I finished the snood the other night, washed it, and presented it to my daughter. That’s always a nervous moment for a knitter: that moment when you find out if your creation will be loved and your efforts worth it, or if you will get that stiffly polite but transparent “thank you”. No danger of that with a toddler, however — if she didn’t love it, she’d just drop it on the floor and walk away.

But, she loved it. She popped it over her head and wore it all day the first day. Today, she popped it over her head, then kept taking it off and pushing her fingers through the stitches appreciatively — well, appreciatively or mischievously — and then holding it arms outstretched and stretching it as wide as it would go. It’s not the best treatment for a hand-knitted item, but it’s a toddler’s way of showing love.

I’m not happy with the seam: I did it in haste when the baby had just gone to bed and I knew I really ought to get my head down as soon as possible, so it’s very sloppy. I may tidy it up at a later point. You know, in some of my two-small-children spare time.

But for now, it doesn’t matter. She loves it. It looks great with her coat, and it keeps her neck warm. I am happy enough, and so is she.