My special gift to myself :-)

Hi everyone,

Christmas was four weeks ago and is almost forgotten already. But it wouldn’t be if you’d given yourselves a nice gift that brings you joy every day. I gave myself one.

No, you don’t necessarily need it. And you don’t need it very often, either. And there are other, cheaper ways to do it. Yes, that’s all true. But once you have it, you won’t want to part with it, because it makes a somewhat tedious task (at least for me) much more enjoyable and leads to better results.

I know you’re dying to know what this is all about. Well, they’re blocking mats —more specifically, they’re called the “KnitIQ Blocking Mat Set,” which includes 9 mats, each measuring 32 x 32 x 1.9 cm. T-pins and a bag that holds everything are included. For neat freaks like me, this is a big plus, because I didn’t want the individual pieces lying around everywhere.

Up until now, I’d always used a homemade makeshift solution made of Styrofoam sheets glued together and a fitted sheet pulled over them. Everything was always kind of wobbly, and I didn’t have any markings. Blocking was always a nightmare for me because I could never get it right.

That had to stop. That’s why I treated myself to the “good” ones right away, rather than the cheap, colorful kids’ puzzle mats that others might use for this purpose. Mine have an invaluable advantage: they have a printed grid of lines that make it easy to align the edges of my shawls. That was the main reason I chose these.

I’ve already blocked four shawls on them. It’s really fun now—all the edges are straight and at right angles, all the points are at the same height, and I don’t have to spend forever readjusting them. I’m so glad I treated myself to them every single time I use them. And since shared joy is double the joy, I thought I’d just write this to you.

Maybe you’ve also treated yourself to something really special just for you at some point. There are certain things you’ve been eyeing for ages, and then at some point, you just have to have it. And once you have it, you’re happy and content and wouldn’t want to be without it. Do you know that feeling?

Thank you so much for reading—and maybe leaving a comment. Please don’t take this as an advertisement for the product; I’m not getting paid for this. It’s simply an expression of my joy over my new tool. Of course, you’re free to use whatever you like, and I don’t mean to disparage anything. If you’re happy with your choice, that’s all that matters.

Warm regards from Ina

P.S. Here are a few pictures… As you can see, the mat’s thickness makes it very sturdy. I could even prop it up against the wall if I were short on space.

Hi,
I think your mat is great, and I’m glad you treated yourself to something.
Have fun with the mat.

I think it’s really great, too, and I’m going to order it right away... thanks for the tip

Hi Josefa, yes, I think you should treat yourself to good tools so that the “work” is fun and you get the best possible results. That goes for knitting needles as well as blocking mats.

Hi Arni, you don’t have to order it right away—you could add it to your wish list for now, until you’re really ready for it. That builds up the anticipation. But if you’re spontaneously excited about it, that’s great too—then you can start working with it soon. I’m sure it’ll serve you well, too. The lines alone are super helpful.

Best, Ina

Since I’m currently crocheting a tablecloth and stretching it has always annoyed me, I’m instantly thrilled.... :-) And I have to order something else anyway, so at least I’ll easily qualify for free shipping :-)

I’m guessing that with this setup, the tablecloth will crochet up even faster. So my tip came at just the right time for you. Sometimes you just have to get lucky.

Thank you, dear Ina, for this great tip and for sharing your enthusiasm. That really is a great tool!
I rarely block my work, and so far the ironing board has worked very well for that too.

Yes, I know that feeling too, when you simply have to have something, and then I treat myself to it. Usually it’s only little things. The last ones were a template for counting stitches and rows and a template for needle sizes. Both have been very useful to me.

At the moment, I’m eyeing something again that I absolutely have to have. This time it’s quite a bit bigger... I’ve fallen in love with a particular MacBook in gold. Since my PC is now 10 years old and I really want to get away from Windows, it’s only a matter of time before I can call this wonderful thing my own.

Ina, by the way, you have a really, really beautiful home! Who knows, maybe we’ll see each other in person this year. ;-)

Dear Monika,
your last sentence has me curious—maybe you’re planning a vacation in our area... I’ll let myself be surprised.

For your knitting projects, an ironing board of that size is sufficient—it serves its purpose. But a lace shawl or a tablecloth like Arni’s needs plenty of space in all directions to unfold; there aren’t any ironing boards that big :-)

The measuring template is also an important little tool for knitters. Yes, you could manage without it, but it makes it much easier and faster to determine the needle size and count out the 10 x 10 cm. I have one too and wouldn’t want to be without it.

