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ChicagoGirl
New Pal
2 Posts |
 Posted - 12/23/2004 : 11:28:59 AM
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| My boyfriend tuckpointed my entire house which I felt more than earned him a handknit sweater. He also gave up a very important baseball game to go with me to the Michigan Fiber Festival. He never once complained and actually learned alot about fiber arts. He adores his sweater and proudly tells everyone I made it for him. I am knitting a second sweater for him right now. I say knit freely for the one you love -- especially if they love you back. Side note: Last night this same wonderful guy drove my little dog and I to the emergency vet (and paid the bill). |
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Debbie Mo
New Pal
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2004 : 12:16:50 PM
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Before I heard of the "Curse", I knit a sweater for a boyfriend - he liked it and wore it, but we broke up anyway - nothing to do with the sweater.
When I was dating my husband, I knit him a sweater, which he still has 20 years later, mostly because he only wears it when he gets "dressed up", which is rare. I recently knit him another one, thinking it would be an "everyday" sweater, but again, he's so afraid that he will ruin it that he wears it for "special occasions" - Thanksgiving at his sister's house so far. I was bothered that he didn't want to wear it around the house, but I think I would be more bothered if he spilled model paint or red wine on it.
On the other hand, he can't get enough custom socks - I knit him two pair out of Cascade Fixation, and he wore them without shoes so much that they don't get clean anymore.
That said, I agree with most of the others, listen to that little voice.
Debbie Mo |
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Catladyknits
Gabber Extraordinaire
Canada
368 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2004 : 12:32:51 PM
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I knit a scarf once for an old boyfriend. I put lots of time into it, and, I thought, I did a good job. Well, you know what he ended up doing with it? Placing it at the bottom of his front door to keep the drafts out!!
I can laugh about it now, sort of ...
We didn't last.
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my3seadogs@yahoo.com
USA
Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2004 : 2:45:53 PM
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Ah, Joelle, you practice what you preach and make Last-Minute Knitted Gifts! That does my heart good. I thought I was the only one. I have a great one on the needles for my sister, and odds are 50-50 that it'll be done in time. :-)
If you want to give your boyfriend a scarf, then by all means do so. I have to agree with all the knitters here who have said that it's unlikely that he will truly understand all that you've put into it... but if he'd like a scarf, then he'd like one you made him even more.
I made a scarf for my wonderful, adorable boyfriend last year, and he was genuinely moved that I would make anything for him. He's never worn it, and I'm not certain either of us knows exactly where it is (we've moved in together recently, and it could be in any one of a thousand boxes)... but the point is that he honestly appreciated it, even if he's not a scarf kind of guy. I had just started knitting and it was all I knew how to make at the time. (This wonderful man doesn't wear sweaters, either, so I probably won't ever knit him one unless he asks.)
Giving anybody a hand-made gift is a leap of faith. You learn a lot about how people think by watching them receive one.
Best of luck, Joelle, and go with your gut. I hope he loves it, even if it ends up in a box someplace. If it does, do what I'm going to do: swipe it and wear it.
--karen
http://saltysheepdog.blogspot.com
The Salty Sheepdog Baa & Grille |
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kmedford@yahoo.com
Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2004 : 6:07:18 PM
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| Beware--the Curse of the Love Scarf exists!! I had a very sad Valentine's Day this year.... Joelle, I say give it to your dad--if you are unsure, why stress? |
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frenchtoast
Chatty Knitter
Canada
188 Posts |
Posted - 12/24/2004 : 02:15:10 AM
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I hate to add to the no side, but I've experienced the curse of the love scarf too. It was probably more the curse of the boyfriend with boy disease (what my friends and I called guys who freak out and run away with little or no reason), but I didn't knit for my next boyfriend (now my husband). The scarf was lovely and he never wore it. His roommate took it and still wears it. I wish I could have given it to a friend of mine who has been asking me for a scarf for years.
www.kategilbert.com
www.kategilbert.com/blog |
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mamid
Permanent Resident
Canada
1568 Posts |
Posted - 12/24/2004 : 03:35:14 AM
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it also extends into sewing (i lost 10 meters of blue velvet on one guy!) and it can extend into family as well... Fil thought he was being polite, but he wasn't. "d* woman gave me X she made for father's day. she better not do it again!" said by FIL almost out of my hearing range last year. My hearing is better than my 2 yo even with the headphones on him. Almost too good at times.
