Time is precious especially working full time. I find most people do not appreciate the cost of natural yarn and the time it takes to knit. They think it gets done in an evening or like Mrs Weasley’s auto needles clacking in the corner. The only time I give knits/crochet now is if I already made something such as an acrylic CAL blanket. It’s soul destroying for your gift to not get used etc. Folk look at a jumper I have on or a fairisle tam and make comments that I could knit one for them in my spare time. They don’t think they are aware the yarn cost £120 and it took months to make. Rant over. I have found this in every craft I do though.
definitely true, we only get a few hours each day if we’re lucky so it’s massively important that you’re knitting in an enjoyable or that the sacrifice is recognised and appreciated! yeah i’ve defo had the same “you can knit me one of those next!” comments, nightmare!!
What I learned over the years about handmade gifts: I don't give them to people who don't knit/crochet/craft because they don't understand as in knowing how much time, effort, shopping for the right colors/materials, then make the gift. But when I give something I've made to another who knows all the background of making it, they'll ohh&ahh thanking me profusely.
I’m beginning to feel like other yarn crafters are the best people to make gifts for as they appreciate the effort, technique, etc. My sister made me a granny square blanket some 15 years ago and I’ve always appreciated it, but after spending sooooo long on a granny square cardigan this year now I REALLY appreciate that blanket! 😅
I've been gift knitting since I first learned how to knit and I think the year I finally realized how impractical it was for me was the year I made my aunt this UGLY cowl and I never have seen her wear it. So I had to redeem myself years later, making her a colour work snowflake beanie that she actually wears since 1. I actually gave myself enough time to work on it and 2. I asked her before hand if this was something she would like and truly wear. I know it feels kind of like, you're taking the surprise out of the gift by asking exactly what they want or if they'll like it, but knowing that I wasn't just endlessly knitting something that would just end up in the bottom of a closet made me feel a lot less anxious about giving the gift. Something else I've started doing over the last 2-3 years is picking 1-2 people to gift knit for. Last year it was my aunt and my grandma, this year it's my other aunt and my mom. THAT'S IT. If I manage to somehow finish the gifts I'm making and feel confident I have enough time, I might make one other thing but you're absolutely right when you say you don't want to spend your entire time knitting for others and missing out on the winter season because you're trying to make everyone and their mother a gift LOL.
I have been knitting for over 40 years, and the first thing I do is find out if the person is knit worthy, if they are then I ask them so send me pictures of what they like and what colours they like, then I look for patterns that suit their ideas and spark my joy, there is nothing worse than trying to work on something you hate. My knitting is for my personal enjoyment first, then spread the joy around to those that will appreciate it.
You are so right there when you said that you have to start already in August. Yes. You have to be a year ahead, then you will also be able to manage making things for other festivals because you will be ahead of time for those as well. Knit or crochet gift is not a cake, can’t be made an evening before the occasion, but it is also good that it is not a cake because it will not go bad if it needs to wait from August to December 😊 Happy holidays! 🥰
Personally, for me, making gifts by hand is such a stress-free thing for me, because it makes me so excited how they react. BUT I only make handmade gifts for people I know will appreciate it. Making for someone I don't know how they react, THAT is stressful as heck, which is why I don't make gifts for people such as not close friends, or my father, since they don't usually appreciate handmade gifts. But for my mom, her wife, grandma, my best friend, or such, I truly enjoy making gifts for them, since they're either crafters themselves, or they know how long they take. So far, for my mom, I've made crocheted things, handmade candles, so many handmade earrings, such as crocheted and beaded, and so much more. I also made her an advent calendar with 24 days full of handmade gifts. She was SO excited she went speechless!! I can't wait for december so she can start opening them!!
I don't gift knit. Period. I make a few things for family here and there but it's random and not tied to a holiday or birthday. Most people do not appreciate the time, effort, and money that goes into a project. I also don't think not gift knitting is selfish. My hobby is for me and my enjoyment and my own relaxation and I get to do it in a way that serves me.
A few years ago we had really cold days in winter and I realized I didn't have a nice scarf for myself - all of them were given away! Granted most of them were asked for after I knit them, but their impulse was to ask for something that later they never wore. I only make for myself now. They all get gift cards instead. And we are all happy for it
I only knit for my daughter, because over the I figured out, what style and colors she likes when it comes to knitting. And it's definitely something I wouldn't choose in my wildest dreams. 😂 So I think it's better to make something for yourself, your home or a loved one than mass producing for friends and relatives.
I think the way to make gift knitting work well is to pick ONE family member per year and make that super customized perfect sweater or whatever it is they've always wanted that would be very hard to buy. It will take months, but that's what makes it worthwhile. I find most gift knits pointless because they're the same simple stuff that can be thrifted for very little money, and the recipient might even prefer the machine-knit version. Because of the need to post or because of getting caught up in hype, people on social media are always doing the fast fashion version of gift knits. I think many, many people find it stressful the same way you did, but even worse, it's turning a personal artistic expression into another pointless overconsumption spectacle.
yess that’s so true and i so agree! those gifts that are completely bespoke and individual - YES! gifts they could pick up from the market for less than £10 - (for me) NO!
I love gift knitting, but it is definitely a sometimes-food for me. Generally I'll give out two or three items a year. For instance, I'm currently about 2/3 of the way through a Lumme pullover for my friend which will be done well before Christmas, and that's the sole deadline I've set. And she sort of had to prove that she's knit-worthy haha; she wears the hats I've made for her all the time, and even steals my own sweaters so I know she likes wool.
The past few years I have already had a gift or two done by April or May. This year, in October, I was freaking out that "I'm not a good Santa's elf because I have only finished two gifts for this year"! And my family said that "chill out, we've had an absurd amount of presents these last few years, you don't have to make us anything" 😂 And they try to make me not stress about Christmas gifts. But... this month I've really started crocheting a lot. I still have lots of projects I want to make, but also I already have a lot finished. They are small gifts, but I think it's nice to have something other than endless knitted socks and beanies every year. I'm sort of a "hard-core elf": I start gathering gift ideas in January. So if I see a nice pattern or someone says that they love a certain color of a certain yarn: I'm writing down! But then again, I'm really mad about Christmas: started listening to my Christmas playlist in September 🤭🧑🎄
This is my first year doing all gift knits for people, and I'm doing hats. I have 1 hat left on the needles, then a crochet cowl that I know will go quick, and that's it for essential Christmas knits. I started early enough that I'm gonna have everything done before Thanksgiving, and I'm so happy about that. And I have lots of yarn left over, which I'm gonna cord up and turn into a rug.
I am chronic gift maker (knitting, crochet, sewing) but that means I don't gift my making for a special occasion like Christmas, but the entire year. It has enabled me to use either my stash or my scraps. Out of my 31 projects on Ravelry, 20 are gift knits (I did not realise it was more than half !). I bought yarn for 8, and out of these 8, 3 are from the same ball of yarn. I doesn't mean I don't sometime make something with a deadline. And I agree, it's not as enjoyable.
I started knitting October of last year and my gift list consists of four people who are incredibly difficult to figure out gifts for. So last year I made them all scarves, practicing different stitch patterns and whatnot. This year I’m making them hats. Next year might be gloves, or socks. After that I figure the first set of scarves are 4 years old and if I’m still knitting then I can just start cycling through items again. 😂 is it cost efficient? Not at all. But it buys me the peace of mind of not fretting about what to get everyone, and I make sure I buy yarns and do patterns that I will enjoy knitting. If they don’t enjoy or use the gift, oh well. Hope it ends up getting donated to someone who will. But I do make sure to gift pretty basic items in pretty basic colors, so I think it has utility.
As much as I love gifting knit and crochet work, at some point I realized that after years of knitting and crocheting, I myself owned almost nothing that I had made myself 😅time is limited and there were things that I had wanted to make for myself but always kept putting off because I prioritized the gifts. I now drastically cut back on the gifts, if I make something for somebody else, it's small stuff, like a christmas decoration or a really small scarf or something. Making a gift can really be quite stressful because sometimes something would take much longer than I had anticipated or I had to unravel it because it didn't work out the way it was supposed to and all of a sudden there was hardly any time left...
lol I watched this while knitting on my Christmas gift knit 😂 great points and you’re so right. The heartbreak when you realise that person doesn’t like what you’ve spent so long making 💔 some people are knit worthy and they are going to be lucky people
so true, for the right people and gift it is worthwhile, but it can hurt when you realise you’ve wasted your time! hope you are enjoying the gift knitting though and that it will be treasured forever as it deserves!! 💕💕
I dont do hand made gifts for all the reasons you mentioned.People are clueless about the cost involved, and they think all yarn is the same. Once I made socks for someone where yarn alone cost £30 - hand dyed. I nearly had a heart attack when I saw them walking with no slippers on a hard dirty floor. Also they told me when Aldi had yarn for £2.50, I had to explain it is NOT the same yarn. I now only knit for myself or when people specifically want and they either pay me or they have done something for me and want handmade socks.
You are so right! I didn’t get the time to knit the things I wanted to knit for me. I am behind on my knitting skills/progress goals. Next year, I am giving up gift knitting. It’s just too time consuming.
I knit a bunch of gifts for Christmas 2020 because I was home from school for much longer than usual and needed something to do. After that, I've made a couple special things for people (mostly my partner), but the only regular thing is that about every other year I've made my mom a pair of socks. She wears them to bed so they don't wear out very quickly, and she really appreciates them because she knows how much work goes into something like that.
I've gifted three projects, a scarf (my one and only knit ever), and two sets of coasters. I ended up feeling horrible because I spent plenty of time and money on them only for the scarf to be actively mocked and the coasters ended up one set vanished and was never seen again and the other stuck in a drawer for years while never used. It was too frustrating and sad and I decided to never gift a handmade item lightly. Never again a big thing, and never to someone who doesn't appreciate the money and effort of handmade items. Which means my mom's fantasy of me making a big handmade present for my grandma (again) and her happily loving it will be dashed from both sides this time: my grandma would never appreciate it and I'll never make her something again
Time is money. Yarn also cost money. Knit only for those who wash knitwear properly,wear and are careful. Who appreciates and notices the neatness, something well made. If you are beginner and just learning don’t gift poorly made ones,people will not use it.
I'm making two gifts this year but they're just wee animals which I feel like is the perfect gift cause they don't take too much effort to make and aren't something I'd really use myself. You can also turn them into ornaments for Christmas.
i crocheted a sweater for my "best friend" for her bday, working on it and asking her feedback if she liked it as i worked four months in advance. she never said thank you, never wore it. it was my bday a few months later and she didnt even say happy bday. MORAL OF THE STORY: be careful who you spend hours making gifts for pookies
I tend to stock up over the year and let folks pick stuff out as they see fit. If things hang out in my gift stash for more than a year or two, I'll often donate it to a local charity.
I rotate who gets a handmade gift. I make three or four per year, for those that I know will enjoy it. And I do, indeed, start in August. I’ll work on the gifts but also on my other projects during that time. And I believe in asking before I start. “Hello friend, do you think you would like getting a scarf with matching mittens for Xmas? And if yes, what kind of colour goes with your coat? And do you have allergies?” Then I look for yarn, either in stash or shop, and start the project. Make something that will make me happy during the making and anticipating the giving, and something the receiving party will like and use. I’ve also taken people to the yarn stash/shop to have them select their own yarn, and I have sifted out a few patterns and let them pick one or two they like the look of. Especially if proper fit is important, I rather have their input. I prefer happy over surprised. All that said, you never have to make anything for anybody. You do you. But I love doing it.
that’s really good you’ve figured out what works for you, they are great boundaries and make sure the process is mutually beneficial! i think any future gift knits i will follow the same principles 💕
Oh the gift knitting conundrum. I will knit hats and scarves for my husband and my daughter because they use them. Otherwise I am working on kids and Christmas stocking patterns that will be gifted to a relative if they let me use the pictures for the patterns. (I'm driving a tough bargain these days lol).
When I first started knitting I had people push me that gift knitting was *the best thing ever* and ended up making a number of gifts I regret because they were just not that good. I also didn't have a deep enough understand of knitting at the time to realise how just not good some of this was. These days I don't do the holiday knitting thing for people but instead, if there is someone I want to make something for rather than having it be a surprise, I work with them to make sure I make for them something they will absolutely love. I also don't have excessive time or energy to churn out hats, mittens, for folks who either don't want or don't need them but are too polite to say anything.
definitely i fell into the same trap 😭 it’s hard not to when it’s everywhere and it seems like a weird thing to be anti-gift knitting, but it’s just not worth it most of the time 😂
@@issyknits I've had people at like I'm being selfish because I buy people things they will actually like rather than make things they will never wear, or don't know how to take care of. I go back to as well, it's such a weird thing to push onto new knitters that it is a good idea to just knit all of the gifts. Granted I also have thoughts on the term "knit worthy". It makes it seem like there is something wrong with the person for wanting what suits them best, having their own taste, preferences, etc. A lot of it is about having value for your own time and skills. The thing I also think about is just how much bad advice I was given when I started knitting (which granted was a while ago, but still).
i know it’s so weird isn’t it! like many quirks of the knitting world, i do not understand it at all 😅 but i think that’s such a good point and a lot of the time it isn’t the recipients fault they dont use the knitted item, it just was never to be. all about valuing your own time and skill ❤️❤️
I craft gift only if - the person is knit-worthy - the project is small/quick - I'm exited by the project but won't use it myself - I'm using my stash I need at least two of those to cast-on, most of the time I have three and I just finish a bingo gift. Also I never mass craft gift, it's too much time, effort and stress.
