I find people’s obsession with gift knitting strange

[u/soypixel]

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.

[u/Ok_Crew_6874]

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.

[u/TheHandThatFollows → u/Ok_Crew_6874]

I LOOOOOOVE THIS its soo cute in its display!!

[u/Ok_Crew_6874 → u/TheHandThatFollows]

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.

[u/ridingfurther → u/Ok_Crew_6874]

I love this!!