If you’ve been following my blog for a while you may recall that last year I told you about Lindi’s extraordinary act of kindness to me. While Lindi and I are great internet pals, we’ve never actually met face to face, so I think I could call what she did an example of The Kindness of Strangers.
Well, it’s happened again, this time with a different kind-hearted stranger.
My story begins fifteen years ago, when I was more of a knitter than a quilter, and I began a labour of love, knitting an Aran cardigan for my husband. I enthusiastically knitted the back. Then a sleeve. Then a half sleeve.
And then I stopped. Life just got in the way, as it sometimes does, and the Aran cardigan took a back seat.
(This is not us – but I’m more than happy for you to pretend it is!)As you can see from the picture, this pattern was a wonderful combination of cables and twists – a 39 row pattern repeat in fact. As time went on my labour of love sat firmly in the ‘too hard basket’ and I completely lost track of where I’d left off in that 39 row pattern.
Finally, having decided I would never finish it, I put the whole thing up for auction on eBay earlier this year. It sold – garment pieces, unused balls of wool, tote bag and all – to a lovely young knitter who I’ll call Daisy (not her real name).
This should have been the end of the story. However when she came to collect her bundle Daisy, an experienced knitter, gently handled the pieces I’d already completed, said that working out the pattern would be no trouble for her, and generously offered to finish the cardigan for me. For nothing!
Even when she brought it back to me last week all finished she was still insisting she wanted no payment.
She’s done a magnificent job, and I was able to surprise my husband with the cardigan he thought he’d never see. 
Everywhere he goes people compliment him on his new cardigan, and it’s keeping him cosy and warm on our chilly winter days.Of course I returned the money Daisy had paid me - and gave her more for her work, in spite of her protestations. She is such a special person and a delight to meet.
Di, what a beautiful gesture from this lady. The cardigan is gorgeous, I adore cables and this looks so smart and snuggly.
ReplyDeleteLife's pretty amazing sometimes isn't it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet girl.
What a beautiful gesture on her part. It's stories like these that the papers should be printing. They restore your faith in humanity. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a fantastic sweater! Even I, a non-knitter, can see how elaborate the design is. Daisy is definitely a generous person. She makes me want to go out of my way to do something nice for someone else. Just think how much better the world would be if we were all as generous as she.
ReplyDeleteHow generous is that! But Di, I'm overwhelmed that you started knitting all those cables. Christine
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely cardy, I bet it's warm. And how generous is Daisy!
ReplyDeleteThat is the most wonderful story. I am a huge believer that what goes around comes around and when folk do random acts of kindness it really makes the world go around. I hope and pray that friends will be encouraged to do something to make someone else happy - we can all make a difference. Beutiful story, beautiful people, and really beautiful cardigan. 'the other' Di
ReplyDeleteI think God puts generous people in our paths for a reason. If nothing else it's a great reminder of how much little things (or in this case a big thing!) can mean to others. blessings, marlene
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