I don't make for anyone anymore except my mother because she understands what goes into it and appreciates the effort. Most people view it as cheap and tacky, not understanding the effort and longevity of a well made piece
I occasionally gift knit, but I tend to gift the yarn with the promise of eg a pair of socks/gloves/hat etc. I hate being under a deadline and find it really stressful.
Took me long enough (I’ve been knitting 40 years) to STOP knitting for others. I’ve knit nothing for my self. That stops with the final gift knit (crochet actually) that I’ll complete on New Years Eve (the recipient actually does appreciate gifts like this). 2025 and thereafter is knit/crochet for me and me alone.
Some years ago I made a present for my sister. A girl saw it on Instagram and asked if I could make one for her. I told her I couldn't, as I spent like 40 hours doing it (and I did it for my sister but I was not willing to do it again). I don't think she understood "the point" when I said no.
If people ask, just give them a price. Yarn 70€ Time 32 hours x minimum wage a 16€ per hour is 512€ Misc costs 50€ So, that makes 632€, okay, I’ll make you a deal and do it for 625€ if you pay upfront within 14 days. Let me know. No one has ever said yes to me… I wonder why. 😂😂😂😂
I was burned by an ungrateful recipient. I knitted them a linen beach dress for Christmas for her honeymoon in bali and got an 'oh cool'. Not even a thank you! Some people are not knit worthy!
@@issyknits Same haha!! I actually like having a stockinette project (or not even a project, just the stockinette part of a complicated project) alongside my other fun projects, so that if I just want some mindless rounds (for example, knit and chat with friends) I can have something to work on. But if I need to do endless stockinette just to finish something I'll feel so drained... I agree with all your points about gift knitting + one more: I struggle with the yarn choice because on one hand, I want something that's high quality, long-lasting, and feels good on skin for the recipients (also like you said, if we are gonna make something, they better be useful, fun, and good), but on the other hand those yarns are frequently high-maintenance and not many people will want to go through the burden taking care of them. So I'll just spend the time and beautiful yarns on myself!!
My sister last Christmas was like, how did you manage to do all these things for people? Me: well, that 'hex the patriarchy' cross stitch for you was meant to be for last year... And the crochet water balloons I did as a passenger in a car...
ok, i'm sorry but this is a time management issue rather than a gift knitting issue. life is busy, we have a limited amout of crafting time. you can choose something that has interesting design elements, but look at how much yarn is involved in those hooded scarfs. making so many in one year was never a good idea.
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Time is precious especially working full time. I find most people do not appreciate the cost of natural yarn and the time it takes to knit. They think it gets done in an evening or like Mrs Weasley’s auto needles clacking in the corner. The only time I give knits/crochet now is if I already made something such as an acrylic CAL blanket. It’s soul destroying for your gift to not get used etc. Folk look at a jumper I have on or a fairisle tam and make comments that I could knit one for them in my spare time. They don’t think they are aware the yarn cost £120 and it took months to make. Rant over. I have found this in every craft I do though.
definitely true, we only get a few hours each day if we’re lucky so it’s massively important that you’re knitting in an enjoyable or that the sacrifice is recognised and appreciated! yeah i’ve defo had the same “you can knit me one of those next!” comments, nightmare!!
Oh yes! I once had a friend who thought she would do me a favour by requesting a hat. No, I have enough to do.
What I learned over the years about handmade gifts: I don't give them to people who don't knit/crochet/craft because they don't understand as in knowing how much time, effort, shopping for the right colors/materials, then make the gift. But when I give something I've made to another who knows all the background of making it, they'll ohh&ahh thanking me profusely.
yes so true!! it takes an experienced eye to recognise the effort!
I’m beginning to feel like other yarn crafters are the best people to make gifts for as they appreciate the effort, technique, etc. My sister made me a granny square blanket some 15 years ago and I’ve always appreciated it, but after spending sooooo long on a granny square cardigan this year now I REALLY appreciate that blanket! 😅
yes definitely!! it’s hard for people to imagine unless they’ve been through it themselves 😅
I've been gift knitting since I first learned how to knit and I think the year I finally realized how impractical it was for me was the year I made my aunt this UGLY cowl and I never have seen her wear it. So I had to redeem myself years later, making her a colour work snowflake beanie that she actually wears since 1. I actually gave myself enough time to work on it and 2. I asked her before hand if this was something she would like and truly wear. I know it feels kind of like, you're taking the surprise out of the gift by asking exactly what they want or if they'll like it, but knowing that I wasn't just endlessly knitting something that would just end up in the bottom of a closet made me feel a lot less anxious about giving the gift.
