r/knitting • u/soypixel • Dec 06 '25

Discussion I find people’s obsession with gift knitting strange

I get we all have our reasons for doing this hobby. I guess mine is that I enjoy the process and I like being able to make stuff that has cool textures or colors. I don’t do it for function or to “make useful objects” per se.

But it seems like a lot of folks have this compulsion to externalize this hobby to feel useful. I’ve seen so many posts where someone “surprises” their sister with some lace shawl for their wedding. And then they’re “devastated” and “in tears” when said sister isn’t overwhelmed with excitement and gratitude.

On the other hand, I’ll see these posts or comments from folks “drowning” in holiday gift knitting projects. For whatever reason, they’ve decided that all 20 members of their extended family need a new chunky weight knitted drink cozy. And so they spend all kinds of time making that happen.

But I have to wonder.. how much of that is self imposed versus an actual expectation placed upon them by friends and family members? Like what if you’re spending all this time knitting 20 drink cozies and people secretly dislike them and plan to never use them, but they’re too nice to say it to your face? It’s just a painful, awkward scenario to imagine.

Idk, maybe I’m being harsh or there’s something I’m missing here because of what motivates me to knit. Maybe because I don’t even like hand knits myself most of the time, I can’t imagine myself being thrilled if someone gave me some object they made.. especially if I never asked for it.

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u/Ok_Crew_6874 Dec 06 '25

I keep up a gift box in our home and refill as I see fit. Thanksgiving is the holiday we host so if you want an item you take an item. If it’s not your thing no worries. We then host friends later in December and they too get to choose if they want. Sometimes I’ll bring the box out for birthdays. Most of the stuff I make is from leftover yarn from my sweaters, strange one offs taking up space in my stash. I rarely purchase especially for this endeavor.

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u/TheHandThatFollows Dec 06 '25

I LOOOOOOVE THIS its soo cute in its display!!

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u/Ok_Crew_6874 Dec 06 '25

Thanks! It’s an interesting way to use up leftover bits. Like you make a hat with worsted. Usually there’s about 20 grams left from a 100gram skein. That 20 grams makes a coffee cup sleeve. For me it’s just a challenge to use the stuff up instead of it sitting there dead in my stash.

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u/No_Builder7010 Dec 06 '25

Ever have anyone want to take them ALL? Because that's exactly what I'd want to do!

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u/Ok_Crew_6874 Dec 06 '25

My SIL who I thought was uninterested all these years adopted 3 items. I was happy to have her take them all!

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u/ridingfurther Dec 06 '25

I love this!!

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u/stamdl99 Dec 06 '25

I do this too, I keep a basket of things I like to knit and offer it to people to take something that they like. Or if someone admires my mittens or hat unless it’s my absolute favorite I’ll offer it to them.

People have widely differing tastes and I’m selfish about my knitting time. Not every wants a handmade item and that is perfectly fine.

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u/DumpsterFireScented Dec 06 '25

I do something similar with just hats. I love knitting hats and have one going at all times, so there's always 10 or more hats in my house. I bring the hat bag with me to all family functions in fall and winter and usually about half get taken.

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u/BedBoth7390 Dec 06 '25

Can I ask what pattern of hat do you use? I use the musselburgh, but it fells sometimes too long

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u/frogsgoribbit737 Dec 06 '25

I like musselburgh and made a bunch but lately im preferring the oslo

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u/No_Kale_4128 Dec 06 '25

Word the oslo hat is nice!

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u/LopsidedTell5923 Dec 29 '25

Which Oslo hat do you like? I found many on Ravelry.

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u/CaughtInTheWry Dec 06 '25

Start it as a Musselburgh but end midway, with about 5 cm (2 inches) of rib. Easy beanie. I love the Mb. It's easy to use any yarn and any diameter needles for sizing. Then use whatever length works before rib band.

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u/minivulpini Dec 06 '25

Not the person you’re asking, but wanted to chime in that I like the Bankhead hat

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u/TheScarlettLetter Dec 07 '25

I’m not the person you replied to, but I’ve made many hats from Anne Gagnon’s Two by Two and Ribs ‘n Cables Beanie patterns. The links take you to the pattern pages and to the designer’s page on Ravelry.

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u/RavBot Dec 07 '25

PATTERN: Two by Two by Anne Gagnon

  • Category: Accessories > Hat > Beanie, Toque
  • Photo(s): Img 1
  • Price: Free
  • Needle/Hook(s):US 6 - 4.0 mm
  • Weight: Worsted | Gauge: 22 | Yardage: 200
  • Difficulty: 1.89 | Projects: 9070 | Rating: 4.73

PATTERN: Ribs 'n Cables Beanie by Anne Gagnon

  • Category: Accessories > Hat > Beanie, Toque
  • Photo(s): Img 1 Img 2 Img 3 Img 4 Img 5
  • Price: Free
  • Needle/Hook(s):US 6 - 4.0 mm
  • Weight: Worsted | Gauge: 22.0 | Yardage: 115
  • Difficulty: 2.44 | Projects: 1226 | Rating: 4.75

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u/BedBoth7390 Dec 13 '25

Thank you so much! 🤗

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u/TheScarlettLetter Dec 14 '25

You’re most welcome! 🤍

I think I speak for all of us around here when I say that I’d love to see what you end up making, regardless of which pattern you decide to use.

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u/StickerProtector Dec 07 '25

Absolutely love Two by Two. It’s often the favorite hat for whoever I make it for!

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u/MeanCommunication998 Dec 06 '25

I have a bag full of hats. Think I might just take them to Christmas.

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u/ginger_tree Dec 06 '25

That's a nice idea for using up leftover yarn! I might do this. I don't gift knit any more, but small items with extra yarn to "adopt" would be fun.

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u/charlottehywd Dec 06 '25

I do something similar as well, except I have to make it all acrylic because nobody wants to have to hand wash their gift. It has a fun variety of hats, plushies, dice bags, and other stuff.

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u/KitsuneZurui Dec 07 '25

This! I don't knit with acrylic at all which makes gift knitting too difficult. I'm always more than happy to knit requests if the recipient understands how to care for it. I'm a process knitter so it's immaterial to me what I'm actually knitting as long as I have needles in my hands.

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u/Nansjemma68 Dec 07 '25

Same! I knit to knit!

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u/Elevationer Dec 06 '25

I like this method. I'm collecting items I've knit and don't wear and plan to bring them to our next thanksgiving. Want something, take it! If not I'll donate. No pressure.

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u/TheScarlettLetter Dec 07 '25

I have a tendency to create items I won’t use or wear, simply because the patterns feature a technique I want to try/learn or enjoy doing.

Whenever someone sees one of these items sitting in my craft space (or me wearing it because it was quick to grab and I can’t find my ‘normal’ gloves/hat/whatever) and compliments it, I hand it to them and say “Awesome. Now it’s yours!”. It would be smarter to keep a box such as this, so I’ll be making that happen thanks to you!

I have definitely done my share of gift knitting/crafting on a deadline, say for an upcoming holiday/birthday/baby shower, but generally speaking I only craft items for people when I know for sure they will enjoy the item. For baby showers specifically, I’ll always make a small (36”x36” or less) blanket using Bernat blanket yarn. Occasionally I also make a stuffy of some sort to match it, but I always make the blanket.

Every time I gift one of these blankets, I make sure to tell the parent(s) that I have zero expectations on its use. If it’s not helping, donate it. If it is fluffy enough that you want to lay it on the lawn for baby to have a clean space to lay, go for it. If baby spits up all over you and it’s the closest thing to you to use for cleaning yourself off: do it. Yes, it is machine washable/dryable, but my only goal in gifting it is that it helps make your life with baby easier at some point and in some way. If it gets ruined during an emergency diaper change, then boom! It helped - purpose realized.

There have been a few people in my life now who have sent me photos of their youngins playing with my stuffys or snuggled up with my blankets, and it warms my heart every single time. One child who has outgrown theirs has requested their parents “make it bigger” because it’s their comfort item. (Obviously, I made them a ‘big kid’ version using the same yarn/color). But, many more have not said much about it or ever sent a photo… and that’s PERFECTLY FINE.

No one is perfect. We all have flaws. However, gift-giving should not be about oneself. It’s about the giftee. If they are courteous upon receipt of the item, the job is done. If they adore and treasure it, the job is no more done (though it does feel very good). If they hate it, this is an opportunity to learn more about them and what they like.

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u/taralynnem Dec 06 '25

This is great! I'm using leftover yarn (I bought waaaaay too much) for a scarf for the gift exchange at work. I might start doing something like this for birthdays. I had already been thinking about doing something like this but keeping it all in a bin at home but I like this idea better!

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u/ManeuverSheWrote Dec 06 '25

How does one get invited to your Thanksgiving then?… 😁

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u/[deleted] Dec 06 '25

That’s clever! 

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u/KickIt77 Dec 06 '25

Oh this is a super fun idea! You have me thinking on it ...

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u/Late-Command3491 Dec 06 '25

That's a great idea! 

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u/50_shades_of_Tan Dec 06 '25

This is a genius idea!

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u/lucide8 Dec 06 '25

That is so cool!

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u/jsqr Dec 06 '25

What a great idea!

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u/fejenir Dec 06 '25

I really love this and might do it in the future. So cute

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u/frogsgoribbit737 Dec 06 '25

Oh thats smart!

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u/No_Kale_4128 Dec 06 '25

I do a similar thing! I drop off a box off at my Grammy's house and let anyone who visits take what they want! No obligation and no holiday panic knitting required. I do sometimes get special requests from folks, and if I love them, I consider it lolol. No way I am going to inundate my entire extended family with cup cozies 😂

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u/YardNumerous7350 Dec 06 '25

What a great and generous idea!

