Conundrum

#1

If any of you are on the LJ community “Knitting,” you will see some variant of this a second time. My apologies…

I knit a pair of alpaca cabled fingerless mitts for my mother. Well, several of her friends saw them and oooh’ed and aaaah’ed appropriately. And one wanted me to knit her some.

She provided yarn, which I didn’t like. So, with permission, I substituted some yarn I’m relatively indifferent to, but don’t mind knitting with. And sat down, making up the pattern as I went.

Thing is, they’re turning out really well. REALLY well. And they fit me like … well, like a glove. headdesk

I really like them. So, what do I do? Suck it up and give them to the original recipient (who didn’t know what yarn I’d be using, just told me to use whatever struck my fancy if I didn’t like the one she sent along). So technically she wouldn’t know if I just set these aside for myself and knit her something else that I don’t love quite so hard… but I feel bad. Because when I started knitting these, the intent was to give them to her…

So, people of better moral fiber than I: what would you do?

If I knit a new pair, I need to decide by today (Friday). And if I do knit another pair, they’ll be pretty plain - which she’s fine with, I was just having fun with the cables…

#2

Personally, I’d go ahead and give the original pair to the intended
recipient and then if I just loved them so much make another pair for myself. That being said I don’t think it would be selfish or evil of
you to just keep the ones you love and make your friend another
pair either! I’m sure whatever you give her will be greatly appreciated!

Libbie :slight_smile:

#3

I probably will just give them to her. I doubt I can re-create it, though, because I’ve been a bad knitter: I haven’t been taking notes. I’ll have the other mitt here to compare to when I knit the second mitt, so I’m not worried about that, but unless I have some time to sit down and scratch out a rough schematic… they may be destined to be one (pair) of a kind. :slight_smile:

Thanks for your response, though! I very much appreciate it.

#4

It’s not the yarn she gave you so I would have no qualms about keeping them and knitting her another pair. You agreed to knit her a pair and you are. I don’t see the problem as long as you fullfill your obligation. Just because your “intent” was to give THAT pair to her when you were knitting them, you “obligation” is simply to knit her a pair.

#5

I think I agree with Ginny. :slight_smile:

#6

Keep them and knit her another pair … no reason at all to feel guilty! I don’t think it is unusual to start a project for someone and then decide it would be better for someone else … even yourself. I made a purse for my sister and when I finished it … it was so NOT her … it is still waiting for the right person :slight_smile:

#7

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][SIZE=3][FONT=Comic Sans MS]Keep them! No justification needed. :woot:[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

#8

I would keep them too… and make her another pair. She will not know the difference and since you really love them, wear them proudly!

#9

Keep them, I’d say - you’re likely to appreciate them a lot more than the other recipient would, and she’ll appreciate another set of gloves too - if you’re in love with them, and you designed them, keep them as a ‘prototype’ (that’s the excuse I use all the time ;-)).

#10

If you do decide to give them to her, maybe you could take a photo of them first. That way you’ll have a visual guide as you knit another pair for yourself.

That being said, I really don’t see anything wrong with keeping the first pair for yourself either. You’re the one creating them – you have the right to decide!

#11

I’m gonna jump in here on this one. My gut reaction is to say KEEP THEM!

One lesson I learned this holiday is that intended “to be knit for X” type projects always end up changing. You gotta go with the flow.

Some things to keep in mind: If you have a time constraint, if you said you’d get it to her by a certain date and that’s quickly approaching, then I’d just give her the ones you’ve already made.

If she’s paying you for them, or if she’s seen these particular WIPs (shouldn’t that really be WsIP?) or heard a description of them, in short if she’s EXPECTING that these will end up hers, then yeah I’d go ahead and give them to her.

However, if there is no birthday or anniversary or other such deadline, given the fact that she didn’t know that these particular ones were going to be for her to begin with AND they’re a gift, she can wait. If you need to justify it to yourself, you can just say that these are another “practice” set and that the third time around will be even better!

Though, I guess the other thing to keep in mind is time. How long does it take you to make them? If it will be a long time before you finish these, and then start and finish the other ones, well maybe she’d like hers while it’s still cold, ya know?

I’d say keep them.

#12

Yeah, that

#13

Keep 'um!

#14

I also agree with Ginny! After all, she didn’t specify the yarn-you are not being “bad” if you decide to make her another pair. I would feel fine with it, and my conscience is BIG and BURLY with me :teehee:

Either way you decide, do take a picture!! We’d love to see them!

#15

Thanks everybody.

Basically, she provided a skein of Caron Simply Soft and I’m subbing a bulky weight wool blend instead because it’s warmer and, since it’s a similar colorway, I think she’s fine with the substitution. I’m giving her back her original yarn because a) she’s a new knitter and b) she doesn’t have a lot of disposable income right now, which is why I’m knitting them gratis.

Originally I told her I’d have “a pair” (no description) for her by Saturday, but it won’t kill anybody if it’s Monday instead. I’m a fast knitter - a set of these gloves takes me about 6 hours, all told, and that’s with pretty intricate cabling and they go from mid finger to mid arm (just below the elbow).

I think I’ll keep the ones I started, but put them on stitch holders for now and knit her a new pair in a simpler pattern, but the same quality yarn (wool blend, etc) and return her CSS to her. I’m also giving her knitting lessons. She was a childhood friend of my mom’s and occasionally I get roped into things. headdesk

Oh well…

Thanks for all the advice, though! :slight_smile:

#16

You’re doing the right thing.

I believe the project is telling you to keep it. :slight_smile: