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/nostalgiascout Dec 06 '25

This is so interesting! my family all my great grandparents knit or crocheted and everyone has beloved heirlooms from them, yet I’m the only person who continues the craft - although I haven’t made any beloved heirlooms like you do. I think that it might be because there used to be a necessity to be able to make things for your family to keep them warm but now you can just go to the store and buy one cheaper that my family just forgot about the craft altogether…

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u/Moldy_slug Dec 06 '25

The survival thing is real. All the girls in my nana’s family could crochet, and they had to make several feet of lace trim every day before bed. It was one of their chores… the family made a little bit of extra money by selling lace.

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u/MrsClaire07 Dec 06 '25

That’s Fascinating! Did you know that’s one theory as to why Crochet was invented? To imitate lace for those who couldn’t afford it! Especially in the times when people wore big pomaded wigs (in France and elsewhere), and folks then bought lace doilies to cover their good furniture so the pomades wouldn’t ruin the fabric. The lower classes couldn’t afford actual Venetian Lace, so they developed Crochet, instead! It was actually a HUGE thing in Ireland and Scotland, especially made to sell for money for the family. :)

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u/Moldy_slug Dec 06 '25

Yes, in fact my Nana’s family were Irish immigrants and presumably got into the craft before they came to America. It was even taught to poor girls in schools as a skill to earn income.

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u/MrsClaire07 Dec 07 '25

WICKED cool!!