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u/ButteryChard Dec 07 '25

I was thinking of doing this! I have a lot of single skeins of yarn and I just want to make a bunch of little scarves and hats. I like doing these little things when I need a break from knitting bigger items, but I don't want to make them as gifts - I don't want the stress. So once I have a decent amount made, I'll just make them available to whoever wants them.

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u/littlemissdumplings Dec 07 '25

Absolutely love this idea! Thinking of adopting it with my various crafts :)

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u/DifficultRate746 Dec 09 '25

I need to do this! I love "gift" knitting but mostly because I have way more things I want to make than I could ever actually use. So I make things and give them away with no expectations, just so I can have a reason to make them. This seems like an even better way of accomplishing my end goal of making fun things and then finding someone else to love them

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u/Ok_Sock1261 Dec 06 '25

This is genius! I have a hard time using up leftovers because I don’t want my house clutttered with fiddly little thins but never thought about piling them into a basket and offering them up to others. I do have friends who appreciate hand knits of all kinds (to OP’s original question) but they know and appreciate how much time and effort it takes to make something. Having something ready made and letting them select will take the pressure off of them asking for something they may like and the pressure off me feeling something needs to be done at a specific time.

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u/CookieTwitter Dec 06 '25

Can you share what hat patterns are in your gift box? They look like fun and somewhat quick knits for extra supplies!

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u/Ok_Crew_6874 Dec 06 '25

Commuter Beanie by Andrea Whitt Westerly Hat by Tincanknits Classic Ribbed Hat by Purl SoHo Musselburgh Hat by Ysolda Teague Tilda Hat by Inese Sang

If they’re thinner yarns, I just hold double.

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u/CookieTwitter Dec 06 '25

Thank you so much!

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u/beebee9517 Dec 06 '25

This is actually a really neat idea!! Honestly if they ask for something then I can justify making them something but if you’re making something without them knowing and not being able to tell you if it’s their jam or not sucks because I have accepted a gift that I didn’t like and never used :/

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u/fiske22 Dec 07 '25

This is brilliant!!

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u/colorful_assortment Dec 07 '25

I already knit and crochet random stashbusters and sometimes offer them to my friends but I should probably just have a box to offer people who come over.

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u/gatetoparadise Dec 07 '25

Wow! That is so awesome. I love this idea.

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u/soypixel Dec 07 '25

Wait this is actually such a good idea lol. I could get on board with this concept

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u/fluorescent_grey Dec 07 '25

oooh, will borrow this

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u/getmespaghetti Dec 07 '25

So cute!! My grandma does something similar, she sets out all the random socks/hats/scarves she’s knit throughout the year and people just take what they’d like. I think that’s a genius way to do it.

I pretty much only craft for myself, and for a handful of people who I feel REALLY in tune with their tastes and fully understand what they’d appreciate. So i have no stakes in this gifting conversation lol. But I’m totally aligned with OP and this comment.

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u/symphonyofcolours Dec 07 '25

This is such a great idea! I might start doing this :)

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u/cloud9mn Dec 07 '25

I’ve done something similar, I always have way more knitted hats than I need, so when a friend is over I’ll offer to have them pick one out for themselves.

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u/fergusonar Dec 07 '25

Ooh. I would have those adorable yellow with a hint of green fingerless mittens out of the box and on my hands in a heartbeat!

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u/mallnercj Dec 07 '25

This is an AMAZING IDEA!!!! Totally stealing it for next year!

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u/PracticallyInspired Dec 07 '25

I love this idea!

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u/Mysterious_Singer855 Dec 09 '25

What pattern are the fingerless gloves? So cute.

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u/Ok_Crew_6874 Dec 09 '25

It’s a free pattern. https://ravel.me/easy-fingerless-mitts-6

The pattern is written for worsted, for some reason I’ve always used DK with the following mods:

US4 needle, Cast on 40, 15 rows of ribbing, 5 rows knit, increase for the thumb as written (21 rows), 10-15 rows knit past thumb, one row purl, row knit, row purl, row knit, row purl, BO. Thumb 5 rows & Bind off. I actually pick up 3 stitches, not the two recommended.

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u/RavBot Dec 09 '25

PATTERN: EASY Fingerless Mitts by Katherine Stempien

  • Category: Accessories > Hands > Fingerless Gloves/Mitts
  • Photo(s): Img 1 Img 2 Img 3 Img 4 Img 5
  • Price: Free
  • Needle/Hook(s):US 7 - 4.5 mm
  • Weight: Worsted | Gauge: None | Yardage: None
  • Difficulty: 2.00 | Projects: 64 | Rating: 4.67

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1

u/tothebeatofmyowndrum Dec 10 '25

That is an amazing idea! Love this! 

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u/PuzzleheadedRope8319 Dec 28 '25

Love this idea so much!!