The year was 1999. I was a college freshman. It was Fall. I needed a chair. I went to Ikea, picked out an inexpensive chair and a coordinating cover. The cover was a pale pea green. It moved from apartment to apartment. My first, second, third. A brief move back in with my parents. My next apartment. Then out of state, to two more apartments. I dyed the cover Purple in my bathtub. I was afraid to use dye in my apartment’s tiny stacked washing machine- it was strictly prohibited in my lease (to use dye in the machine). 7 years ago it made a move into our current home. It has been in my office (RIP). The (finished) basement. My bedroom. In 2015 we purchased a new undyed cover and proceeded to dye it orange. It matched my daughter’s room perfectly. Once she moved from a toddler bed to a twin a few years later, the chair moved into the living room. Where it has become my favorite spot to sit. Its still comfortable, after 20 years of heavy use. The legs are a touch wobbly, but as long as you don’t plop or scoot the chair, you would never suspect.

Lately I’ve been thinking about replacing it. I’m not sure how many years it still has in it. There is a part of me that wants to just run it into the ground. How many years will that take? 3? 5? 17 additional years? Just HOW LONG can I use this chair? Before it gives out. Honestly, I throw a leg over the side. I can sit cross-legged (criss-cross-applesauce-style). BUUUUT, its looking a bit frumpy these days. I’ve been eyeing $2000 leather armchairs from West Elm and Joybird. But I just can’t bring myself to make that purchase. Like somehow I’m not adult enough to own an expensive piece of furniture. I abuse this chair, could I let myself sit comfortably with a cup of tea in a chair that’s 10x the cost?? I’ve also thought about replacing it with the same chair from Ikea, but new. I will be disappointed if I don’t get AT LEAST 20 years from my next chair, regardless of how much I pay for it!

Fiber Related Content:

I’m “approaching” the heel placement row of my “Say Yes to Pie” socks in 24 +/- rows ! I can’t wait to get this pattern released! Its so much easier to write a sock pattern than a sweater pattern- much less grading involved! My contrast color has enough remaining to become at least one additional pair of socks! Talk about getting great mileage from a couple of skeins of sock yarn!