A question.

[flapjack]

Three pregnancies ago, I knit a newborn sized baby sweater during the first trimester, and miscarried the twins shortly afterwards. Didn't have the heart to frog it-I just couldn't. I finished seaming today and unsurprisingly, it is far too small for Hamster Boy.

What do I do with it? Beautiful organic merino, hand-dyed, has some truly precious pooling, but I have no babe to put it on, and theoretically River is my last. Any ideas?

Oh- all my pregnant friends are due in the summer, btw, so it's not that easy. I was toying with the idea of asking on the PAL forum if anyone would like it, bu I don't want people to think its jinxed or anything. If anyone here can find it a home, lmk.

You tell me. WWYD?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/flapjac...ist/986790149/

[cee3]

Do you have a local charity you could donate it to? A children's hospital or a women's shelter? (It's beautiful)

[Juvysen]

I know the charities over in afganistan prefer wool, whereas the ones in the US probably prefer acrylic for ease of washing? Alternatively... maybe one of your kids has a teddy bear or doll it would fit?

[fallriverfox]

Umm, If you post it on PAL I'm sure it will be snapped up quickly. I think that everyone there would understand.


And, I know how you feel I have a half finished baby sweater in my basement I have no idea what I will ever be able to do with.

[Ruthla]

Could you use it as a doll sweater? Do your DC play with baby dolls?

[flapjack]

Skye plays with dolls, but they tend to be naked I need to think about this some more.
FRF Let me know if you need someone to finish your unfinished sweater for you, OK? Even if it never looks right for Clover.

[smocklets]

that is a beautiful sweater. I hope you find a good home for it.

[joshs_girl]

Helen, I think the sweater will find it's own perfect home

[flapjack]

I think you're right, Kati (and why don't you have a senior member title yet?) I like the idea of the teddy bear (it's a good fit for batmonkey, Isaac's build-a-bear) but for now? I don't know.

[amey]

Do you want to keep it as a remembrance of the lost twins? You could get a bear that's not for play and dress it in that sweater.

If not, if there's a local stillbirth group or group that collects layette items for those groups you could see about donating it there. I know there are groups in the US who knit tiny layette items for stillborns so that they have items to dress the babies in for photographs and for burial.

[flapjack]

I thought about that, but it doesn't feel right somehow. There's someone who co-ordinates that kind of knitting on a national basis over here, and they will be getting four angel sacks a year from me for as long as I can hold a needle or a hook.
I think josh's girl is right- that one day, the right thing to do will be blindingly obvious. Right now it's going to get packed up with the rest of River's newborn sized handknits that I'm keeping, and if I have a reason to get it out, I will do. Whilst I want to let it go, I also know that it's a memento of a special and difficult time in my life which gives it added value.
Thanks for listening

[gingerstar]

Helen. I didn't have any ideas, but I just had to send you a big warm cyberhug across the pond.

[flapjack]

I'm doing OK, actually. Today's the first anniversary of the last of my miscarriages, and I'm at ease with everything that happened. My squishy bundle is sitting on my leg cackling at you all whilst I type, and you know what? If things happen for a reason, I wouldn't have it any other way.