How to Receive a Hand Knit

The holidays may be over but there is one subject left to be covered. Who stays and who goes? You know what I mean… who received their hand knit holiday gift with an appropriate response and who didn’t. No, I am not going to shame them publicly because that would be mean. I’d rather offer a little bit of constructive criticism in the form of a small list of do’s and don’ts. Besides, there are other knittable occasions coming up so you can consider this a little PSA.

DO – Write us a little note telling us how you loved the hand knit you received. Telling us how you saw us making it, or a picture posted on our blog, and hoped that it was for you – this is like gold.

DON’T – Wait. Ya gotta’ know that we are waiting for some sign that it fits. Don’t make us ask. Countless times we stop to measure and contemplate. Doesn’t it look a little small? Should I add the ruffled cuff or leave it off? This shade of blue isn’t too girly for him – is it? We agonize over these things and wait on pins and needles to hear that it’s just right.

DO – Send pictures of yourself wearing or otherwise enjoying the hand knit. You may be creative just as long as you convey feelings of joy. We knitters like to thing that our gifts spread happiness and evidence on that is always welcome.

DON’T – Say “Oh, how nice” when we tell you we made it ourselves. This is the general equivalent of “that’s interesting” and really, is there any response more deflating than one of obvious disappointment.

DO – Casually wear the hand knits when you see us. This is even better that pictures. Perhaps we’ll spy a glimpse of a brightly colored sock when the cuff of your pants rides up as you sit. Maybe the scarf we made will be thrown jauntily over your shoulder when we pass you in the supermarket. This is all good.

Pro – con – pro… always end on a positive so this list is done. I have made the appropriate edits to the list of those I will knit for and I’m ready to move along. I’m happy to say that those who were redacted from my list don’t know about the blog and will probably never be any the wiser. I hope that all of your giftees responded happily.

By the way, did you see the Golden Globes last night. I was ok with most of them. I love Hugh Laurie in House and Kyra Sedgwick is great on The Closer. Sascha Baron Cohen's acceptance had me rolling. As awards shows go it was fine – not stellar but fine. What gave me a huge kick was watching them with my girls. When Eddie Murphy won, the Drama Queen commented that he’s probably won lots of awards. I told her that I thought it was the first and said that a lot of his earlier work wasn’t really award material. I was thinking of his time on SNL, 48 Hours, Beverly Hills Cop etc. Stinkerbelle and DQ were thinking more of Daddy Day Care and Shrek. I reminded them that he did other things before that. So Stink says “Oh, I know, like Dr. Dolittle.”