FIL is a little gruff, but you'd think a man who worked with his hands his entire life would appreciate something that had been handmade by his son's girl? I've given that man two grandkids, I deserve a little respect.
Craftiness is Sanity |
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limegreen_sheep
New Pal
4 Posts |
Posted - 12/24/2004 : 10:55:42 AM
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I just knit a gorgeous travelling rib hand-dyed wool scarf for my boyfriend for this Christmas. Finished the scarf, went out with boy that night, got in huge (and unexpected fight) and broke up with him. One week later, we went out to dinner (trying to be mature). I gave him the scarf, mostly just to get rid of it. He pulled it out and the first thing he said was you made this?!? I love it! Touched it, asked what the pattern was called, even smelled it! Has been wearing it every day now, he says. He went out of town to visit some friends for the holidays. Called me and when a friend asked who he was talking to, he said me and his friend replied-oh the one that knit you that scarf?
So I think the curse holds true but is not always as bad as it seems. Boy is ver appreciative and shows off his scarf to all of our friends, breakup or not... |
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IsleoClare@aol.com
USA
Posts |
Posted - 12/26/2004 : 7:52:33 PM
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| Well guys, my DH when we were dating because he heard of the curse. Well, after we were married, it's another story. He's proud to show off his stuff. Clare PS It will be 28 years in Feb. Clare |
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Lorelei
New Pal
25 Posts |
Posted - 12/26/2004 : 7:55:31 PM
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I can't resist chiming in on this one. So many ways to say, "If it feels right, give him the scarf and don't look back." We're all enlightened people but we do give pause to the Curse of the Love Sweater! I say, if it's too soon to tell, I hope the scarf went to Dad (noting that today is the 26th.)
Here's my story; tell me where you think the curse is!
I knitted a gorgeous fisherman knit for an old beau. It was the most ambtious, expensive, all consuming project I'd ever undertaken, but he was worth it (in many ways.) That is until he cheated, lied and otherwise destroyed my trust in men for a while. When we broke up, I asked for the sweater back. He refused. So, I said, "Then I hereby place a curse on the sweater. Everytime you put it on, the neck will get tighter and tighter until one day....aarrggh...." So if you ever see a very handsome 50+year old man sailing on the rivers of Connecticut wearing a gorgeous off white fisherman knit sweater and tugging at the neckband, you've found him!
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mom4GJ
Chatty Knitter
USA
114 Posts |
Posted - 12/27/2004 : 10:05:53 AM
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So what happened? Who got the scarf?
I crocheted my boyfriend an afghan when we were dating. We've been married 17 years, and he's sleeping under it as I type.
I hope all worked out well.
Kim in WV
By laughing, you do not use up your laughter, but increase your store of it. (Life Expectancy, Dean Koontz) |
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Joelle
Chatty Knitter
197 Posts |
Posted - 12/27/2004 : 11:15:39 PM
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"I was profoundly moved by the scarf -- if this is a curse, no curse could withstand the beauty of this scarf..and I am very sure that any man who's worth a woman's time would feel joy at receiving such a gift from the heart. In fact, perhaps the curse is actually a filter -- a way to clear the less-than-sterling men from your life."
Sincerely,
Joelle's boyfriend |
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Yogi
Warming Up
USA
95 Posts |
Posted - 12/29/2004 : 06:31:53 AM
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oh darn, that's beautiful. Almost makes me want to date again...
- Lisa
...smarter than the average bear ... |
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Licensed2Cook
Permanent Resident
USA
3554 Posts |
Posted - 12/29/2004 : 08:42:00 AM
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He's a keeper Joelle!
Dee
~Licensed2Knit
www.Kneatles.com
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RoseByAny
Permanent Resident
USA
12598 Posts |
Posted - 12/29/2004 : 09:03:34 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by joellekh@msn.com
...clear the less-than-sterling men from your life.
I guess we know which kinda man this guy is, huh, Joelle? Good call... looks like he might actually be deserving of our beloved Joelle...
