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Dislike knitted baby gifts from family member

331 replies

LoftyOliveDreamer · 18/10/2025 00:08

A member of our family continuously knits baby gifts for our children, there is not usually much consideration for appropriate seasons regards to age/sizing and the patterns/colours are always quite garish. We feel awful because there is clearly a lot of time and effort gone into these. The person is a beautiful knitter however she will not take any suggestions on colours, or doing a more neutral/single colour piece that would mean it can be paired with other items.

We are left with sooo many items piling up unused, many are completely inappropriate sizing so they are zero use to us. However the ones that may fit are always wild patterns or very dated styles. Photo is just recent examples

We have tried to talk to this person many times but as mentioned before they do not listen. I feel pressured to quietly donate many of them because we simply do not have the space to store so many unused items, and I would hope someone else can appreciate and get some use out of them

Our last ditch attempt is suggesting a specific pattern book so hopefully this works, do you have any suggestions? Am I being unreasonable, are these examples nice?

OP posts:
RedNine · 18/10/2025 00:21

I used to photograph and hand on, but not because of the colours, rather the wool was that squeaky synthetic stuff that made my fingers bleed trying to do the buttons up as the buttonholes were always a tiny bit too small.

Sympathies.

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 18/10/2025 00:20

Pink with white trim one and hat are fine... id go as far as perfectly nice and very inoffensive

Grey patchwork is a bit out there but would be fine with black joggers

Pink patchwork is not great/ pretty awful

But I was expecting true horror.

We get a lot of knitted stuff i kind of hated it at first but its crazy practical and both my kids seem to love them so 🤷🏻‍♀️
Put it on your kids a few times and take a few snaps for your kind relative

RoseDog · 18/10/2025 00:20

I kept small hand knitted items and they were used as dolls clothes.

the wee cardigans would be adorable if they were subtle colours.

MumChp · 18/10/2025 00:16

Just say thank you. Take a nice pic of the children in it and pass it on. No harm done.

Screamingabdabz · 18/10/2025 00:14

Such a shame as they’re clearly a talented knitter but yes, dated and garish styles. I see them at the Christmas fete at church and I wonder who buys them - they’d have more success with more modern styles and muted colours.

I would request specific items and buy the wool.

sunsu · 18/10/2025 00:14

That’s so tricky. I am a knitter myself and love knitting for family and friend’s babies but I always check their preference on colours/styles/sizes. A lot of effort has clearly gone into her knitting but I think ultimately, you’ve been clear with her and she’s not listening. I’d donate the items to charity instead

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