Something else I've started doing over the last 2-3 years is picking 1-2 people to gift knit for. Last year it was my aunt and my grandma, this year it's my other aunt and my mom. THAT'S IT. If I manage to somehow finish the gifts I'm making and feel confident I have enough time, I might make one other thing but you're absolutely right when you say you don't want to spend your entire time knitting for others and missing out on the winter season because you're trying to make everyone and their mother a gift LOL.
that’s a really good idea to prioritise one or two people 💕 makes it a lot more manageable!
I have been knitting for over 40 years, and the first thing I do is find out if the person is knit worthy, if they are then I ask them so send me pictures of what they like and what colours they like, then I look for patterns that suit their ideas and spark my joy, there is nothing worse than trying to work on something you hate. My knitting is for my personal enjoyment first, then spread the joy around to those that will appreciate it.
i so agree and that’s a great approach to have!! not everyone needs knitted gifts and that’s ok, the right people are worth knitting for 💕
You are so right there when you said that you have to start already in August. Yes. You have to be a year ahead, then you will also be able to manage making things for other festivals because you will be ahead of time for those as well. Knit or crochet gift is not a cake, can’t be made an evening before the occasion, but it is also good that it is not a cake because it will not go bad if it needs to wait from August to December 😊 Happy holidays! 🥰
that’s very true, a lot more effort upfront but they can last a lifetime 💕
Personally, for me, making gifts by hand is such a stress-free thing for me, because it makes me so excited how they react.
BUT I only make handmade gifts for people I know will appreciate it.
Making for someone I don't know how they react, THAT is stressful as heck, which is why I don't make gifts for people such as not close friends, or my father, since they don't usually appreciate handmade gifts.
But for my mom, her wife, grandma, my best friend, or such, I truly enjoy making gifts for them, since they're either crafters themselves, or they know how long they take.
So far, for my mom, I've made crocheted things, handmade candles, so many handmade earrings, such as crocheted and beaded, and so much more. I also made her an advent calendar with 24 days full of handmade gifts. She was SO excited she went speechless!! I can't wait for december so she can start opening them!!
i so agree and that’s lovely when you know the recipient will appreciate it and recognise the hard work - no better feeling 💕
I don't gift knit. Period. I make a few things for family here and there but it's random and not tied to a holiday or birthday. Most people do not appreciate the time, effort, and money that goes into a project. I also don't think not gift knitting is selfish. My hobby is for me and my enjoyment and my own relaxation and I get to do it in a way that serves me.
so true i strongly agree! people just don’t realise unless they knit or craft themselves. exactly knits are not owed to anyone 🙏🙏
A few years ago we had really cold days in winter and I realized I didn't have a nice scarf for myself - all of them were given away! Granted most of them were asked for after I knit them, but their impulse was to ask for something that later they never wore. I only make for myself now. They all get gift cards instead. And we are all happy for it
yes it’s much better isn’t it, saves a lot of resentment 😂😅 i too have no hand knit scarves while all my family members have them 😭😭
I only knit for my daughter, because over the I figured out, what style and colors she likes when it comes to knitting. And it's definitely something I wouldn't choose in my wildest dreams. 😂 So I think it's better to make something for yourself, your home or a loved one than mass producing for friends and relatives.
definitely true ❤️❤️
Thank you for making this video! This topic needs talked about more
thank you, i definitely agree!! 💕💕
I think the way to make gift knitting work well is to pick ONE family member per year and make that super customized perfect sweater or whatever it is they've always wanted that would be very hard to buy. It will take months, but that's what makes it worthwhile.
I find most gift knits pointless because they're the same simple stuff that can be thrifted for very little money, and the recipient might even prefer the machine-knit version. Because of the need to post or because of getting caught up in hype, people on social media are always doing the fast fashion version of gift knits. I think many, many people find it stressful the same way you did, but even worse, it's turning a personal artistic expression into another pointless overconsumption spectacle.
yess that’s so true and i so agree! those gifts that are completely bespoke and individual - YES! gifts they could pick up from the market for less than £10 - (for me) NO!
I love gift knitting, but it is definitely a sometimes-food for me. Generally I'll give out two or three items a year.