I can totally understand your desire for a new computer. Ten years is a very long time for a PC. Technology is advancing so quickly, and some programs can’t even be installed on it anymore because it doesn’t meet the system requirements. I did a quick Google search for MacBooks—they’re really sleek and very expensive. And you want it to be gold—that’s the mark of a woman who loves the finer details. No man in the world would have made up his mind about that just yet. The color probably wouldn’t matter, as long as the tech is right. But for women, the color has to be right, too. When you have a special wish like that, it makes saving up for it easier. It’s part of the anticipation until you can finally fulfill that wish.

Best regards, Ina

Hey Ina,
I had no idea such mats with a grid existed. Thanks for showing me. I’ll definitely keep that in mind.
I don’t need one quite that big. But it’s great for granny squares, small projects, or table runners.
Can you choose the number of pieces yourself, or are they already packaged that way?

Dear Ina,
yes, you’re right about that. With men, the technology has to be just right… grin. When it comes to a car, though, my sweetheart does pay attention to a lot of details. ;-)

My new Mac currently costs just under 1,300 euros—that’s quite a sum. I’m happy to save up for it, and it might even be available for less soon. I still have time—my good old PC is still running great, thankfully.

We’re planning to take our good old RV out to explore the east a bit more closely around Easter. There are such beautiful areas there that we haven’t seen yet. And who knows, maybe we’ll even end up near you. Let it be a surprise… ;-)

Warm regards, Monika

@Bastelfan
Dear Andrea, there are always 9 pieces in a set. Each piece measures 32 x 32 cm. You can’t buy individual pieces. So with one set, you’d have a square area of 1 m x 1 m. Individual pieces aren’t available. But you’ve made a mental note of it, and someday, when you need exactly something like this to finish a project, it’ll come back to you. Everything you like gets stored way in the back of your brain—and it comes back to you when you need it.

@mowi
Dear Monika, when I briefly looked up your MacBook, I was already shocked by the price. Compared to a conventional PC, they really are very expensive. But I’m sure you’ve thought it through carefully. And if it’s worth it to you, then it’s the right choice for you. If you’ll enjoy it for a long time to come, then it makes sense. I’m also a fan of “quality over quantity.” We just keep evolving and become more discerning through experience.

I wish all readers of this thread a wonderful day.
Warm regards—Ina

Dear Ina,
yes, you’re right. A Mac is expensive by comparison, at first glance. I also always think long-term and don’t want to have to buy a new computer every few years. Everything Windows is putting out right now is just no good. A new operating system every few years—I’m not going along with that anymore. The future is heading toward having to pay monthly fees for software. In the end, that ends up costing a lot of money, too.

I’ve also looked into Linux in depth and came to the conclusion that it’s not the right fit for me either. A computer is my main work tool (except for crafts, of course), and I want one that will serve me well for at least the next 10 years. I used to work with a Mac at my job, and despite its age, it always ran perfectly, without any crashes. I can’t say the same about Windows. By now, I’ve already got three Windows PCs sitting around that are completely outdated. That’s finally coming to an end.

On top of that, we’ll be traveling more often in our RV again this summer. With the Mac, I can work for 12 hours without needing to plug in. That alone is a huge advantage. My PC gives out after just 1.5 hours.

Since I’m currently using a Mac as my work computer, I already have some experience and know what I’m getting into. Yes, it really is love. :-)

Dear Monika

I understand your wish all too well—I’ve been working with a Mac from the very beginning and have always been very satisfied. My next wish is probably for a new iPad; mine is really starting to feel like a dinosaur, though it still works—it just doesn’t let me do everything I want.
The blocking mats look great—I could really use them for the shawls I’m making—but I first had to check whether they’re even available here, and what do I find? There are nicely colored puzzle pieces here, but without a grid… 

Dear Monika,
that sounds like thorough consideration and experience. I’ve only ever worked with “regular PCs” running Windows. Yes, I’m also familiar with the many Windows versions that have come out over time, and I really don’t like Windows 10. I don’t have it on my PC either. When I fix my brother’s computer (he has Windows 10), I regularly get annoyed by it. I just can’t find anything, and those windows drive me crazy. Personally, I’m sticking with my Windows 7 for now and I’m happy with it. I tried Linux briefly once—it wasn’t for me. And I’m not familiar with MacBooks at all, so I can’t make any comparisons. But if you—like you—know both, you can compare and choose what’s best for you.

@Wollbaerli,
I’m glad you’re happy with your Mac. No matter how old the device is. As long as it works reliably and well, there’s no reason to buy a new one. New devices aren’t necessarily better.
The colorful puzzle-piece mats were designed for children to play with, and they’re good for that. If you’re not a perfectionist, you can of course also use them for blocking. I actually only found the grid pattern on this one model, and that’s exactly why I chose it.