A Year in the Making
Have you ever had that project that someone asked you to make and at the time, when you agreed to make it, you were thinking to yourself “No problem. I can get this done. It will be a piece of cake.” And the feeling of happiness and willingness lasted all of two minutes; exactly until the yarn for said project was in your hot little hand and you walked away…
Well, a year ago, I decided I needed felted Gnomes (we have lots of felting kits) for Meredith to give her for her birthday. These super cute little kits we have make 2 Gnomes, each with a different colored coat. I had the bright idea that Meredith and I could name our Gnomes and hide them around the house, coming up on them unexpectedly and then hiding them again. 
Cute idea right? Well, I don’t needle felt. And don’t have any desire to needle felt. So I asked Kendra (our resident felter) to make them for me and I would pay her. Kendra didn’t really want me to pay her so she asked if we could barter. I said yes and she asked me to make a pair of socks for her middle son. Enter: “No problem. I can get this done. It will be a piece of cake.” Honestly, a pair of kid’s socks? I could have had them done in a weekend. But I didn’t. As a matter of fact, I just finished them this Sunday past, exactly ONE Year Later.
Reasons? Or rather, Excuses? I didn’t like the yarn and it was a very dark blue making it hard to see the tiny stitches; I didn’t have a real foot in front of me to measure so I was knitting by the seat of my pants wondering if the sock would fit… Possibly valid excuses for tardiness. But an entire year? Add the fact that I had Gnomes in the house for the entire year and my humiliation and mortification are complete. I am coming clean in public to scourge my guilt and help remind myself to think twice before saying yes.
On a slightly related note I have a sock mending idea for you. A customer came in (I think Ursula Smith?) and told Jane about this idea so she tried it and then I had to try it… Instead of darning socks (or throwing them away!) try needle felting the hole with roving. You’ll know from what I said earlier that I have never needle felted before and was a little nervous. The whole sharp jabbing thing is a little much for me as I tend to be clumsy in normal circumstances, never mind while holding extremely sharp, barbed needles. But I was motivated because this pair of socks was a special gift, they are covered in polka dots and they are cashmere. 
I am not throwing them away. So away I went and look at the results! It beats darning or tossing and adds character.
