‘Tis the season to feel guilty. And nothing brings that home more than going to an Afghan A-Long and realizing there are people out there who ONLY KNIT FOR CHARITY. I’m sitting there and really feeling sheepish what with my beautiful shawls and socks and sweaters – ALL FOR ME! Confession time: Guess what I sent to the Dulaan Project? Did I send any number of handknit hats, or mittens, or scarves or anything? NOT EVEN ONE SIMPLE HAT! I sent a box of hats and gloves and scarves that were all store bought and two winter coats that we don’t wear anymore. I know, I know, I still sent something, but I DIDN’T KNIT IT MYSELF! My knitting time is for me. Let’s dissect that sentence: my knitting TIME is for me. Granted I may have more knitting time than most. I don’t have any kids. I work for myself and at home (translation: if I feel like spending the day knitting, the only person who suffers is me. And maybe G, but he likes when I do that. Really! He does!) But that time is my own and I don’t want to share it. That’s not to say that I don’t knit for others – I do! But I knit for those close to me – so that I can still visit with my knits. (Notice the possessive pronoun there. MY knits. Even when I let them go they’re still mine.) You need money? I’ll give you the shirt off my back. Literally. But my knitting time – find your own! 😉

So, of course, it was a particularly sobering experience sitting in Kay‘s lovely living room, knitting to help others. Strangers. I may never see that afghan again (not counting the 365 more days it will take to complete this incredible work of art.) As I was picking up stitches and carefully knitting along the borders, I couldn’t help but think about the woman who spent countless hours knitting these squares. What made her choose this color combination? How did she decide on their names? What was she thinking while she was knitting? Was she wondering about the person who would be cuddling under the blanket? Someone sick? Someone young? Someone in love? The possibilities are endless, of course, but what did she choose to focus on? I tried my best to do her perfect squares justice, in heart and hand.

It was a very fun night – I met new people, hung with old friends and had a blast. Can’t wait to go back for some more charity work. (Details over at Kay’s. I didn’t take any pictures. NONE! I was too busy concentrating on my work.)

BUT, that doesn’t mean the guilt is over. When we were talking last night we all realized there are projects promised to SOMEONE ELSE that sit in the corner gathering dust. Either we haven’t finished it, can’t find the pattern, the yarn’s not right – EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES! NO LONGER! Introducing, the newest KAL to hit blogland:

Now, this isn’t going to be one of those fancy KALs where I set up a separate blog and we all help each other feel guilty about not finishing our projects – the guilt is all your own! But leave a comment here and pledge that you’re going to FINISH THAT FREAKING THING! Take the button, put it on your blog, and remind yourself and all the others out there that you DIDN’T KNIT WHAT YOU SAID YOU WOULD! Maybe you told your mom, dad, kid, cousin, sister, brother, grandmom, grandpa, niece, nephew, best friend, neighbor, sister-in-law’s cousin’s friend’s son’s bus driver’s mail carrier’s dog that you’d knit them something and just never have. HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO ATONE! DO IT NOW! YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN!

Okay. To start the ball rolling, I’m going to pledge to knit my father that sweater I found in Anthropologie. I’ve taken the time to find the cables. Hell, he BOUGHT the yarn himself a year ago. (Well, I bought it, but he paid for it.) And I need a fun cably project anyway. So DAD, this GUILT-ALONG’s for YOU! I’m going to try to chart the cables in the next couple of weeks and cast on for a swatch. Baby steps, people. Baby steps.

Who wants to guilt along with me?