I like to make gifts.

Often a recipient says that a particular item is “too nice to use.” This makes me sad. While I work on an item that’s intended as a gift, I imagine the recipient using it, loving it and wearing it out. I’m careful to match what I know about the recipient to the pattern and the materials so that caring for it will not be a burden. Even with baby stuff, I am aware of all the bodily and other fluids that could end up on the item, and I choose yarns and patterns that can stand up to a lot of rough use and washing.

The greatest compliment anyone could ever give to me about something I made would be to hand it back to me a year later and say “I’m so sorry, we love it so much, we use it all the time and now look, it has a hole in it. Can you please fix it for me?” I’d probably cry with joy, and I would gladly fix it. My hope when creating something is that the recipient will get as much love out of it as I’ve put into it.

So if I’ve made something for you, please don’t hesitate to use it. Nothing would make me happier to come over to your house and see it worn out. Besides, if you don’t wear it out, you’ll never give me an excuse to make a new one for you!!