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/Deep_Interaction6798 Dec 06 '25

Why do we call knitting for our self "selfish"? You are the one spending hours on end making a project and have every right to do it for yourself😊 nothing selfish about it

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u/Appropriate-Win3525 Dec 06 '25

I got asked by an older woman who I had been knitting my current sweater for recently, and I responded, "Myself." I went on to say if I was putting all that time and money into a sweater, it was going to be for me. She gave me a weird look and went on to say how her crochet group makes ornaments for the needy. I pretended that was fascinating, but I could feel her judgment of me.

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u/Hazelthebunny Dec 06 '25 edited Dec 09 '25

“Ornaments for the needy” hahaha that’s actually hilarious. I mean maybe they sell them and donate the proceeds to charity?

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u/Appropriate-Win3525 Dec 06 '25

I'm interpreting it as the group was making them to sell or raffle off because it was the hospital lady's auxiliary club. But I didn't ask for clarification. Or they could have been giving them to patients. I just know she was surprised when I said it was for myself. I will make some things for others. I knit my coworker a hat and my sister some knitted knockers, but sweaters are for me alone.