For instance, I'm currently about 2/3 of the way through a Lumme pullover for my friend which will be done well before Christmas, and that's the sole deadline I've set. And she sort of had to prove that she's knit-worthy haha; she wears the hats I've made for her all the time, and even steals my own sweaters so I know she likes wool.
i love that!! when you know the recipient will truly appreciate it, it’s a really lovely thing to do 💕💕 but only a few times a year, as you say!
This makes me feel a lot better about not wanting to dump hours into gifts for people! Every time I finish a gift, I wish I’d kept it anyway 😂
😂😂 i definitely have the same feeling!
The past few years I have already had a gift or two done by April or May. This year, in October, I was freaking out that "I'm not a good Santa's elf because I have only finished two gifts for this year"! And my family said that "chill out, we've had an absurd amount of presents these last few years, you don't have to make us anything" 😂 And they try to make me not stress about Christmas gifts. But... this month I've really started crocheting a lot. I still have lots of projects I want to make, but also I already have a lot finished. They are small gifts, but I think it's nice to have something other than endless knitted socks and beanies every year. I'm sort of a "hard-core elf": I start gathering gift ideas in January. So if I see a nice pattern or someone says that they love a certain color of a certain yarn: I'm writing down! But then again, I'm really mad about Christmas: started listening to my Christmas playlist in September 🤭🧑🎄
aww i love that! if you’re enjoying santa’s workshopping then that’s a fantastic thing! ❤️
This is my first year doing all gift knits for people, and I'm doing hats. I have 1 hat left on the needles, then a crochet cowl that I know will go quick, and that's it for essential Christmas knits. I started early enough that I'm gonna have everything done before Thanksgiving, and I'm so happy about that. And I have lots of yarn left over, which I'm gonna cord up and turn into a rug.
that’s fab, sounds very well organised!! 💕
I am chronic gift maker (knitting, crochet, sewing) but that means I don't gift my making for a special occasion like Christmas, but the entire year. It has enabled me to use either my stash or my scraps. Out of my 31 projects on Ravelry, 20 are gift knits (I did not realise it was more than half !). I bought yarn for 8, and out of these 8, 3 are from the same ball of yarn.
I doesn't mean I don't sometime make something with a deadline. And I agree, it's not as enjoyable.
wow that’s a lot of gift knits!! sounds like you have a really good system if it ties up using the scrap yarn too, love that 💕💕
I started knitting October of last year and my gift list consists of four people who are incredibly difficult to figure out gifts for. So last year I made them all scarves, practicing different stitch patterns and whatnot. This year I’m making them hats. Next year might be gloves, or socks. After that I figure the first set of scarves are 4 years old and if I’m still knitting then I can just start cycling through items again. 😂 is it cost efficient? Not at all. But it buys me the peace of mind of not fretting about what to get everyone, and I make sure I buy yarns and do patterns that I will enjoy knitting. If they don’t enjoy or use the gift, oh well. Hope it ends up getting donated to someone who will. But I do make sure to gift pretty basic items in pretty basic colors, so I think it has utility.
that sounds like a good way to do it - i love the cycle back to the beginning 😂❤️ if your enjoy the process then it’s win win!
As much as I love gifting knit and crochet work, at some point I realized that after years of knitting and crocheting, I myself owned almost nothing that I had made myself 😅time is limited and there were things that I had wanted to make for myself but always kept putting off because I prioritized the gifts. I now drastically cut back on the gifts, if I make something for somebody else, it's small stuff, like a christmas decoration or a really small scarf or something. Making a gift can really be quite stressful because sometimes something would take much longer than I had anticipated or I had to unravel it because it didn't work out the way it was supposed to and all of a sudden there was hardly any time left...
yes i can definitely relate, i mourn for all the additional sweaters i could have had but dont 😂😅
lol I watched this while knitting on my Christmas gift knit 😂 great points and you’re so right. The heartbreak when you realise that person doesn’t like what you’ve spent so long making 💔 some people are knit worthy and they are going to be lucky people
so true, for the right people and gift it is worthwhile, but it can hurt when you realise you’ve wasted your time! hope you are enjoying the gift knitting though and that it will be treasured forever as it deserves!! 💕💕
I dont do hand made gifts for all the reasons you mentioned.People are clueless about the cost involved, and they think all yarn is the same. Once I made socks for someone where yarn alone cost £30 - hand dyed. I nearly had a heart attack when I saw them walking with no slippers on a hard dirty floor. Also they told me when Aldi had yarn for £2.50, I had to explain it is NOT the same yarn.
