When and When NOT To Give Your Crochet Away
This is not your standard crochet gifting guide. Instead, I’m going to share my personal fails (and wins) when it comes to handing over handmade presents to my friends and family, and let you know what i’ve learned about when, and more importantly when not, to give away your crocheted creations.
When I first learned to crochet I had a phase of extreme gift giving. If I could work out a way to make the present, it was made. Even the most tenuous link between a person and an item was grasped with both hands and I enthusiastically set to work. Mentioned that you visited a zoo once? I’d make you a toy hippo! Shivered in the cold in the dead of winter? I’d crochet you a matching hat, scarf and gloves!
Sadly, in hindsight, I was having so much fun making that I might have occasionally missed the mark. In a big way. I’ve made toys for adults who looked at best gratefully bemused, and on one confusing occasion a blanket for a baby whose parent seemed perplexed by necessity for the gift. Seriously, am I the only person ever unlucky enough to crochet a baby blanket that wasn’t well received! It wasn’t a choking, suffocating, overheating, or finger trapping design either in my view!
Fortunately, the upside of my past gift giving failures, and successes, is I now have a very strong idea of when to give my crochet away and when to keep it to myself. And you can avoid my awkward encounters of days gone by, and ensure that all of your crocheted creations are gratefully received.
Keep It Personal
Crochet gifts tend to be the most meaningful, and destined for success, when you personalize them in some way. That doesn’t mean writing their name on it, although that can be a thing! Go with a theme that matches their interests or something significant in their lives.
I explained I’ve had a failure with a baby blanket before, but that’s one of a lot of baby blankets. And I’ve still no idea why that went down like a lead balloon! If you’ve got any ideas, tell me, please!
The amigurumi I’ve made as gifts have always been best received when they are based on a favorite animal, or one with a connection to their childhood, like the dinosaur I made for my brother. Items themed for their favorite band, sports team, or color tend to go down well.
Match Their Style
If you are crocheting for someone with a particular sense of style, try to match it. Even if it’s not your preference! If they are a muted grays person, then they probably won’t want a rainbow dragon. If they love rustic, whimsical designs, maybe don’t give them a geometric modern afghan.
The whole go with their style even if you don’t love it thing is such a jump for those of us with rather strong design views, but it makes all the difference. Even if you don’t want to share photos of the design with other people when you’re done, lest they assume that it’s your cup of tea…
Age and Safety Appropriate
I’m a fully fledged adult who loves cuddly toys. And not just crocheted ones, I love them in general. But if you’re gifting amigurumi to an adult, it’s good to have a bit of a gage on whether they actually still like plushies or not.
And when you are gifting them to babies or toddlers do think about whether you are going to give the parent a headache. I’ve been given things for my kids that I really appreciated, but then had to discretely swap out when the giver had gone home and hide for (in some cases years) until they were actually safe for them to play with.
Special Occasions
Special occasions are a great time to consider hand making a gift, especially when it is one that you can theme towards like a graduation or new home. Timing is everything.
Special Requests
The happiest you’re likely to make the recipient is when they’ve actually asked for the thing in the first place. Communication is key here. Ask the recipient about their preferences (colors, styles, needs). Suggest offering a few different options (e.g., yarn fibers, colors, patterns) to let them choose if possible.
But, it’s really important to also be able to say no to special requests if you don’t have the budget, time or inclination to make them. Or if you think they won’t actually be appreciated!
And remember, cos I get unstuck on this one, you do not have to give a reason why when you say no. That’s not possible, or that doesn’t work for me, are perfectly legitimate responses.
Unsolicited Gifts
Remember that not everyone likes to receive unexpected gifts. Sometimes I make something for someone with no rhyme or reason, and on more than one occasion I’ve then kept the item because I’ve realised that what I’d actually be doing is giving them an obligation. Plenty of people feel like they have to give back when they receive, and it can become quite awkward if the relationship starts to feel unbalanced.
The gifts then sit on the shelf for a few months until there is a special occasion where it’s appropriate to hand it over. Without making them think they now need to bake me a cake or something. (Which is not something I want. Unless it’s fruit cake… or cheesecake…)
Size Assumptions
Crocheted clothing can make amazing gifts, but only for some people. Firstly there is the issue of getting your gauge right for the size, but mostly it’s the actual issue of size. It’s a bit of a know your audience one.
I would self combust from sheer humiliation if someone made me a sweater and I couldn’t get it over my head. The dread of knowing they’d spent hours crocheting only for my daft cranium not to fit, I think I’d have to attempt to cut my ears off just to make them feel less disappointed. If you aren’t close enough to ask someone their clothing size, you probably shouldn’t make them clothes.
Oh, and don’t make clothes for someone you know is on a health or dieting kick. They might not fit anymore by the time you’re done!
Yarn Choices
I’ve talked a lot before, probably too much, about how important texture is to me. I simply cannot stand the feel of certain yarns, and I have a friend who is just the same. I’m making her a gift for her upcoming wedding, and the time I’ve spent picking the right yarn so I know it doesn’t make her skin crawl is something else.
Cotton silk blends are a relatively safe bet for most people. Merino wool tends to be a good texture for most as well, but then you have to worry about…
Allergies
Wool allergies are surprisingly common. If you intend to make something, especially clothes, out of wool yarn then it’s a good idea to make sure you aren’t going to leave them with an itchy case of hives to go with the gift.
High-Maintenance Items
The other thing to consider is maintenance. Some crocheted items of clothing are stunning, but they need such careful washing, storing and even wearing that they are unlikely to actually be used.
If you are giving away an item that needs special care, then you can mitigate this to an extent by including clear care instructions with it. Ideally written down!
Presentation
It shouldn’t be the case, but i’ve found presentation really adds to the perceived value oft the gift. When I hand wrap it in nice paper with a ribbon I am almost guaranteed to get a bigger and more enthusiastic reaction compared with when I shove it in the bottom of a bag.
Time vs Appreciation
Few things are as disheartening as spending hours or even days of your life creating something, only to receive a lukewarm or confused response to it. I know I wrap up far too much of my self esteem in what people think of my crafting creations, but if you are anything like me then really weigh this up. Often smaller, quicker projects as best for gifting, because even when it goes wrong you aren’t so super invested in the outcome.
Be Prepared for Any Reaction
I was not prepared for the first unenthused reaction I received to my crocheted gift, but if you give enough it’s going to happen. Even if you create and try to follow your own gift giving rules like I do these days!
Just in case you are as sensitive as me, remember, someone not liking your gift doesn’t mean they don’t like you. It doesn’t actually even mean they don’t appreciate the time you spent, or think it’s pretty or useful in some way. We all have bad days, we all have overly negative reactions sometimes, and one occasion of bad gift giving and receiving doesn’t have to mean anything more than that.
I have a terrible habit of replaying conversations in my head, and trying to infer meaning where there often wasn’t any at all. What I find really helpful now if taking a deep breath, and just reminding myself that in the grand scheme of things, how someone felt on one moment about a single thing I’ve made just doesn’t actually matter.
Charity & Donation
Finally, if you are desperate to crochet but have run out of space, then there are lots of charities that would love you to create things for them. Both my kids came home from hospital in handmade little woolen hats, made anonymously for the hospital and treasured by me to this day.
