The perfect birthday present
It was my birthday a few weeks ago and I have been meaning to post about the great gift that I got from my man (the happy recipient of the boyfriend scarf from a few posts back). This blog is usually not so personal and even my more frequent posts about life in Japan, while they detail all the things I do here, are still not much more than a surface level view of my life. It's probably my first time to take something really meaningful and put it out there on the net, but this is too good not to share with all my knitter friends!
Have you ever heard of a guy learning to knit for his girlfriend? Because that's what he did. In secret, he got mutual friends to teach him the ropes and set out on a mission to make this pillow for me for my birthday. He worked on it day and night, spending his New Year's holiday at home, pressing through row after painstaking row, knowing that if he made a mistake there was no one here to help him!
He did it! He worked with my friend until JUST before we got the bus to Tokyo (literally, they were working on the last seams at the train station) and stuffed it in his bag to bring along. He also made sure to wear the coordinating sweater (I love stripes) when he gave it to me the morning of my birthday. When he broke this out of the bag, I could not believe what he had done. Only a knitter can appreciate the time and effort that went into the knitting of this perfect pillow especially for a first-timer. Seriously, there are no mistakes! I can't think of a more thoughtful gift. So even though he swears he won't knit again, I know that deep down, he is just aching to pick up the needles for something without a deadline. I just need to find him the right project!
Comments
Wow an Aussie man who knits!!!?? That is impressive and very sweet. Um the matching stripes are very cute (and perfect!). You are a lucky girl.
Posted by: kat | January 26, 2007 01:00 PM
That is SO awesome! What a sweet present - it looks great!
Posted by: Carrie | January 26, 2007 02:09 PM
What a guy! No wonder you're sticking around Japan for another year....
Posted by: Anjali | January 26, 2007 05:07 PM
That is awesome! He's a keeper for sure :)
Posted by: Sarah | January 26, 2007 10:49 PM
How unbelievably sweet. He sounds like a keeper!
Posted by: Ann | January 26, 2007 11:27 PM
Okay, that is SO cool! :-) Very thoughtful guy you have there.
Posted by: sarah b. | January 27, 2007 01:49 AM
That is *amazing*! What a gift! I love the stripes too. Get that boy another project ;)
Posted by: Lolly | January 27, 2007 02:55 AM
Majorly cute all around.
Posted by: freecia | January 27, 2007 03:26 AM
That really is the sweetest thing EVER!!!!
Posted by: Mariko | January 27, 2007 03:27 AM
First the trash system, then the birthday knitting...wow. Maybe it's time for me to come for a visit. ;-)
(Nevermind the donut!!)
Posted by: Mom | January 27, 2007 11:33 AM
And I love your new banner. Very fresh!
Posted by: Mom | January 27, 2007 11:44 AM
Do you think he could rub off on my husband? (Wait, I take that back. Then he would want to knit my stash) I think he did do an awesome job though! My first knitting was not that neat.
Posted by: Stephanie | January 27, 2007 01:38 PM
The pillow is nearly as cute as he is. What brilliance on both counts!
Posted by: Laura | January 28, 2007 06:28 PM
that's hilarious. but cute!
Posted by: carolyn | January 30, 2007 08:24 AM
it is wonderful! good men like that are hard to find! mine just sewed the hanging buttons back on my winter coat - far better than i would have done.
there is just something so sexy about a guy who can use a needle!
brilliant!
Posted by: susan | January 30, 2007 09:13 PM
dude. He's cuuuuuuuuuuuuute!
Posted by: kate | February 13, 2007 02:54 AM