To Gift, or Not To Gift
In the past there were a lot more formalities and socializing was never easy. I had always imagined that the aristocrats of bygone days were simply lounging around in luxury as their handmaidens waited on them hand in foot, their largest bursts of energy focussed on a rousing game of balderdash. But as I've read more and more about the days of yore (don't you love my technical references to the past?) I've discovered that the priviledged were under extreme pressure, where a simple comment to the wrong person could devastate their social standing.
Nowadays (another technical term) I think we have it pretty easy. Although most of us aren't aristocrats or even descendents of them, the social pressures have lessened quite a bit. You can go into the fanciest restaurant in Los Angeles and the patrons will be there in designer jeans. It wasn't long ago that a gentleman didn't go out in public without a tie and hat, a lady without a hat and gloves!
So does that mean that good grooming, polite conversation and gracious composure are out of date? Perhaps. But it doesn't mean that we can't be gracious, dress respectfully for the occasion, and be polite if we want to, right? This past weekend I stayed at Laurie's in LA for the third time. When I walked in I knew where everything was, the cats acted like they knew me (as opposed to hiding the entire weekend, which has happened before) and I felt very much at home there. That being said, I tempered that feeling of comfort with the thought that I was indeed a guest in her home, her personal space, where things are just so because they are safe and happy that way. And when I left I made sure that she didn't have eleventeen hours of cleanup just to get back to normal. I don't think good manners go out of style, do you?
Another tradition that I love to embrace (and the whole point of this post) is the hostess gift. I try to think of a gift that the host/hostess would not normally get for themselves. For example a box of Godiva chocolates are usually a hit, so is a novelty version of something they love (I gave Laurie a set of Namaste glass knitting needles last time I was out there). This time around I made her a set of fingerless gloves because in August when I was there she was talking about how cold her office is at work.
I'm on my way to ship them to her right now. Shh, don't tell her! And now everytime she wears them she'll think about the December that we froze in 62 degree weather and put up a Christmas tree in her house.
Pattern: Fetching from Knitty June 2006
Yarn: Rowan Tapestry (70% wool/30%soy)
Time to make: 6 hours total
Note: I modified the final three rounds and eliminated the picot bind off to make them a snugger fit.
Nowadays (another technical term) I think we have it pretty easy. Although most of us aren't aristocrats or even descendents of them, the social pressures have lessened quite a bit. You can go into the fanciest restaurant in Los Angeles and the patrons will be there in designer jeans. It wasn't long ago that a gentleman didn't go out in public without a tie and hat, a lady without a hat and gloves!
So does that mean that good grooming, polite conversation and gracious composure are out of date? Perhaps. But it doesn't mean that we can't be gracious, dress respectfully for the occasion, and be polite if we want to, right? This past weekend I stayed at Laurie's in LA for the third time. When I walked in I knew where everything was, the cats acted like they knew me (as opposed to hiding the entire weekend, which has happened before) and I felt very much at home there. That being said, I tempered that feeling of comfort with the thought that I was indeed a guest in her home, her personal space, where things are just so because they are safe and happy that way. And when I left I made sure that she didn't have eleventeen hours of cleanup just to get back to normal. I don't think good manners go out of style, do you?
Another tradition that I love to embrace (and the whole point of this post) is the hostess gift. I try to think of a gift that the host/hostess would not normally get for themselves. For example a box of Godiva chocolates are usually a hit, so is a novelty version of something they love (I gave Laurie a set of Namaste glass knitting needles last time I was out there). This time around I made her a set of fingerless gloves because in August when I was there she was talking about how cold her office is at work.
I'm on my way to ship them to her right now. Shh, don't tell her! And now everytime she wears them she'll think about the December that we froze in 62 degree weather and put up a Christmas tree in her house.
Pattern: Fetching from Knitty June 2006
Yarn: Rowan Tapestry (70% wool/30%soy)
Time to make: 6 hours total
Note: I modified the final three rounds and eliminated the picot bind off to make them a snugger fit.
I won't tell Laurie! You are SUCH a considerate person.
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Thanks for not telling!
