Knitting Emsiecat

Summary:

From alkjira's prompt: Since Bilbo was not overly fond of the jewelry Thorin made for him Thorin decided to find another way to present Bilbo with handmade tokens of his love and appreciation (he looked pleadingly at Ori until he taught him how to knit).

Knitting is also very relaxing *nods*

And a few years down the line Thorin is an expert knitter, but Bilbo still has the wonky hat and the twisted scarf and what was supposed to be a shirt tucked away in a drawer, because Thorin made them for him and he will treasure them always (just not wear them because somehow the shirt had three sleeves).

Chapter Text

Thorin would be the first to admit that he was rather fond of spoiling Erebor's resident hobbit.

It might be because the hobbit had proven himself worthy time and again, both as a member of his Company and as a companion, it might be because said hobbit had recently become consort to Erebor's king and it was naturally a husband's prerogative to want to spoil their spouse... Or it could just be that Thorin was ridiculously sentimental and loved to bestow gifts upon any he thought worthy of them and of course, Bilbo fit that description more than perfectly.

The problem being was that Bilbo was not a dwarf. The types of gifts that would normally impress his kin held little sway over a hobbit. Oh, Bilbo gratefully received any gift he was given, true enough. He adored most things his husband made him. However, Thorin could tell that the hobbit's humble roots were still held close and dear to his heart; it was not jewels or grand titles Bilbo wished for, but simple things.

Books, armchairs, gardens...

Food and clothing never went amiss either, but again simplicity was best. Asking the finest cooks in Erebor to present his beloved with a feast, or commissioning Dori to create a new wardrobe for Bilbo would be accepted with thanks, but never as with as much enthusiasm as a simple cup of tea and biscuits or a warm, hand-made cloak.

It was no great surprise when Thorin decided that the best way to please Bilbo then was to learn to make such simple pleasures himself...

For the first time in his life, Ori regretted ever learning how to knit.

Thorin pestered him on a near daily basis for weeks after stubbornly deciding his next gift to Bilbo would be hand-made. He interrupted the young dwarf in the library, appeared seemingly out of nowhere in the hallways to question him and on one memorable occasion; he had somehow appeared in Dori's workshop whilst Ori was visiting his brother to fuss and panic over dropping a stitch and 'what do I do now, Ori!?'

Eventually the present was complete, and it had been in a state of crestfallen despair that Thorin had handed it over to his husband. Bilbo had been confused as to why Thorin was so despondent until he saw the reason... Somehow, and only the Valar likely knew how, Thorin had managed to create a jumper with three sleeves.

"Um... well,"

"It is awful, I know. I just wanted you to see that I had tried. You may discard it, Bilbo... I honestly have no idea how I- I think perhaps I was half asleep and-"

"Oh, Thorin-" Bilbo had to bite his lip hard to keep from laughing in Thorin's face. It was pretty badly made that much was true, but he could not bring himself to break his husband's heart so.

Affectionately, Bilbo kissed the crease between Thorin's brows to soften the expression.

"You did your very best, I'm sure, and the colour of the yarn is beautiful... it's so soft too. I really like it," he meant it sincerely; for even if the jumper was rather a disaster in knitting, Thorin had poured all his effort and love into creating it for him, and really that is all that mattered.

Thorin's disheartened expression eased and he smiled tiredly, arms wrapping around Bilbo's middle and nuzzling his face into his belly as he looked up at him tiredly from his place seated on the couch.

"I know it is poorly made, but I promise the next one will be better.

"T-the next?"

He should have guessed this would not end here, and though Bilbo inwardly cringed at the thought of more butchered knitted garments, the hopeful look in Thorin's tired eyes (the poor fool must have stayed awake all night to finish the jumper) melted Bilbo's heart.

"Oh, of course, the next; I look forward to it, dear."

All it had taken was a great deal of patience and practice, Bilbo surmised a few years later (now a great deal richer in knitted clothing and accessories).

Thorin had been as good as his word, spending a lot of his free time perfecting his technique and taking to the challenge with the same dogged determination he might reserve for swordplay or working out disagreements amongst the kingdoms' various guilds.

Bilbo was not sure Ori would ever be quite recovered from his role as teacher though, poor thing.

Now, Bilbo could safely say that his husband could actually knit well; well enough even to put a few grandmothers back in the Shire to shame.

Surprisingly, the king found it relaxing, or so he told Bilbo. The gentle clacking of knitting needles and the repetitive motions of creating a pattern seemed to calm Thorin even after the most trying days, and this Bilbo could appreciate a great deal.

He really was good at it now, Bilbo thought, snuggling under a thick woollen blanket Thorin had made as he watched his husband knit yet another jumper (not for him though, this one was going to be for Kíli's first child).

Bilbo had still kept Thorin's first disastrous forays into knitting, and when feeling particularly wicked he would dig them out of his wardrobe to tease Thorin with them, much to the dwarf's horror. The three-sleeved jumper still resided there, unworn but much loved, as did his following gift; a scarf, which was rather twisted, wider at one end than the other. A hat lived there too, which was decidedly wonky and had never sat right upon his head. However, each and every item was dearly cherished and Thorin could easily laugh at his failures now that he had improved so much.

So if Bilbo occasionally chose to jam the wonky hat on his head, or twine the terribly made scarf around his neck and wear them out much to Thorin's embarrassment, there was little the dwarf would do to stop him. He would merely roll his eyes and claim that if Bilbo took up a dwarven hobby any time soon, he would tease him mercilessly in revenge.