Ohhh, its a hand crocheted gift!

[Guest Yarnentangled]

When I first began crocheting my sister in law quipped

"I suppose we'll all be getting crocheted things as gifts" in a tone that told me it was anything but desireable to receive a hand crocheted item.

 

Since then I've held off on making things for others. I would be heartbroken if I labored over something and it wasn't appreciated. Yarn isn't cheap, my time is precious, and every item made gets me one step closer to carpal tunnel wrist..you know what I mean?

 

I've read a lot of posts about making Xmas gifts for friends nd family members. . Are you sure that special someone would like it? I know my sister in law would scoff.

[Stacey]

I don't exchange gifts with many people (just hubby, stepdaughter, my parents, and hubby's mom this year) because I get overwhelmed and also because of finances, but I crochet for some of the people I do exchange with. This year I'm crocheting things for my mom and stepdaughter, and probably going to make a thread bookmark or two to slip into MIL's gift. My mom's a crocheter and so is MIL, so I know it'll be appreciated, and I think my daughter will really like the shawl I'm making for her (*if* I manage to get it done!)

 

Someone with an attitude about getting a handmade gift wouldn't get one (and their loss, IMO), but someone with that kind of attitude probably wouldn't be on my gift-giving list anyway

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

My kids who are all almost teenagers , are sometimes unappreciative of my crocheted gifts too. I think 1 day they will appreciate them maybe when I'm gone but at least then they will have something to remember me.

 

Some people cannot be pleased, but don't give up.My neighbors had a baby and I made her a dress and her 2 sisters little bears they were so appreciative, they sent me hand written thank you notes(a 5 and 7 yr old) :)h

 

[Ambersafghans]

Oh that's awfull.

My Mom always says that the hand made gifts are the best. (Of course, with a lot of little kids she gets all kinds)

Year before last (wow) she hinted that she needed individual bags for her nativity. So I made them and gave them to her last year. She was pleased. I find it hard to think of something for some people though. Dad's can be pretty hard. But I'm not making a lot of gifts now, because I can't afford the time. I know that some of my gifts (ahem. around 10 years old or so) weren't very usefull, but I have a wonderfull family and I have never been scoffed at.

A lot of people do appreciate hand crocheted items though.

Amber

[Stacey]

Dad's can be pretty hard.

 

They sure can! This year will be the first year in ages that I won't end up buying my dad a gift because I couldn't think of anything to make that he'd like. I'm going to try this: no-sew fleece blanket in a masculine-looking fleece print - I hope he likes it!

[suttygirl2005]

Yarnentangled, I know how you feel I am alittle afraid of giving crocheted gifts also for all the reasons you stated but I am going to anyway because I don't work and it's what I can give personally and I guess if they don't like it hopefully I won't know.My Website

[Schoneys]

My great granny always gave homemade gifts and I still treasure them today. My grandmother also crochets afghans for all the kids and new babies and everyone in my family loves their afghan.

 

I think something homemade is better than store bought (maybe I am biased LOL). It shows that you put time and effort and thought into the gift and to me that means more than just going out and buying something.

 

I am sure your creations are very pretty and special and if she doesn't think that, then I wouldn't waste time on making her something.....just my opinion. Save it for someone who will appreciate it and love it!!

[kariholtz]

I have always made Christmas gifts if I could. That's just what I do. People who know me expect a homemade gift (maybe accompanying a storebought one depending on what/who).

Yes it hurts my feelings if it's not apreciated but for the most part everyone apreciates the fact I actually take time and make gifts.

[Kathleen]

(climbing on soapbox)

 

Anyone who would scoff at anything homemade is selfish, in my opinion! After all, its the thought that counts, and anyone who crochets a gift for someone has put a lot of thought--not to mention time-- into any gift they give!

 

If someone doesn't like a gift I give them, homemade or not-- too bad, so sad cuz they'll never get another.

 

(off my soapbox now)

[aliassak]

I think a lot of has to do with the stigma attached to crochet-- "it's knitting's black sheep cousin..." Well no more! The wonderful patterns and beautiful yarns that are available today make each piece a work of art, lovingly created for those special someones. And if you're SIL is too dense to see that, then she can go suck eggs! LOL Ok, so maybe I've got some stronger words for her concerning her opinion about crochet, or handmade gifts for that matter, but, I think that about covers it without getting the mods involved. <img border=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/lildevil.gif" />

 

Personally, I think I would stitch up something absolutely gorgeous in a color that she loves, such as a scarf and hat set or the like, and when she ooohhhs and ahhhhs over it, watch her eat crow when I tell her that I CROCHETED IT!!!!

[Julie]

I think you should make things for the people who will appreciate them, and not worry about the ones that won't. I haven't made a gift yet for someone who wasn't thrilled with the item, and I don't necessarily attribute that to any real skill on my part. I think it is more because they know you took the time to make something by hand for them. You make what you want to make, and before you know it the ones that didn't like crochet to start with will start dropping hints on you so fast you won't know where to begin. And then you can make 'em wait.

[RebeccaVelasquez]

amy, that was funny!

this angers me as well... she's truly missing out.

my entire family is begging for stuff because i started crocheting after Christmas last year... now they are all rubbing hands in anticipation... but we are all crafty of sorts and truly enjoy doing things for others and receiving what was done for us.

 

maybe what you should do is just get her a gift card at WalMart, and say :nana i spent so much time and love and effort on everyone else's gift, i just didn't have the energy to shop for you.

