Kiss My Knits!

This installment of Avalanche of Awesome focuses on etsy seller Stitchado!

Em hates using Kleenex. It’s something about the texture, I think. I can relate, as I have similar issues with paper napkins and the cotton that is stuffed into the tops of medicine bottles. Just thinking about pulling it out is giving me the jibblies. Brr. However, Kleenex is a little harder to avoid than the cotton. I can hand the bottle to my husband. Em cannot hand her runny nose over.

This becomes even more of a problem because of course when she gets upset and starts crying, her nose runs, and she wants to use her hand to take care of the problem. And of course the concerned adults around her ask her if she wants a Kleenex, and that just sets her off worse, and then it’s a vicious cycle that just keeps going and going. Paper towels are more acceptable to her, but what adult is going to think of that in the heat of the moment?

Finally, after almost ten years, I thought of handkerchiefs. I purchased some “Little Swipers” from Frank And Me on etsy, who really deserve their own Awesome entry. They’re great for home, but at Em’s age, I was worried they might be a little too young-looking for her to have at school.

Enter Stitchado.

Stitchado is Claudia Marchan. (As a side note, I just visited her blog and noticed the link to Chris Bishop’s great “Obama riding a unicorn” shirt and I think I must have one now.) Claudia can embroider like nobody’s business. I showed some of her handkerchiefs to Em, who was immediately on board. She picked the “bugs” and “strawberries” designs.

The handkerchiefs are so nice that I was afraid they might walk away or otherwise get lost at school, so I wanted them to be identifiable for easy return. I wrote to Claudia at Stitchado to explain about Em’s issues and how much I loved her hankies and to ask about how much it would cost to get an initial or her name embroidered.

Turns out she’s familiar with kids on the autistic spectrum, and under the circumstances, she would be glad to do the embroidery for no cost. She asked me to ask Em all about what color, location, etc. she would like and to get back to her and she’d get it taken care of. “Take it as a token of solidarity :)” I ask you, is that nice or what?

Check out the back side of the hankie. That’s some tight stitching right there. I couldn’t have done it that well. Claudia knows her stuff.

Em made her choice and Claudia must have done it that very night, because not three days later the package arrived on our doorstep. I honestly wasn’t expecting it that fast. Em chose to take the bugs one to school, but it’s so nice that she wants to take it home every day so it’s living in her backpack. Fine with me, as long as it’s there when she needs it. Happily, she didn’t need it today, but I really think this is going to do the trick for her.

I have absolutely no reservations about recommending Claudia to everyone I know. She was awesome. Next time you need something adorable, check out Stitchado on etsy. A good person doing great work – it just doesn’t get better.