What was the last thing you made for yourself? Just as a special gift to yourself?
If you had asked me that question a couple of months ago, I would have been completely stumped.
I mean, I have handwoven dishtowels I use every day but I only keep the ones that have small mistakes that make them unfit for gift giving or selling.
I have orphan placemats, too. I might set out to weave a set of six, to sell on Etsy or at a craft show, and end up eking out 7. So I keep the extra one.
And, of course, I have kept quilts I’ve made but I don’t really think of those as something I made for myself. I just make them because I have an idea I like and then tend to stick them in a closet and forget about them.
But I’ve been working on a couple of custom orders and doing lots of making for other people lately and I simply had a mind to rebel.
I made something for myself.
Just for me.
Something sort of frivolous and not really my style.
I made a big, comfy shawl.
I rarely go anywhere that this shawl would be appropriate. My clothing style runs to jeans and turtlenecks and sneakers.
And I can’t really use it at home because I am rarely without a cat on my lap and cats have claws . . .
But I love my shawl.
I chose colors that make me happy—the very low-key blue and tan go with every single thing I own, like denim jeans!The fiber is a blend of alpaca and silk. It’s soft and light as air, and warm as well.
I made the shawl big and long and wide, in a pattern called a plaited twill.
The weaving of it was fun and just a little challenging. I bought one pound of yarn in each color and used almost every last inch of both.
I’ve worn the shawl twice so far, once out to dinner and once to a concert in a chilly theatre.
And it made me feel like a queen.
I intend to make more gifts just for me!
I’ll ask it again—what was the last thing you made, just for yourself?
I hope it was something wonderful—you deserve it.