to ask if you find homemade gifts acceptable in Secret Santa?

[COCKadoodledooo]

My friend may have contributed something she made herself to the office secret santa. Is this a huge faux pas?

Knitted btw, not foodie or glitter and cardboard if that makes a difference.

Would you be happy with that?

In the grand scheme of things I've found most secret santa's fairly shit in my experience, so no it wouldn't worry me.

I take it she spent the 'agreed price' on the wool anyway?

I would be bloody delighted! But I do not seem to follow many of the MN rules of life gifts, so don't rely on me.

I love nicely made or thoughtful home made gifts.

I'm however at a bit of tat with a bit of flowery paper glued on.

Depends what it is and who it is for.

In general though, I prefer homemade gifts :)

Some people don't have much money.

She must have spent more time on that knitted item than the five minutes most people spend scanning the toiletry aisle at Boots then going to the checkout.

So YABU.

Depends. Some Secret santas I've been in have been full of really good presents, others, not so much.

It depends what the spending limit was, if the homemade gift was worth it, and how well made it was.

It depends....are we talking this or or this

Homemade SS??

Social Services? Not good
Sausage Sandwich? Better :o

I want one.

I do. I would go up to the corner shop in it.

I posted a thread about 2 weeks ago about my friend buying gifts for my DD and then worrying about having to return the favour at her DD birthday. A MNer suggested making something. I was worried how this would be received but I made some cookies and a few days later I got a text from the friend who really appreciated it and said they were lovely and she'd eaten them all already. Never had a text days later for anything I have bought. I think homemade gifts are usually appreciated more even if some ways they are "cheaper" they have taken a lot of time so surely this adds value.

I think it is great to give homemade if you can make anything worth having.

I made my SS gift - I am nervous about how it will be received (I make necklaces) friend at work assured me it was lovely - here's hoping!

I'd much rather have a home-made Secret Santa. As long as it wasn't a knitted sausage sandwich, that is.

Depends on what it is. But it being hand made isn't anything bad, as long as she knows about any wool sensitivity, hated colours etc. For example, I'd love a cream, chenille scarf, but not have any use for a mohair/angora wool cream scarf, as it is too itchy for me.

I think homemade gifts for Secret Santa or otherwise are brilliant. I hate that people assume that everyone in the group, whether friends and family or work colleagues, can afford to buy something. Lots of people say oh but it's only a tenner, well for some people that's more than they have spare. A lot of homemade gifts can cost more than a bought one and a lot more effort can go in than just nipping into boots and buying a box of pretty soaps.

When organising our secret Santa one woman flew off the handle because she wanted to organise a pound land secret santa and we had said £5

She sent a horrible email around saying she was just doing the )1 anyway and couldn't care less

I was why bother at all?

Crafty stuff - yes. Food would make me as you wouldn't know who it had come from, so wouldn't know if it was made by the person with filthy nails or was regularly off with D&V from poor kitchen practices.

Depends what it is and whether its naice of not. There's some awful handknits out there, and some fab stuff.

General rule of thumb though, handmade SS is perfectly fine.

I'd love it, but I am allergic to perfume and SS inevitable involves me being given stuff I can't use!

It always depends on how well something is made and how well the maker knows the receiver. My wife is a sewer/quilter/knitter and makes high quality things. She is also part owner of a quilting eZine. Over the years she's made tons of gifts, from small knitted bags all the way up to full size quilts. She just got an email from a secret Santa partner telling her how much his DD LOVES the little doll she made. If items are well made and properly thought about a home made gift is very well appreciated.

Shameless plug for her eZine here

I cried at my works Secret Santa gift as the gift I received was so thought out and I know a lot of effort went into making my gift. It was a hamper with homemade Jams, handmade wooden plaque , homemade fruit cake and lots of other little items all of which I loved. It was the best present ever . I am also pleased to announce the fruit cake has already gone xx yum yum

Gawd, yes!
A homemade gift would be far more desirable than the results of a rummage around the cheap bin in the local chemists!

Again it depends.
A lovely knitted scarf would be great.
Again if you are a very good cook then yes to homemade food gifts.
Also something personalised such as a crosstitched picture would be thoughtful.