If it's Friday, it must be...

Swatch: Stash Day

Norfolk Shells 

My lovely friend Natalie has commissioned me to make a baby blanket for someone special in her family.  I am so touched that she trusts me with this very special gift, one that I know she hopes will serve as a family heirloom (what, nervous? me?).  We had a great talk about how much hand-made gifts mean to us and how we can’t help but feel extra special knowing that someone took that extra time to make it.  

As someone who is constantly knitting and crocheting FOs that I then give away as gifts, I do think a lot about the person I’m making the piece for as I’m working. I imagine them getting the package (in the mail or in person), opening it up, and feeling the texture of the yarn, soaking in the color.  It’s such a great feeling.

I shared some ideas with Natalie and after poring over many samples (too many, probably), she settled on a stitch that has real personal meaning to her. Right then and there I thought about how choosing the right stitch, pattern, color, and yarn is all about what personally moves us.  When I look around and see what other great knitters are queing up to work on, I’m always curious as to what caught their eye about that pattern or when I’m in a yarn store and I see other knitters’ purchases, I’m always wondering what drew them to that color.

Norfolk Shells spoke to Natalie right away … she managed to single it out among hundreds of other beautiful patterns and it was clear that this gift is as much about the giver as it is about the receiver.

This is an intricate crochet stitch, and I find it pretty challenging.  Each row requires counting, skipping, and different types of crochet stitches so I’m going to be on my toes. But I’ll confess and say that I’m actually loving the feeling of being pushed.

I’m only at the swatch stage but over the next month, I’ll be working on this commission and am really excited to contribute to Natalie’s vision of love and family.