On a recent visit to family in New Zealand, I was presented on arrival with a bag full of yarn, needles and other sundries.

“This is great. What is it?” asked Bridget.

My mother-in-law replied that it was a hat she had finished knitting for her church’s charity knitting project, but was ‘too lazy’ to seam. And would I like to do it for her?

Being a dutiful daughter-in-law, a well-prepared traveler, and always looking for opportunities to impress, I fished through my knitting bag, found that I had actually packed a tapestry needle (whew!) and took care of it in a jet-lagged haze.

Because I just love finishing. Yup. My very favorite thing in the Knitting Universe. Especially after flying for 29 hours.

When I presented D. with the beautifully finished hat, she was so pleased that she ran off to admire it in front of a mirror. Returning a few minutes later, hat on head, she pronounced it “quite nice” and informed me that she was going to keep it after all.

I suppose I should be pleased that the finished object was received so successfully, but now I have this guilty feeling that I owe somebody somewhere a hat.