The item that is being donated today is a sentimental item that is kind of sad to see go. As you know our mission at the moment is to declutter any items in our home that are not being used and are unlikely to be used in the future. The fact that this item has been unused and hidden away in my camphor wood chest for several years deems it clutter.
It is the last hand crocheted item left in our home that was made by my husbands grandma. Our linen closet used to overflow with all the crocheted hand towels and face clothes that she made for us throughout our married life. She has been gone for several years now and we have plenty of fond memories of her. She was a lovely lady who had it pretty tough for much of her life and we will never forget her.
You may wonder why we would give away this last physical reminder of someone so loved. My answer to that is because it is only that a physical reminder. Whenever I see any hand crocheted item I always think of her so there are constant reminders everywhere. We will always remember her and she will always be near in our hearts. We do not need to keep items that may be more useful to someone else in order to remind us of the good time we had together.
ITEM 180 OF 365 LESS THINGS
Check with family first – someone in the family may want the item and it would be a shame to see if go to the thrift store of it can stay in the family. 🙂
Hi Christy,
thanks for dropping in and leaving a comment. I know what you are saying and I did give that some thought. Old Grandma (as we called her) was a prolific crocheter and the rest of the family would have plenty of their own. They are all a long way away also.
Thanks again and drop in a again anytime.
I really liked seeing this. We have several crocheted things from grandmothers that we never use. I haven’t given myself permission to get rid of them. Need to do that. Thanks.
Hi Erin S,
it is always nice to hear from someone new. Give some thought to what Christy wrote in her comment and make sure no-one else in the family might want them first. This variety of clutter is the hardest to part with I know. Good luck and happy decluttering!
I think this is a good exercise in non-attachment. I’ve let go of a lot of things that had sentimental value. But there are a few little things that I prefer to keep in the house. My thinking is if there’s room and it doesn’t suffocate me, then there’s no harm in holding on to these things until I’m I’m ready to fully let go.
Hi Belinda,
I agree with you absolutely. This is why I am decluttering at a slow and steady pace. I deal with what I am prepared to deal with at the time. There may be things left at the end of the journey that I am still not prepared to part with and that is OK too.
Sentimental clutter is the hardest! But you know, there’s also something freeing about it. It’s like if your life is so full of stuff from your past, there isn’t any room for a future!
Hi Rebecca,
There are so many different views on this and they are all correct in their own way. I like you am all for making room for the future there is so much out there still to explore.
Thank you for this post. I have a crocheted blanket my grandmother made me when I was about 11. At the time, its pastels fit with my room’s decor and I used it until I was about 19. The blanket doesn’t fit in my adult life at all (not warm enough, no longer my style). It’s in great shape; I believe storing it and not using it for nearly 20 years means it might enjoy living with someone else now. Plus I have many other reminders of my grandmother, who is still living and with whom I correspond frequently. The letters are far more precious. I believe I’ll be able to let the blanket go now.
Hi MmmYarn,
thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment for me. It sounds like you really enjoy your yarn, you need to hook up with Willow who writes here often, she is also into yarn.
It is so very kind of you to let the recipients of your knitted gifts know that there are no strings attached and that they are welcome to let them go when it suits them. I think I will make up some cards with that message on and put it in with any gifts I give in the future.
I should add I’m a knitter and give away a lot of my finished items. I actively encourage recipients to pass the items on when they are outgrown or no longer needed; why I hold this blanket to a different standard, I don’t know.
Hi MmmYarn and Colleen,
I must admit that my heart hurt a little when I saw the beautiful crochet blanket! But I have to agree that if it’s time to let it go, then only you can make that decision. I still have the afghan that my daughter and I knitted for my dad. We do use it occasionally on cold nights while we sit in the family room.
I give away most of my knitting as gifts. Thanks for the reminder to tell people that they are welcome to pass the items along without guilt. My girls bring back their old sweaters to me and sometimes I unravel them and reknit the yarn into something else. Recycled and repurposed knits!
Hi Willow,
I must admit I did wonder what your reaction would be when you saw the crochet blanket. I am glad you approve. I really think MmmYarn’s pass it on with no guilt waiver is a very freeing gesture for her gift recipients. I think I will pass on that concept in a post one day soon.
For Willow & Colleen — Plus it’s just so fun to see a cute baby sweater on another cute baby!
Hi MmmYarn,
you are so right. I have kept a cute little yellow one with a cable pattern I made for my daughter before she was born. It was only the second thing I had ever knitted and it was so cute on her.