thought long and hard about it before breaking my vow, and while I know that by knitting for someone else I'm not giving myself the gift of my own time, I realized that if I didn't knit this one item, I would really regret it.
Like I shared last week, I started a Moderne Log Cabin Bab Blanket (page 79) from Mason Dixon Knitting. I'm using Dream in Color's Classy yarn in colors 410, 280, 420 and 140 (the color's a bit off in this photo). No, it's not for me. I'd love to be knitting a new baby blanket for myself, but I'm not pregnant. Someone very special to me is, and so I'm knitting this for her (and I'm throwing her a baby shower that I'll need your input on soon). Now, I want this blanket to be somewhat of a surprise, so YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND I KNOW YOU READ THIS BLOG SOMETIMES SO IF YOU ARE RIGHT NOW, PLEASE CLOSE YOUR BROWSER WINDOW IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE YOUR GIFT!!!!
I first thought about the time constraints of knitting such a large project. This will likely take me 5 weeks of evenings to knit this blanket. That's a lot of time that I could be spending knitting for myself like I vowed to do on Jan 1.
I also considered what this would mean to those who are knitting-for-themselves along with me. I wanted to show myself (and you) that we are worth our own time. That it's okay to gift ourselves of our own talents. That, come the holidays, we can make other things for our friends or family, or purchase them gifts.
Finally, I considered how I would feel if I didn't knit this special baby a blanket. And I knew I would regret it. I realized that this was more about me. That I would be knitting this blanket for my own enjoyment in knowing that a new life would be swaddled in its warmth. And that with each stitch I knit, I would be weaving wool with love into something that no one else could gift- love from me. I want to knit this gift and I would really regret it if I didn't.
So I made it almost half the year before breaking my vow. But I do plan on renewing it once this special project is complete. Really.
I think a welcoming blanket for a baby is a worthy reason for taking a short break from your intention. Now, if you move on to 12 pair of booties, a couple of hats and a baby surprise jacket, well, then we need to talk. Really, this is important and time sensitive so have no guilt. Maybe you could add on 5 weeks of knitting for yourself at the end of the year to make it all come out right?
Posted by: Willa JEAN | June 04, 2010 at 11:07 AM
What a beautiful blanket and what a beautiful reason to not knit for yourself!! There is a very special feeling when you knit for someone. Don't beat yourself up over it.. you had to do it!
Posted by: natalie | June 04, 2010 at 11:28 AM
I think expanding the definition of "for yourself" to include something you want to knit is perfectly acceptable! so I think you can consider your resolution unbroken.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 04, 2010 at 01:16 PM
I don't call them resolutions, I call them plans. And plans change! problem solved. . . can't wait to see the finished blanket.
Posted by: Elizabeth D | June 04, 2010 at 02:23 PM
I think it is just fine that you are knitting that blanket for the new baby. While you are mainly knitting for yourself this year it seems like most of my projects so far are for others.
Posted by: Robin | June 04, 2010 at 06:10 PM
I think that is a must to knit a baby blanket for a very special baby. I love making baby blankets, sweaters, etc. In fact I have a large shopping bag full of left over yarn from baby sweaters and blankets that I have made. I am using those leftovers to make premi-hats to donate to a local hospital. I agree with everyone else, plans change, problem solved.
Enjoy making the blanket, and just maybe you might be able to borrow it when you need it for another special baby.
Posted by: Nancy | June 04, 2010 at 06:27 PM
Very nice!
Posted by: Nora Brown | June 04, 2010 at 07:06 PM
Plans can change. You realize now that it would give you great pleasure to knit this baby blanket. You would even regret not making it. It seems obvious to me, you have made the right decision.
During the course of the year I knit many things for myself and many gifts. I tend to go in spurts of selfish knitting and gift knitting. I never even stopped to analyze that until now. I think knitters should always knit whatever makes them happy at the time. And if that means you have 25 UFOs, then so be it.
Posted by: Nancy | June 04, 2010 at 07:11 PM
I too knit for many others. I think it's great to knit for someone else...even though it breaks your vow...I find that I enjoy it even more than knitting for myself. At times, I feel almost selfish when I knit for myself...although I know I need to do more...balance...it's all about balance:) The blanket it beautiful...keep up the good work(s)!
Posted by: Rasa | June 04, 2010 at 08:51 PM
I think it is wonderful that you can be flexible and knit something for someone special and then go back to your resolution to knit for yourself this year. Do NOT feel guilty. You can get much enjoyment out of knitting that baby blanket.
Posted by: SusanB-knits | June 04, 2010 at 09:16 PM
The baby blanket is absolutely wonderful! The colors you chose are perfect together....I broke my resolution too - and for a baby as well - a new niece. I knit some baby socks for her (the first of many I am sure). You know, Allison, I have found that sometimes to knit for someone else - IS knitting for ourselves - because it is done from the love in your heart and makes you feel good in the knitting and in the giving - so in a sense you have knit for yourself. To satisfy the unselfish woman and giver that is obviously a part of your personality. Baby knitting is different too. Sometimes it's the adults who can be so-so about a hand knit gift BUT a baby gift will be taken care of and most likely passed down after it has been used and cherished by the baby to become a child for many years. Legacy knitting is (to me)different from quick last minute gift knitting, So you have nothing to feel "guilty" about. That's a "WOW" gift for sure (and now I will have to place that book on my "to buy" list! Thanks again for your creative inspiration.
Posted by: Diane from PA | June 05, 2010 at 07:49 AM
Knitting for others is a wonderful gift that
you give yourself. Especially for a new
baby. An act of love is never wasted.
Posted by: babyface | June 05, 2010 at 08:44 AM
A baby blanket is much more than a gift for a new mother. It is the babys first experience with warmth, color,
texture, security. It is always there and makes no demands on the baby. Possibly an item that will be a constant as toys and experiences change. A treasured first possession.
Posted by: mary | June 05, 2010 at 05:59 PM
I obviously knit for myself (sock yarnaholic here!) and I have the shawls and socks to prove it. By the way, thanks for the quick mailing of my last order of yarn Allison! I love packages (and so do my knit group friends who attempted theft of the Illusion yarn!).
I find as much if not more enjoyment in knitting for that special friend or family member who appreciates the thought and time that goes into each project. I figure I can be selfish and still knit for myself and others: I enjoy doing both!
Posted by: Kay | June 06, 2010 at 06:05 PM