Dislike knitted baby gifts from family member

How about suggesting to the relative that she knits for the local baby ward at hospital? My friend knits teddies and also does
tiny hats and 'sleeves' for catheters to keep them away from delicate skin. Best to phone and ask if they can do it first though. It might distract the relative. Lovely knitting I must say, so off to the charity shop with them.

The pink and white cable one is darling.

Just to let you know, we love it! DD2 wore all of DD1’s knitted stuff from my Nan, who is sadly no longer able to knit or crochet. They’re treasured items and hold a lot of love & sentimental value for me. And the jumpers and cardys look so lovely over their sleep suits in winter. We have 2 winter born babies so very practical.

Possibly, but not necessarily. Knitters/crocheters are often advised to use acrylic as it's easy to care for. That may be why many school jumpers are made from synthetic fibres.

Lovely wool things may need hand washing, although superwash wool doesn't. Cotton will usually go in a washing machine, but often takes ages to dry, so are less likely to be worn/used than acrylic.

Most Woolly Hugs projects ask for acrylic, with the group projects specifying which one. It's mostly only the special blankets made for a one person (often a MNetter, or relation of one) which use anything else.

It doesn't take me long to knit a baby blanket in 4 ply, but I no longer have children to look after. One good thing about blankets is they fit many sizes - but you probably don't need any, OP.

If you let us know what sort of thing you might use, then perhaps we can give better pattern suggestions. Cardigans, coats, leggings? What age/size child would your family member knit for? An alternative is to ask for a knitted teddy or doll, and then they can keep making clothes for it to wear.

I expected some hideously neon creations

Not muted pink, white and brown!

Definitely agree it's not what I'd call garish

That's not garish. The hat and jumper combo is cute and such a basic style that it's never "old fashioned"

The brown is a muted colour and for a small child/baby, really does it matter if its a little older fashioned? It's not like it looks hideously old

The pink, due to the colours even though the pattern is the same, gives me Jackie Kennedy vibes

It's not a FB group, @LoftyOliveDreamer.

It's here - https://www.ravelry.com

You'll need to sign up, but a whole world of yarn crafts will open before your eyes, whether you like it or not😎

Exactly. I think those items are actually beautiful 🤷‍♀️ clearly I' in the minority

Most likely the yarn chosen will be the cheapest. Because the other was too expensive...

Obviously not from the perspective of a baby, but my first thought was that that the specific pink and grey/brown used here would make me look like a corpse, based on my colouring. The two-tone cable ensemble is otherwise nice, though. What baffles me most is that she's not checking sizes with the parents - can't she see that they're not the right size when she sees the child (or a pic of the child) wearing them, or is she perhaps making them large to grow into?

I agree. I think the pink and white cable jumper and hat are quite nice actually. My little ones needed warm cardigans for all seasons too. But as others say, take a photo and pass it on. No harm done.

I'm a knitter but wouldn't endlessly churn out stuff made of cheap acrylic yarn. My baby knits tend to use a wool/synthetic mix and the material cost stops me overdoing it. Ive just finished a toddler jumper and the yarn cost around £25!

As a tactic, could you ask them to make you a cot blanket, in 4ply non synthetic yarn (cotton, sheep wool etc)? Stipulate the colour etc as that should keep them occupied for a few months as a 4ply blanket will takes ages and cost that much they might not offer again.

(If you aren't in the UK 4ply is generally known as fingering weight).

This is all you have to do,nothing else .

I'll take them! 😍

Has the meaning of "garish" changed recently? I was expecting purple, orange and lime green, not pale pink, gray, black and white!

They are giving Bertie Basset

Oh I would love knitted stuff. Don't care about the colours etc, just the thought of it being knit amazing

Aww I think they're adorable, liquorice allsorts colours. Loads of good suggestions in other posts. Bright colours are super good for babies development if that helps soothe the irritation 🥰🫶

Another knitter speaking. You could join Ravelry (a knitting site) and save patterns you like the look of in your library for her to see. That would need a bit of effort on your part if you aren't at all interested in knitting, but it would mean she would be able to see what you like - a sort of wish-list - and in her shoes I would love that. It might also mean that you get specially made things for your children that are to your taste.

OP, you could buy a pattern and the wool to go with it, and give it to your knitting family member and say, “I’d be so pleased if you would knit this for DC in size 2-3” or whatever. That way you have control over both the yarn and the pattern. As a knitter, I’d be delighted if one of my DC did this - I knit for my grandchildren - but I’m happy to listen to what they say, and often run patterns past them before I knit them - it does take quite a bit of effort to knit a jumper, especially the Aran one in your picture.

I loved the home made items that were made for DD but not the ones with the cheap synthetic wool.
the grey & white cardi looks fab if it was in a cotton wool

I couldn't say anything, unless you see them regularly. Some child will like them.
Pass them on.

Take photo of child in outfit, send to knitter, take to charity shop. (outfit, not kids)
We knitters/crochet people know that our younger relatives aren't loving what we've knitted but I appreciate the effort of sending photos of child in it /posing with toy😁.

The knitting is good!

They may / may not like the idea of a specific book. I'd ask them.