I now only knit for myself or when people specifically want and they either pay me or they have done something for me and want handmade socks.
definitely the right approach 💕 people very rarely understand what the gift actually cost you, in yarn money and labour!
You are so right! I didn’t get the time to knit the things I wanted to knit for me. I am behind on my knitting skills/progress goals. Next year, I am giving up gift knitting. It’s just too time consuming.
definitely!! it’s a huge amount of personal knitting time to give up 😅❤️
I knit a bunch of gifts for Christmas 2020 because I was home from school for much longer than usual and needed something to do. After that, I've made a couple special things for people (mostly my partner), but the only regular thing is that about every other year I've made my mom a pair of socks. She wears them to bed so they don't wear out very quickly, and she really appreciates them because she knows how much work goes into something like that.
that’s really lovely, if you find someone you enjoy doing and the recipient appreciates too - there is nothing better ❤️
I love gift knitting...throughout the year. I don't like the pressure of knitting for Christmas.
yes i like that rule - the sheer volume of christmas gift knitting is what kills the fun 😅
I've gifted three projects, a scarf (my one and only knit ever), and two sets of coasters. I ended up feeling horrible because I spent plenty of time and money on them only for the scarf to be actively mocked and the coasters ended up one set vanished and was never seen again and the other stuck in a drawer for years while never used. It was too frustrating and sad and I decided to never gift a handmade item lightly. Never again a big thing, and never to someone who doesn't appreciate the money and effort of handmade items.
Which means my mom's fantasy of me making a big handmade present for my grandma (again) and her happily loving it will be dashed from both sides this time: my grandma would never appreciate it and I'll never make her something again
oh no i’m so sorry you had that experience! it’s easily done and people often just don’t understand the effort and sacrifice sadly 💕💕
Time is money. Yarn also cost money. Knit only for those who wash knitwear properly,wear and are careful. Who appreciates and notices the neatness, something well made. If you are beginner and just learning don’t gift poorly made ones,people will not use it.
definitely true!! 🙏
I'm making two gifts this year but they're just wee animals which I feel like is the perfect gift cause they don't take too much effort to make and aren't something I'd really use myself. You can also turn them into ornaments for Christmas.
aww i love that!! 🩷
i crocheted a sweater for my "best friend" for her bday, working on it and asking her feedback if she liked it as i worked four months in advance. she never said thank you, never wore it. it was my bday a few months later and she didnt even say happy bday. MORAL OF THE STORY: be careful who you spend hours making gifts for pookies
oh no so sorry that happened, that’s so disappointing 😭🩷
I tend to stock up over the year and let folks pick stuff out as they see fit. If things hang out in my gift stash for more than a year or two, I'll often donate it to a local charity.
i like that method!
I rotate who gets a handmade gift. I make three or four per year, for those that I know will enjoy it. And I do, indeed, start in August. I’ll work on the gifts but also on my other projects during that time.
And I believe in asking before I start. “Hello friend, do you think you would like getting a scarf with matching mittens for Xmas? And if yes, what kind of colour goes with your coat? And do you have allergies?”
Then I look for yarn, either in stash or shop, and start the project. Make something that will make me happy during the making and anticipating the giving, and something the receiving party will like and use.
I’ve also taken people to the yarn stash/shop to have them select their own yarn, and I have sifted out a few patterns and let them pick one or two they like the look of. Especially if proper fit is important, I rather have their input.
I prefer happy over surprised.
All that said, you never have to make anything for anybody. You do you. But I love doing it.
that’s really good you’ve figured out what works for you, they are great boundaries and make sure the process is mutually beneficial! i think any future gift knits i will follow the same principles 💕
Oh the gift knitting conundrum. I will knit hats and scarves for my husband and my daughter because they use them. Otherwise I am working on kids and Christmas stocking patterns that will be gifted to a relative if they let me use the pictures for the patterns. (I'm driving a tough bargain these days lol).
i love that!! ❤️ gotta make it work for you too!