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I won't tell her.. but good luck keeping her from reading this post! BTW.. she's going to love them (and cry, but I didn't say that either)
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Wow, do you think she reads my blog? How cool is that!!!
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Laurie is a very lucky girl indeed, to have you for a friend.
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Aw shucks, thanks!!!
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Lovely. They seem like the perfect colors.
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I love that yarn, it's so rich and soft! The colors blend beautifully.
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Ahhh, Drew. You seem to be the greatest houseguest EVER!!! Laurie is so lucky to be gifted with the gloves. I know you were swamped while in L.A., sorry we didn't get to rendezvous!!! Happy Holidays!
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It was a crazy trip, that's for sure! Next time we'll get together. Happy Holidays to you too!
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Drew, those are awesome. I have to make me a pair! You are so sweet. Laurie will love them!
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I hope she does!
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The gloves are soo nice, I love the colorway. More house guests need to take lessons from you, not only do you not leave a mess, you are thoughtful enough to make a gift for your host. What a truely sweet guy !
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Thanks for the compliment! I don't think it takes much more effort to be kind than unkind. Or as my Mom always said, "you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar"...
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Olá!Dude venho sempre ao seu blog e aprecio muito seu trabalho que é maravilhoso e perfeito,faço Tricô mas ainda há muito para eu aprender,um de meus sonhos é aprender tricotar meias com agulhas sem pontas e também na circular,mas aqui no Brasil ainda não encontrei revistas ou alguém que saiba fazer para eu aprender,talvez seja porque somos um País tropical,mas mesmo assim quero muito aprender.Posso sujerir?..você poderia postar um passo a passo de meias?eu ficaria muito feliz!
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Obrigado visitando! Esta aqui um Web site que deva lhe ajudar aprender knit mais melhor. Veja-o logo!
http://www.knittinghelp.com
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hello!Dude I always come to its blog and very appreciate its work that is wonderful and perfect, I make Tricôt but still it has very I to learn, one of my dreams is to learn to also tricotar half with needles without tips and in circulating, but in Brazil still I did not find reviewed here or somebody that knows to make I to learn, either because we are a tropical Country, but exactly thus I perhaps want very aprender.Posso sujerir?..you could postar one step by step of socks?eu would be very happy!
I made the translation in google forgives.
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oohh ahhhh.... I have knit that pattern myself, and is is so much fun! I just love that yarn, and the color graduation... YUM
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And you definitely get two Fetchings out of a skein; what a deal!!
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How thoughtful of you!!
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I do what I can.
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What a beautiful gift.
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And it's such a fun pattern too!
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Oh Drew, you are so right. Why is it that people (nowadays) seem to have forgotten about the all-important hostess/host gift? It is nice to put some creativity and thought into the gift, but even a simple bottle of wine or a box of chocolate is appreciated. I'm always amazed at how many of my fellow guests at parties and gatherings seem to forget their hosts. Recently, the parents of a dear friend invited me to celebrate Thanksgiving with them in their home. In addition to a couple of bottles of wine, I brought them a neat kitchen gadget...a turkey stuffing basket (http://tinyurl.com/ylatbg), as well as some gourmet hot cocoa packets and some Anne Taintor holiday themed cocktail napkins. Your knitted gloves are so adorable, I'm sure she'll love them!
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Now that's what I'm talking about! Your hostess gifts sound perfect!
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Drew - I just saw you over on The Harlot's site...you and Annie are in a formal American Gothic pose. Love it!
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I just saw that; what an honor to be on her blog!
It's also very cool that all y'all recognized the pose.
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HEY DUDE!
When is your episode of Knitty Gritty going to be aired????????
I don't want to miss it!!
Sue
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Oh, the Fetching mitts are fabulous in Tapestry! I have that exact colorway and was going to knit some plain ribbed fingerless mitts, but I may just have to do Fetching instead! Nice gift!
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To gift or not to gift? I have always believe that you should give a gift if you feel like it. Is it proper or not? I don't know a gift is just a gift. It should be accepted graciously and then a thank you card. Is it proper to find out if they regifted it? As far as I am concerned, once a gift I give leaves my hands , it is the property of the gifted.
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That was a lovely post, and all true. Very, very true.
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