A scarf, a ball, a doll blanket

If I think back to when I was a kid, I am hard pressed to remember many gifts I received that were not home made. Both my grandmother's sewed and quilted, and my grandma Marie knitted, crocheted, dried flowers, and just generally crafted. Our tree is still decorated with tiny crocheted snow flakes that she made (and starched) when we were growing up.

A scarf crocheted for me by Grandma Marie, a ball she knit for my brother (stuffed with pantyhose) and a scrap quilt from my Grandma Lila. All were Christmas gifts. All of them M now plays with.

As an adult, I've managed to try to continue the traditions. I remembered a few things they taught me. I've added to my skills by taking some classes and teaching myself to knit out of a book. The year after I learned to knit, in my loneliness living in NYC all alone, I knit 25 hats in a period of two months. Everyone I knew got a hat that year for Christmas. I've given away hand knit mittens for a family adoption at work. I even knit my husband a scarf. (It only took two years to do it)
This year will likely be the first year that we'll attempt the home made gifts with M, but I already have some ideas of how to do it with our budget. I've researched paint your own pottery places (local suggestions would be appreciated if you are familiar with them), and I'm going to dig out the Shrinky Dinks.

Even if this year isn't a huge success, I know that homemade will always be a part of our gift giving. I hope that M grows up to appreciate it as much as I do. She certainly loves the scarf... and the ball... and that blanket has never been used to much to wrap up and rock dolls.


This blog post is for a contest at the Parent Bloggers Network, sponsored by Klutz. I've always been a huge fan of Klutz, so I'm kind of hoping I'll win the big prize. Even if I don't, I now have an incredible urge to make some potholders.