Are home made gifts acceptable these days ?

[KurriKurri]

I'm a bit out of touch, but often see threads on here where a lot of people consider home made gifts a bit naff so am garnering opinions.

A young couple I am friendly with are expecting their first baby after Christmas - I had thought I would knit the baby a cardigan/jumper/blanket, I am a good knitter, so it would be well made. Did you like hand knitted items for your baby or would you prefer if people bought things? (It's years since I had mine and I got lots of hand made things which I loved, but I realise times change !)
If your reaction would be 'Oh God what on earth is this ???' to home made, I shall go for soemthing from the shops.

Lovely idea! They will treasure it. Don't use horrid scratchy synthetic wool but you know that anyway, our Kurri.

My only caveat for home made gifts is edible ones made by children go straight in the bin. Shudder.

My daughters grandmother knitted a gorgeous blanket as a present for her after she was born. My little one brought it to bed every night and Would not sleep anywhere without it. She is 6 now and still brings it to bed every night. Something hand made is much more thoughtful than anything that can b bought in a shop. I loved that she spent so much time and energy on making something my child will prob have forever

I love hand knit clothes for my DD! We were very fortunate and had lots of cardigans/blankets madr for her. They are beautiful and I love seeing her all cosy and wrapped up in them.
They'd be lucky to have you knit for them

I treasured all the hand-made things I got for DD, even if they weren't all to my taste (actually, the vast majority were). It's such a kind thing to do.

I'm a relatively good knitter and I think (hope!) that those who have received hand knitted items love them. That's what I've been told anyway. I hope they weren't just being kind!

Oh I'm pleased to hear your answers - I do want to make them something special, they are so sweet and excited for the arrival of thier baby. I will be sure to pick lovely soft wool Flibberty , and I am going to look for some French patterns as they are from France and I have seen some very cute jacket/cardi patterns from French companies.

I kept all the hand knitted stuff I received for DD as well as a patchwork quilt someone made for her - it's a lovely thing to gift I think

A blanket would be lovely! To me it shows more thought and effort has been put in to the gift rather than picking any old tat up from a shop

I would have thought it the loveliest gift if someone had done this for us- you sound such a nice friend!

I loved receiving hand knitted baby gifts and even paid a friend of a friend to knit us some cardigans.
My sil however doesn't appreciate hand knitted gifts/clothes and was very annoyed when she received such gifts.
Depends totally on the individual.

I love hand knitted baby presents, luckily my mum is a knitting machine! Not just cardigans and hats, my mum sends trousers, dungarees, mittens on strings, dolly clothes. They always get really positive comments at groups too, especially the more unusual 70s style stuff. My mil tends to sew things, extra massive toweling backed bibs have been useful. Then my aunt makes incredibly detailed quilts and playmats, so you may receive the a new baby presents 2 years after the event, but it will be beautiful. Maybe I just love all homemade things as the whole family is crafty

Oh please include washing instructions and, even better, some wool detergent - most people don't have any and don't know how to take care of pure wool.

I don’t like knitted things. I have sicky children and far too much washing to deal with anything that needs special care.

My most treasured gift for DD was a hand crocheted white blanket from a lady who knows my mum from Church. I hardly knew her but my DM had waited so long to be a grandma that I think her friend had been regaled with every twist and turn of my pregnancy. I was so thrilled and touched that anyone would spend that time and effort making something for my baby. I'm sure your gift will be similarly appreciated.

Yes, we have all made knitted/crocheted items for a relative's baby recently

Knitted/crochet baby blankets are lovely but be warned you will get asked by a loads of mums and mums to be if you can make them one as if you are doing them a favour!

Another one here vouching for a handmade knitted item.

My next door neighbour made my DD a knitted cardigan and I was touched she went to the effort of making it. As someone else said, it was better received that the general cardies you buy in the shops and I've kept it because it has sentimental value.

Thank you for comments, both for and against - I can understand that some folk don't like hand made - I take your point about it being a faff if you have a sicky baby hormones - maybe a blanket would be the way to go in case baby is sicky (I too had a sicky baby - but he usually chose to do it down the back of my jumper as I was carting him around on my shoulder ).
I found small blankets handy when mine were babies for tucking round them in the buggy.
Including washing instructions is a good idea.

Unluckyinlove - I also kept some of the things that people made for mine as they have sentimental value - even though my youngest is now 30. An old lady who lived in a nursing home and was a friend of my late MIL, made each of mine a stuffed rabbit toy when they were born - and they became treasured cuddlies.

Love home made things so much! I'd be very touched ❤️👍

If you're a good knitter I'm sure they'd love it. I'm decent at crochet and have given scarves as presents and they've been well received.

For babies I tend to use stylecraft special dk as it's robust and can be thrown into the washing machine. I had a sicky baby too @hormonesorDHbeingadick

I love hand-made stuff as long as it's good quality. I mean as long as the person knows what they're doing and it shows in the final product.

Home-made food I'm a bit weird about to be honest. If I suspect children have had any hand in making (literally), if I suspect the people didn't necessarily wash their hands thoroughly before starting, or I suspect cats might have been anywhere near the work-surfaces it was prepared on it goes straight in the bin. Boak.

Hand knitted is lovely for a new baby, your gift will be treasured. I still have a couple of hand knitted shawls nearly forty years later, they're gorgeous.

For any other occasion, it really depends on what you intend to give and the people concerned. Home made iced fruit cakes are nice and Christmas puddings. A friend of mine once made me some beautiful sweets which were put in a nice box, they were delic! Personally I wouldn't go for craft type things, like photo frames (& some things no one ever uses).

I love hand-made gifts for babies. I have also made crocheted blankets, knitted hats and cardigans for grandchildren and friends’ babies, which have always been well-received.

Most people are touched by the effort that goes into making something (even though I think only fellow crafters appreciate just how much time it can take), and it really is the thought that counts.

There will always be some who look down their noses at a home-made gift, but I consider it a sign of shallowness if a fancy label is more important than a labour of love.

Even if the gift is not to their taste, they can receive it graciously, take a photo of the baby in it to send to the giver, then stick it in the back of the cupboard and no one will be any the wiser.

I love hand made stuff, and I think I’d have appreciated a blanket most. One to tuck round them when they’re in the pushchair or car seat would have been amazing.

I really admire clever people like you.