Knitting for nothing..
I love to knit, especially when I'm knitting something for whom I really care. Actually, I can't knit at all unless I really care for the person for whom I'm knitting. If I don't give a shit about the person, I don't finish the project.
A professor of mine was pregnant. Two months ago, when she was showing, I decided I'd knit a few baby items. I understand that I didn't really know the professor, but I just love babies so much.
I spent an hour or two looking through knitting books picking out the perfect patterns, and then went to the yarn store trying to pick out the best and suitable colors for the baby. I must've been there for at least an hour and a half. I didn't know the gender of the baby, so I had to make a little extra effort making sure the colors would suit either a boy or girl. This act by itself made me feel connected to the baby, because I had to picture how each color would look on either gender.
I bought so much yarn - enough for several projects: a scarf, a hat, a pair of socks, two sweaters, and a jacket. I knew the baby was due in April, so I had to plan out the sizes of each knit item, such as figuring out how old the baby would be when Winter came and knitting the appropriate item at the appropriate size. This again made me feel connected to the baby. I kept picturing either a boy or girl in a crib or stroller or walking around...in each knit item. I even bought hand soap imagining drool and food getting on the sweater during feeding time. Maybe I got too attached to a baby that wasn't even mine and that wasn't even born yet, but that is what happens when you start making something for someone. You become invested in the gift, and for whom you are giving the gift.
Last week, a substitute was in my Religious Quest class. The class was informed that my professor miscarried - 8 months into her pregnancy. I became so watery eyed. I'm still so upset by it. I know it isn't my child that is lost, so I'm not as devastated as my professor is, of course. But, I still feel so upset by it. Even if I hadn't knit anything, I would be upset. I keep wondering how my professor is doing, how grief stricken she must be, how she is coping.
It has been over a week, and I haven't really gotten over it yet. I was thinking of buying some soaps, candles, and bubble bath for my professor, and mailing it to her over the summer. I still feel an obligation to come through with some kind of gift, because she knew I was making something for the baby. I obviously can't give her those knit items now, but I still feel obligated to give her something. So, maybe I should give her something to remind her that she needs to take care of, and occasionally, pamper herself.
Do you guys have any ideas?
A professor of mine was pregnant. Two months ago, when she was showing, I decided I'd knit a few baby items. I understand that I didn't really know the professor, but I just love babies so much.
I spent an hour or two looking through knitting books picking out the perfect patterns, and then went to the yarn store trying to pick out the best and suitable colors for the baby. I must've been there for at least an hour and a half. I didn't know the gender of the baby, so I had to make a little extra effort making sure the colors would suit either a boy or girl. This act by itself made me feel connected to the baby, because I had to picture how each color would look on either gender.
I bought so much yarn - enough for several projects: a scarf, a hat, a pair of socks, two sweaters, and a jacket. I knew the baby was due in April, so I had to plan out the sizes of each knit item, such as figuring out how old the baby would be when Winter came and knitting the appropriate item at the appropriate size. This again made me feel connected to the baby. I kept picturing either a boy or girl in a crib or stroller or walking around...in each knit item. I even bought hand soap imagining drool and food getting on the sweater during feeding time. Maybe I got too attached to a baby that wasn't even mine and that wasn't even born yet, but that is what happens when you start making something for someone. You become invested in the gift, and for whom you are giving the gift.
Last week, a substitute was in my Religious Quest class. The class was informed that my professor miscarried - 8 months into her pregnancy. I became so watery eyed. I'm still so upset by it. I know it isn't my child that is lost, so I'm not as devastated as my professor is, of course. But, I still feel so upset by it. Even if I hadn't knit anything, I would be upset. I keep wondering how my professor is doing, how grief stricken she must be, how she is coping.
It has been over a week, and I haven't really gotten over it yet. I was thinking of buying some soaps, candles, and bubble bath for my professor, and mailing it to her over the summer. I still feel an obligation to come through with some kind of gift, because she knew I was making something for the baby. I obviously can't give her those knit items now, but I still feel obligated to give her something. So, maybe I should give her something to remind her that she needs to take care of, and occasionally, pamper herself.
Do you guys have any ideas?