"Choose your friends by their character and your socks by their color. Choosing your socks by their character makes no sense, and choosing your friends by their color is unthinkable."
http://RoseByAny.BlogSpot.Com |
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MissPooh
Angel
USA
640 Posts |
Posted - 12/29/2004 : 2:32:37 PM
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What a guy! Joelle's boyfriend and Amie's Ken are the two most eloquent guys I've read. And they both obviously love their women very much.
Mary Lou
The reward of a thing well done is to have done it. Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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elk24@cornell.edu
New Pal
25 Posts |
Posted - 12/29/2004 : 9:19:47 PM
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I don't believe in the 'curse' one bit...if I did, I'm sure that a scarf would be exempt from it though.
If you need insurance though, you could try my little trick--This Christmas, I knit BF a scarf, and wrapped it around a shiny new (and pricey!) XM radio, just to ensure that it'd be a hit.
Good Luck! |
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dragonmom
Seriously Hooked
USA
956 Posts |
Posted - 12/29/2004 : 10:06:38 PM
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my fiance asked me to knit him a hat in the colors of his favorite t-shirt (bob marley tshirt in red, yellow, and green (i believe those are rastafarian colors?)). he adores the hat. there was enough yarn leftover, that i also knit a scarf. that doesn't get worn as much as the hat, but he loves the hat. and it's a hat with earflaps, lol. he only wears it when he scoops snow (he's very touchy about his hair, lol, and puts off heat like a blowtorch to boot), but he does love that hat. i made it 13 months ago. i don't think i believe in the curse, although 3 days after i bought the yarn to make him a sweater, we ended up in a huge monster fight, and nearly ended it. we made up, but the yarn still sits, lol. maybe i'll get brave, lol. he's definitley a keeper. the kids love him. and so do i.
Minnie
the world is knitted from one beautifully variegated skein and it's up to us not to drop a stitch. |
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Atavistic
Permanent Resident
6604 Posts |
Posted - 12/29/2004 : 10:11:31 PM
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Oooh, oooh, while I was on vacation I found out that a sweater that a then-girlfriend knit for my beau didn't fit over his head. I gave an evil grin (in the mirror, he didn't see it) when I heard that. I know, very silly of me. I admit it.
He also said that he only decided to ask me to darn his sweater for him when he'd seen my knitting. I was wearing the sweater he was referring to and I said, "But this is just an idiot seed stitch sweater."
"It fits over your head."
So Lorelei, maybe your curse was accidentally misdirected to his sweater? Ha ha!
Amanda
“There is more than one way to burn a book. And the world is full of people running about with lit matches." Ray Bradbury |
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Capucine45
Warming Up
USA
86 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2005 : 10:09:50 PM
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I haven't posted on here in ages but I just had to reply to this thread...
Four years ago I crocheted a gorgeous alpaca scarf for my boyfriend for Valentine's Day. We had known each other in high school and were extremely close friends long before we were a couple, but at that time we were both in college, far away from one another, and had broken up (without any hard feelings) the previous fall but gotten back together soon after -- or so I thought. I sent him the scarf but didn't hear anything back, so on V-Day I called him to make sure he had gotten it. As anyone who has ever dealt with college post offices knows, they are evil, and they hadn't notified him that he had a package, which was disappointing but understandable. But then the conversation deteriorated, and I found out that apparently we hadn't gotten back together (news to me!) and never would.
Needless to say, I wished the stupid scarf had been incorrectly addressed and would show up in my own mailbox, returned to sender. No such luck.
However...
That, combined with other factors, put my friendship with him on the skids, but after a rather protracted cooling-off period, we saw each other occasionally on a casual-acquaintance basis. And whenever I saw him during the wintertime, he always had on that damn scarf, which made me so mad! But the story actually has a happy ending, because time is a great healer (cliched but true) and we're now good friends again, and he recently told me that the scarf is the nicest, most thoughtful present he's ever received and he never plans to stop wearing it (and I suspect that a wedding isn't too far off in his future, so I guess she will just have to deal -- although they've been together through three winters of him wearing it and as far as I know, she's never complained).
Probably a longer story than necessary, but I actually find it pretty amusing now, since things worked out for the best. BUT I have never knit or crocheted a gift for any significant other since then, and I don't plan to until there's a rock on a certain finger of mine!
Cheers,
*Heather |
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