When I first started knitting I had people push me that gift knitting was *the best thing ever* and ended up making a number of gifts I regret because they were just not that good. I also didn't have a deep enough understand of knitting at the time to realise how just not good some of this was. These days I don't do the holiday knitting thing for people but instead, if there is someone I want to make something for rather than having it be a surprise, I work with them to make sure I make for them something they will absolutely love. I also don't have excessive time or energy to churn out hats, mittens, for folks who either don't want or don't need them but are too polite to say anything.
definitely i fell into the same trap 😭 it’s hard not to when it’s everywhere and it seems like a weird thing to be anti-gift knitting, but it’s just not worth it most of the time 😂
@@issyknits I've had people at like I'm being selfish because I buy people things they will actually like rather than make things they will never wear, or don't know how to take care of. I go back to as well, it's such a weird thing to push onto new knitters that it is a good idea to just knit all of the gifts. Granted I also have thoughts on the term "knit worthy". It makes it seem like there is something wrong with the person for wanting what suits them best, having their own taste, preferences, etc. A lot of it is about having value for your own time and skills. The thing I also think about is just how much bad advice I was given when I started knitting (which granted was a while ago, but still).
i know it’s so weird isn’t it! like many quirks of the knitting world, i do not understand it at all 😅 but i think that’s such a good point and a lot of the time it isn’t the recipients fault they dont use the knitted item, it just was never to be. all about valuing your own time and skill ❤️❤️
I craft gift only if
- the person is knit-worthy
- the project is small/quick
- I'm exited by the project but won't use it myself
- I'm using my stash
I need at least two of those to cast-on, most of the time I have three and I just finish a bingo gift. Also I never mass craft gift, it's too much time, effort and stress.
definitely great boundaries to have!! 💕
I don't make for anyone anymore except my mother because she understands what goes into it and appreciates the effort. Most people view it as cheap and tacky, not understanding the effort and longevity of a well made piece
i definitely agree, a lot of people don’t understand the effort and cost! ❤️
I occasionally gift knit, but I tend to gift the yarn with the promise of eg a pair of socks/gloves/hat etc. I hate being under a deadline and find it really stressful.
that’s a really good way to do it, it’s the deadline/stress that ruins it!
Took me long enough (I’ve been knitting 40 years) to STOP knitting for others. I’ve knit nothing for my self. That stops with the final gift knit (crochet actually) that I’ll complete on New Years Eve (the recipient actually does appreciate gifts like this). 2025 and thereafter is knit/crochet for me and me alone.
yesss i love that!! 💕💕💕 i always think about how many gorgeous jumpers i couldn’t have if i hadn’t knit all that stuff for others 😭
Some years ago I made a present for my sister. A girl saw it on Instagram and asked if I could make one for her. I told her I couldn't, as I spent like 40 hours doing it (and I did it for my sister but I was not willing to do it again). I don't think she understood "the point" when I said no.
😅😅 they never get it!
If people ask, just give them a price.
Yarn 70€
Time 32 hours x minimum wage a 16€ per hour is 512€
Misc costs 50€
So, that makes 632€, okay, I’ll make you a deal and do it for 625€ if you pay upfront within 14 days. Let me know.
No one has ever said yes to me… I wonder why. 😂😂😂😂
I was burned by an ungrateful recipient. I knitted them a linen beach dress for Christmas for her honeymoon in bali and got an 'oh cool'. Not even a thank you!
Some people are not knit worthy!
oh i’m so sorry to hear that, how disappointing! and a dress too, that must have taken sooo long! it’s definitely a hard lesson 😭❤️
oh my god we are so alike in terms of gift knitting opinions and knitting preferences (stockinette is boring to me)
glad it’s not just me 😂💕 isn’t it soo boring, i can’t do more than a few lines without needing a break 😅
@@issyknits Same haha!! I actually like having a stockinette project (or not even a project, just the stockinette part of a complicated project) alongside my other fun projects, so that if I just want some mindless rounds (for example, knit and chat with friends) I can have something to work on. But if I need to do endless stockinette just to finish something I'll feel so drained...
I agree with all your points about gift knitting + one more: I struggle with the yarn choice because on one hand, I want something that's high quality, long-lasting, and feels good on skin for the recipients (also like you said, if we are gonna make something, they better be useful, fun, and good), but on the other hand those yarns are frequently high-maintenance and not many people will want to go through the burden taking care of them.
So I'll just spend the time and beautiful yarns on myself!!
@@omeletta_definitely true!! most people don’t “get” or really appreciate delicate yarns and treat them as a nuisance rather than a delicacy!
My sister last Christmas was like, how did you manage to do all these things for people?
Me: well, that 'hex the patriarchy' cross stitch for you was meant to be for last year... And the crochet water balloons I did as a passenger in a car...
😂❤️
ok, i'm sorry but this is a time management issue rather than a gift knitting issue. life is busy, we have a limited amout of crafting time. you can choose something that has interesting design elements, but look at how much yarn is involved in those hooded scarfs. making so many in one year was never a good idea.
you’re not wrong at all! the scarves were so ill advised timescale wise, i just really liked the look of them 😅😂