Dislike knitted baby gifts from family member

I honestly don’t see why people are saying they’re dated and I’m wondering if it’s a cultural/regional thing.

where I live, it’s a very sort of bougie well to do city and when I go to mum groups, half the kids have hand knitted cardis and homemade blankets! It’s like the “thing” now.

as I said above, I’d be more than happy for my kids to wear these

if you have any that’ll suit a 18month-2 year old boy I’ll gladly pay the postage 🤣

‘Im in the minority but I don’t think they’re all that bad. But I don’t tend to dress my toddler/kids in muted colours… I don’t mind a bit of colour and pattern (as long as there’s no silly slogans - and I don’t bother with anything branded)

sometimes, the knitter in my family has a misfire with sizing and the item is nice but far too wide or a bit short… I use these as “home jumpers” and my kids just wear over their PJs in a morning, or under a coat on a walk with the dog if a weekend.

basically as an extra layer to keep them warm but they wouldn’t necessarily get worn out out!

id also not think twice about using them for nursery or preschool

and you could offer them on Facebook. I’m sure somebody would take them off your hands as it gets colder

I would buy the pattern you like yourself, and the wool as well. They’re expensive, and it’s probably easier and cheaper for your grandma in law family member to churn out something that she knows well with cheap wool she has a stash of. I would give her the items and say “please can you make this in a size xyz” just to make it clear.

I love the pink and cream cable knit! Pass onto someone who will appreciate them.

I love them!😍

Put them on teddies/dolls

I think they're all lovely.

I must admit that they are growing on me!

Age are they for?

I'm currently knitting a matinee jacket just for something to do whilst watching tv!

Think I might do a cable jumper or cardi instead thouh.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and personally I think these are lovely - cheerful and quite stylish. From the description I was expecting hideous cartoon animals and the like! But no two tastes are the same. And OP is entitled to feel they make her child stand out too much, among kids dressed in more conventionally tasteful style.

The real issue is that the knitter is presuming too much. About style, colour, yarn and size. That's a tricky one, especially when the knitter thinks they're doing a lovely thing. It's like those posts where older relatives burden young families with unwanted kiddie crap from charity shops.

I'm glad PP's suggestions for pattern books and Fb groups are helpful OP, and best wishes for a positive convo with your demon knitter!

I love a bit if an ugly knit. She's a great knitter so it's done well.

She's maybe knitting what she likes colour and pattern wise, just do what you like. Donate or keep them for messy play.

I haven't knitted anything for a long time , those look adorable to me but it's a matter of taste. Pass them on . It takes a lot of time and effort to knit these things someone will appreciate them . That cable knit type is especially tricky . My dm knits I had tonnes of hand-knitted jumpers including aran knits ,really itchy, as a child. I'd suggest to your relative to put these on etsy .

OP you should put them on vinted since so many people here love them so much... however I expect nobody would actually buy them.

I really quite like them and think they would look immensely cute on.

The pink jumper and hat are lovely, I'd happily put my child in those.

I love those 🥹 if she'd like to knit my boy something I would glady purchase i love the button cardi

I guess theres no accounting for taste, cause i love the pink and black one! It reminds me of a liquorice allsort (in a good way!)

This

I assumed she just means she is in the same boat as the OP's knitter! Not the same one.
I'm currently knitting an (unsolicited) scarf for a friend and am now rethinking my actions!

Those of you saying take photos of the children wearing the items and then get rid of them - no! It's gaslighting.

These are adorable and not dated nor garish they are cute little jumpers for a baby

Babies need functional items to help keep them warm

However I totally understand if it's not your style your allowed your opinion on them as it's your baby just plonk it on for an hour or two get some pics and take them the charity shop

I quite like the pink hat and jumper and would put it on a boy since pink is appropriate, referring to the protection of St. Joseph and thus signalling a baby boy. Girls should wear blue to invoke the care of the Virgin - all this was done until USians turned things topsy-turvy. We should reclaim the colours that we used to use. (Perfectly aware I am taking a rise, thanks, but it's true: blue for a girl and pinkish red for a boy, these being the colours associated with St Joseph and Jesus' mother.)
The chocolate one is a bit garish but the patterns hark back to the nineties and rubic cubes - quite retro. Donate them all! Someone will love them.
Edited to avoid some religious nut-jobbery.

I really like them op.
I dont think they look dated or tacky.
Love seeing all ages wearing knit wear.
Im on the look out for a good knitter as i have a jumper i want made and you just cant buy them.

My child didn’t care what they looked like at that age and they look like they’d keep them warm, so I’d definitely have been using those tops.
I also quite like them, but that’s not really my point.

So if you’re the knitter, and op says can you do them in a particular colour (fair request) why not say , to op, sorry can’t afford wool or pattern , and leave it at that?
But instead keep giving her stuff in the wrong colour which she doesn’t want. ?

Firstly yes they knit beautifully and I think the pink is ok. The rest is a bit eighties. I feel a bit bad because my mum and gran were in dated pattern land in my youth and I wasn’t necessarily kind. Also nice wool is expensive. I would try the commission approach if you can which may be easier when children are a little older- x would love a jumper in his team’s colours, y needs a cross over cardigan. For ballet but it must be plain white - I am happy to get the wool… and quietly donate the unusable.

I loved the knitted stuff I got (30 odd years ago) so these seem ok - my dh says they’d old fashioned though.
I know my own grandchildren wouldn’t ware them, as their dm is fashion conscious, which is fine.

But if someone was continuously giving me unwanted stuff, and ignoring my requests, I’d politely, give them back.
It actually possible, that’s why you’ve got odd sizes, because the person she’d originally made them for did not want them and gave them back to her, (after also failing to get colours they liked ) and so she palmed them off on you.
I find people who do this , aren’t doing it to be kind, but to make themselves feel good - look how generous I am.