 

okay, so maybe that's a bit ugly and out of the holiday spirit - oooh, but wouldn't it make you good:bad

[LI Roe]

I have learned over the years who will appreciate a hand made gift and who doesn't. I had one friend that I used to exchange just a small present at Christmas and every year when she would open mine she would get excited and say "I was hoping it would be something you made yourself". I recently made a heart pillow and also a crocheted outfit for a white jointed teddy bear for another friend in her favorite color of purple for her birthday and she showed them off to anyone who walked into her house. And every time I made either a baby afghan for a babt shower or a regular afghan for a bridal shower (those are my standard gifts for showers), I have had them passed around and oohed and aahed over and was even asked for the pattern. That made me feel really good. After a while, you get to know who will appreciate what you do.

 

LI Roe

[happymollie]

I just learned to crochet a few months ago and plan on making some gifts for Christmas. I am nervous about how they will be received, though. I can guess who might make a comment, so maybe they won't get anything handmade. I hope the people I do make something for enjoys them for a long time.

 

:jack :jack :jack :jack :jack

[lilhatshack]

I can't believe that anyone would SCOFF at a handmade gift. Maybe your SIL has no creative outlet and is a little jealous? I think handmade or homemade gifts are the best - because they come from the heart!:)h . I know that sounds really cheezy but that's how I feel. My sisters and nieces are bugging me for crochet items and crochet and knit is BIG this year - so your SIL is missing out - her loss!

[Guest Yarnentangled]

:bad :bad :bad

 

Amy,I actually did get my revenge on my scoffing SIL. You see, I came up with the very same idea....that is...make something she'd like and keep it for myself. It was just a simple giant granny square in her favorite colors. Bwahhh. She saw it and said "oh wow, I love those colors, that would look great in my house" Bwahhhh

 

:nana :bad :nana :bad

[viviskins]

that's classic! good for you!

[loranger329]

Quite frankly, anyone that would eye roll ANY gift, whether it be handmade or not, is extremely rude. Gifts are not something that you have to do...it's something that you give because you want to. I don't mean to get all Emily Post on you guys, but seriously, that breaks so many ettiquette rules that I'd almost be tempted to correct her.

 

I've always done handmade gifts for people that I know will appreciate them, and I've made sure that the gift is tailored to their tastes. I don't give handmade afghans to certain friends because I know that they don't like things like that, but I might cross stitch a Christmas scene for a friend that I know collect Santas. I want the time that I put into the gift to be appreciated, and those people also know how special they are to me, because I gave up so much of my personal time to make them something.

[jennmwalsh]

I'm a little late on this one, but going to throw in my two cents...

 

I think you're all right to say it's EXTREMELY rude...however...while you may appreciate the time put into a gift, the gift itself might not always be up to what a person's tastes are. This has happened to me. My grandmother hand crocheted a dress for a bed doll, but I was close to 16 and far beyond appreciating the gift's work, and also, where would I PUT it? Therefore, make sure your gifts are truly something you can picture the person using. If you don't know them well enough to guess their tastes, don't do it. If you do know their tastes, and they truly would scoff at a handmade gift no matter what the beauty of it...hand make everyone's gift, including the pets of the family, then hand her the WalMart gift card like mentioned above

<img border=0 src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/ha.gif" />

[mythunderbird]

hi i know what you meanabout these people. once my dh's aunt(who is a shrew to begin with ) made fun of some potholders i had made her(and they were nice potholders) so i calmly walked over to where she was sitting, snatched them out of her hand:bad , took them over to his grammie:)h and gave them to her. his aunt said hey those are mine, i said you don't like them nor will you use them so now they aren't yours and you get NOTHING!!!!!. i am such a:bad :bad :bad :bad :bad :bad :bad :bad :bad :bad :bad :bad person, but enjoyed that so much. i didn't care if she ever spoke to me again(which she did eventually and apoligized) so i made her some more as i felt bad then:D! but it was a nice lesson for her to learn, his whole family had put up with her for years and i'm like who does she think she is. so my point of view is this, if they don't like it, tough for them, if you make something and they are rude enough to say something(especially in front of other people) then look out cause i won't take that. she isn't any better than the rest of us. i think what she needed was for someone to step up and tell her off and let her know it wasn't alright to be a jerk. sorry bad subject with me:U just my:twocents vicki:bad

[jennmwalsh]

I thouroughly enjoyed that story <img border=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/cheer.gif" />

[natalie058]

I too was worried about giving away my handmade items - I made two small blankies for my boyfriend's neice and nephew - and i was worried they wouldn't get used, that i wasted my time/money, that they would think they were cheesy, etc... but it turns out that his nephew (3 yo) loves his and that they use his neice's (6 months) all the time... last time they came up they showed them off to all his family since i UPS'ed them - it was really rewarding after being so worried. But even if they didn't like/use them, I enjoyed making them and got to test out some new stitches so it was worth it anyways. Good luck!

[mythunderbird]

hi i just had to share this story with you. i ran into the lady who had bought one of my carebears the other day, she said he nephew won't go ANYWHERE without his bear. he sleeps with it, eats with it, and is neer out of his site. i thought that was sooo cool and made me:cloud9 all day. she is thinking about buying another one soon she said. yeaaaaaaaaaaaaa:D! vicki

[momkat]

My kids were the same way when I decided to learn how to read patterns. My first few projects were....so-so......but as I got the hang of reading the patterns, etc.....they sure haven't complained over the boas, ponchos, afghans, hats, etc.....in fact, my grand daughter (she's 3 years old) always askes me if what I am working on is for her! They fight over the stuff! The nay-sayers always end up being the "why can't I have that"s........

[RebeccaVelasquez]

YAY!!