Free gift... make it tonight!!
I love seeing this on magazines, it's such an inducement to buy, sometimes. I am a sucker, and a fool and his money are easily parted.
But sometimes the gift is actually something I want to make, or have had eyes on for a while, or just know would be a 'good thing' to make, and fun to do. I got suckered this way in the last two weeks.
The first free gift is this, a lovely Maria doll. She looked so cute, and I love Russian dolls.
Alas, she lies alone and unmade, waiting for a free evening when inspiration strikes and I think, "Gosh, I must do some knitting because it is ages since I dropped any stitches or stuck my tongue out at a tricky bit of slip one, knit one slip slip stitch over"
I can't remember the last time I thought that.
The second kit I got was a bit easier to think about. See, here is George Bear.
He came with instructions, wool and the offer to "Knit George Bear TONIGHT!!"
I took up the challenge, cleared my evening and sat still, tongue in place, to complete.....
Georgie Bear. Somewhere in the evening he changed sex. The bow tie became a rather fetching and very curly ra-ra skirt, and s/he was fun to do.
But sometimes the gift is actually something I want to make, or have had eyes on for a while, or just know would be a 'good thing' to make, and fun to do. I got suckered this way in the last two weeks.
The first free gift is this, a lovely Maria doll. She looked so cute, and I love Russian dolls.
I can't remember the last time I thought that.
The second kit I got was a bit easier to think about. See, here is George Bear.
I took up the challenge, cleared my evening and sat still, tongue in place, to complete.....
The body and head are knitted in one piece, with only the arms knitted individually and sewn on. A little stuffing, a few embroidery stitches and the Princess was happy the next day when Georgie took up residence next to her breakfast.
It was a good pattern; as a knitter who dislikes sewing up and attaching lots of little pieces the whole body/head piece was beautifully simple and very effective.
And, yes, the request for a proper George has been made. One day, I promise, one day.
I totally refuse to buy a crafting mag that doesn't have a 'free' gift. Georgie looks fab and definitely needs a George too. How lovely for your daughter to receive her as a breakfast surprise. I'm glad it was an all in one pattern, more or less, as I hate the fiddly knitting teeny bits to sew up. Is it bad though that the thought going through my head was 'she's following a PATTERN...?' However, all was well when I read you'd gone off-piste and changed the gender!
ReplyDeleteI just can't follow a pattern completely; it's inbuilt. I used to drive the tutors at card making courses mad, because not only would I look at what they were teaching and go "That's Ok but I'd rather..." but I was also a really quick worker, so I'd have finished everything and be sat fiddling with bits of card and paper.
DeleteAnd I followed the pattern because it was knitting and I wanted to get a handle on the shape. George might be different, a little bigger and more bearier.
Georgie is very cute! Will you show us the matryoshka when you've got round to it please? I'm a little bit obsessed with them! >.<
ReplyDeleteMe too! I had to trawl ebay to find stickers for my Filofax! I will finish her soon and post about her; but then I think I need to make an amigurumi set just for me. Might just do that instead.....
DeleteCool, I can't wait to see!
DeleteGeorgina is very sweet and I'm sure she'll be much loved.
ReplyDeleteLisa x
Absolutely! She lives upstairs and has a fine time. Still missing her man, though!
DeleteThey're both really sweet little kits. I don't buy these magazines because they're just so expensive. They feel like a maaaajor splurge for me. But I always think the exhortation to make the item "TONIGHT" is funny, like they know exactly what kind of person I am - I really am the kind of person who sits down excitedly to crochet or sew all night!
ReplyDeleteI have a cut off time now when I have to stop because of work tomorrow, but during the summer holidays I have greater leeway to stay up later and read/sew/crochet. I'm hoping my spring into summer blanket will get finished during that space!
DeleteI don't often buy the magazines; they really did appeal to me just for the kits! And since one was a treat for the Princess after tests, it felt like a good idea!
Fabulous! I love her! I think you can call this your little splurge after exam stress. Ours are finished today, woohoo! Are yours finished too? I hate sewing up so it's great that the body and head are knitted in one piece.
ReplyDeleteExcellent to hear that exams are over for a while! Ours finished today as well. Now only the 22nd August to get through....
DeleteGood luck!