Hand-made gifts are delightful, especially when they’re done with sincerity, true care, and love. True, they’re not always the slickest or most beautiful gift, and they may not be that new techno-whatsit that was on the top of your list, but they’re special and thoughtful, and will hopefully always looked upon year after year as a treasured belonging.
It should come as no surprise, then, that I’ve been trying to work on a few hand-made gifts for family this year. I won’t mislead you – not all gifts I give this year will be hand-made. I wish! Sadly, I just didn’t have the means (i.e. time) this year, but what I have managed to make in time for Christmas, I’m really satisfied with! I wish I could share here all the neat little gifts I’ve worked on in preparation for Christmas, but I worry that the surprises would be ruined for most of the gift receivers…
… however…
… there is one item I have no worry about being leaked, so I can happily share it here before the holidays! For my mother-in-law, I decided to knit something special, because she’s the sweetest woman I’ve ever met in my life, and accepted me into the family the moment we first met, before we could ever have known I’d someday be her daughter-in-law.
I spent two months diligently knitting a shawlette, a beautifully simple crescent-shaped wrap with a cedar leaf trim. Quite proudly, I say that my patience paid off in the end, because what resulted was (I think) my most beautiful knitted work to date!
Isn’t it lovely? It’s lightweight and comfortable, and I love wearing it myself!
I instantly fell in love with this pattern when I saw a display of the shawlette at my local knitting shop: a beautifully simple crescent-shaped wrap with a cedar leaf trim. It looks simple, but as most simple-looking things are, there were hidden complexities, tiny details that took time. There are 30 of those leaves! Well worth the effort, though.
I used two yarns, Classic Elite Cotton Bam Boo (in Bayberry) and the Cascade Alpaca Lace that I untangled months ago. The pattern, found here, is by Alana Dakos of Never Not Knitting, and I guess it’s one of her best-selling patterns, so maybe some of you knitters out there recognize it!
I know my mother-in-law will love it more than I do, and is so deserving of a beautiful hand-made gift this year! I can’t wait to see her wear it!
-Sara
It's so lovely! You do such find work, I can't wait to see it all in person (other gifts, I know I won't see this.)
ReplyDeleteAlso, thank goodness you're posting. Ha ha.