Sunday, December 11, 2011

Because I Can Never Leave Well Enough Alone

My school's holiday party (the adult version) is this Thursday and we're supposed to bring a gift for a white elephant type exchange. My issue with this type of gift exchange is that some people find awesome gifts (and sometimes go over the limit to do so) that everyone wants, and some people buy crap that no one wants. Now, lest I offend anyone, I love a good gift exchange but I absolutely will not spend money on something that could potentially be thrown away the following day. Also, when I give a gift, I actually want the recipient to enjoy said gift. Shocking, I know. Anyway, I was talking with another teacher in my school about this and she mentioned that last year there were some really coveted gifts like various Christmas decorations and such. I lamented that I wouldn't know what to buy (and really don't want to go shopping) so maybe I should just make something. Now, the debut of my little fox was a big hit with the teachers in my building so just mentioning that I should make something turned into cries of  "A fox?!"  

I don't want to make a fox for this exchange since there's the distinct possibility of someone who isn't really into wearing fake knitted animals receiving it like, say, Mr. Principal. So I brainstormed and decided a hat in the school colors might be fun. And because I can't leave well enough alone (poke, poke, hey Well Enough! You home?), I decided to knit it Fair Isle, with snow flakes. Oh yeah, and go ahead and design the chart as well. Because when I show up, I show up.


It still needs to be blocked, although I'm a bit worried about colors running. And I also need to decide on a topper. Tassel? Pom-pom? Nothing? Let me know what you think.
I'm hoping this will be well received, especially since the following day is "Hat and Scarf Day". Which leads me to my next confession. As if I didn't have enough to do this week, I've decided to knit this hat for myself. The little antlers are already felted and drying. 

Will I keep my sanity this week? Stay tuned.

14 comments:

  1. Freakin' awesome hat and yes it will be fought over! Don't think we are having a get together this year...nothing has been mentioned..

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  2. Such an awesome hat! And I would leave the hat un-adorned- some people like pom-poms, but others don't (like me!) and you don't want someone to get it who won't wear it just because it is topped.

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  3. wow - you do go all out! the white elephant hat is sure to be a hit and I LOVE that you've decided to knit a new hat - especially that one! - for yourself this week. I am all about losing my sanity over knitting this time of year :-) (and agree 100% with collegeknitting - the hat is perfect as is, no need to top it!)

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  4. love the hat.
    it's a perfectly thoughtful gift.

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  5. I would say tassel but where you don't know who its for I'd say leave it as is. Its awesome on its own.
    Your deer hat will be awwwwwesome!

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  6. Wow...and I was looking forward to our faculty white elephant swap (we just find crap around the house to wrap up and give away--so we all go away with really weird things). The hat is much nicer than the jumbo rearview mirror that I wound up with last year...

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  7. On an intellectual level I agree with the folks saying no topper for the hat. But my gut tells me this kinda sorta totally needs a GIANT pom-pom with all 3 colors of the hat worked into it. Or ear flaps with braids hanging off. Or both.

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  8. I have to ask, how long did this take you? It's an incredible hat, and quite a contribution to the white elephant exchange.

    I would leave it with no adornment, but that's just me. Love it!

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  9. Beautiful hat! I knitted a pair of fingerless mitts for my DH's yankee swap at work this year; we'll see how it goes over. (And I think I need to dig them out and work the ends in, whoops!)

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  10. Super nice hat!! I would leave it as it is.

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  11. We are having a white elephant exchange, too! The point of our exchange? Bring the most stupid gift that will get a LOT of laughs. I am bringing Holy Toast. (Google it. I swear, you will laugh.) One of my friends is bringing a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. So much fun.

    I think you should go with nothing. Tassels and pom-poms can be a bit girly, so if a guy gets it... I think he would be more likely to wear it without anything on the top. Love the chart!

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  12. Nice hat! I love the color combo!

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  13. You rock :) I love the hat and would love to be the lucky recipient of that hat rather than ... well you know some of the other stuff that turns up at these things. xx

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