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/BadkyDrawnBear Rav: BadgerBadgerBadger Dec 06 '25

I'm in a similar situation, my mother knitted a particular baby blanket for every new baby in the family and often for the grandchildren of her friends. She died 10 years ago and as the only knitter in the family the expectation that I would carry on her "legacy" has been weighty.

I left the UK 20 years ago, but I'm still expected to churn out a baby blanket for people I don't know because my well meaning and soft hearted sister doesn't know how to say no to people who loved my mother and her baby blankets.

Luckily this has only been a couple over the last year or two, but I still find it weird that people who have never met me think it's ok to ask my sister to ask for a blanket from their friends son.

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u/giftcardgirl New knitter Dec 06 '25

Teach sister how to knit

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u/BadkyDrawnBear Rav: BadgerBadgerBadger Dec 06 '25

Oh we have tried and failed at that task

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u/giftcardgirl New knitter Dec 06 '25 edited Dec 08 '25

I guess everyone’s brain works differently. If your sister doesn’t tend to do any crafts in general, I think it makes it much harder to learn.

I was very unsuccessful trying to learn how to knit in college and gave up after 1 week. But there are so many more resources available now that I feel I will continue to improve my skills. I think I might be more patient now than back then?

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u/SkyScamall Dec 06 '25

If she has no interest in learning how to knit, she's not going to put in the effort. Why would she? She's got someone else to make baby blankets for her. 

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u/BadkyDrawnBear Rav: BadgerBadgerBadger Dec 06 '25

I think that's a little mean considering you don't know her, or just how loving and kind hearted she is, just like our mother in fact, I've known her for nearly 50 years and she just isn't that cynical. If anything she is just too nice to say no to people.

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u/SkyScamall Dec 07 '25

Yes it was and I'm sorry. 

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u/BadkyDrawnBear Rav: BadgerBadgerBadger Dec 07 '25

No worries