To hate home made gifts!

[LendAnEar]

Christmas is approaching and no doubt one of us will end up with some sort of home made crap gift 🙄

Am I the only one who hates anything hand made? They usually look shit and just add to clutter!

I'd love to see any decent homemade gifts anyone has received, if they're brave enough to share a photo? I doubt there's many that will change my opinion.

Thank you Rousette, lovely of you. I have friends who go mad for pickled veg. That's fab.

As with each gift - it depends on the recipient. both the jewellery and the leather stuff in this thread are beautiful. but not my style at all. homemade liquor might be great, but i don’t like alcohol.
It is a lot harder to bin/regift/charity shop homemade stuff though.

@bridgetreilly

Oh my God, really?
It's such a small world!
I hope you love them!

I haven't got a photo but my mum made me a wonderful chair! Also had lots of knitwear from mum and friends. I'm a teacher and love when children make me things -best one was a child who made me a book.

I don't like the mosaic tray. I do mosaics with my kids and whilst I appreciate that the materials aren't cheap and it does take time, I would be disappointed to receive that as a gift unless from my younger DC.

Same with mittens. I prefer gloves to mittens. Much more practical.

I also think giving homemade biscuits/chutneys/jams/pickles/banklets/fudge/etc isn't great unless you know that the recipient really likes that kind of thing.

Happy to have home made/crafted stuff if it's actually something I like. Otherwise it's a rather thoughtless gift but because it's home made you feel that you have to be grateful because of all the effort that actually wasn't done with the giftee in mind.

Just returned to the thread and seen more pics. Someone needs to make a positive thread where posters show their crafts.

@FrenchSchnoodle your jewelry is beautyful, don't be nervous, if is not appreciated sell somewhere instead. Love the blue set ⭐️.

PenguinBollard Yes! I was pretty sure I recognised the company name, so I checked on etsy. They were great. I'm moving out of my traveller's notebook at the moment, but I daresay I'll be back for more in the future.

Madam thank you so much. I do sell it to friends and have thought about selling it on Etsy. I guess it's confidence really (or lack of).

Get going @FrenchSchnoodle . What's the worst that can happen? Not selling may just be because of price. Homecrafted is usually quite expensive and buyers don't think about that. But push it as unique jewelry only one edition or such. Good luck (please when your business take off think of me ).

That made me laugh. Thank you so much for the encouraging words and support. It is all unique which I love and I genuinely love it and wear it myself. Thank you

Who doesn't like homemade biscuits and chutneys etc?

Prefer it to bought stuff. Done with love, tastes sooooo much better

No I don’t although maybe I’ve been lucky not to receive awful ones
I am knitting DP a Xmas present sweater which he adores - currently sat next to me on sofa wearing last years
Embroidered a cushion cover for a friends birthday - she cried when she opened it

@bridgetreilly If you do decide you need more - send me a message ahead of time via the website and I'll give you a cheeky Mumsnet discount

Oh that's so kind! I will definitely do that. ;)

@Roulette loads if people. i don’t like chutneys at all, and most biscuits are far too sweet and buttery for my liking. and handmade means no foodbank will take it, so it goes into the bin. I also don’t like alcohol. Bottle tombolas again don’t take homemade, so down the sink.

If I didn't like something, my DH would or my (adult) DCs. Nothing goes down the sink or in the bin here. Chutneys with cold meats and a drink play a big part of Christmas for us!

However, we're all different and I'm sure your friends who are likely to give you homemade stuff know your preferences and what you don't like.

I only make for people I know will appreciate it. Made a crochet blanket for my mum the other year and she still sits under it on the sofa most evenings - I knew she'd love it as she's forever nicking crochet blankets I've made for my own sofas.

I may crochet too much as I've sat and named all the crochet patterns on this thread (Heidi Bears animals are my real love to make)

Other relatives - nope there's no way I'd hand make.

I only bother making things for people who don’t have this attitude so win win.

These are some of the presents I’ve made in the last few years, a few for my own DC.

The nicest thing I’ve ever made was some stranded alice in wonderland mittens for a friend - she’s worn them every winter ever since.

@SinkGirl. You are really talented.

I received a few crocheted blankets for newborn baby and loved them

yabvu
i made fruit vodka/gin for my family.

i receive all sorts of knitted things, cup warmers, socks,
it is lovely and an actual effort goes into it

Thanks Tobe - I actually didn’t touch a single craft until 7 or so years ago when I started knitting, then moved on to other things and ran a business selling my papercuts. Sadly since my twins were born I don’t get the scalpels out very often! I do however have a list of at least 12 I’ve been asked to make for friends and am chipping away at them.

I definitely don’t have any innate creative talent, I’m just cursed with annoying perfectionist tendencies, this is the only time they’re a blessing.

This year for the first time I’ve decided to make something for myself. Only just started but it will be a triangular scarf when finished (it needs blocking). I definitely appreciate my thoughtfulness 😂

I’m delighted there is a spate of hating homemade presents threads as have got to see some great things! I’d love some of these but most of my friends and relatives don’t generally make things. Notable exception is DH’s friend who makes stunning pottery which has been one of my favourite ever presents.

This year I’ve learnt to crochet so DD getting a bobble hat as she wears them loads in most seasons. A couple of friends are getting fresh flower Christmas wreaths as they liked mine last year so hoping I’m safe with that and others are getting plants that have been grown from cuttings that they have commented on in the garden so again hope they will be well received.

in fact i might make some blackberry gin again for my dsis on the strength of this

I gave NDN who who walks her dog a crochet gift, made from wool.
Looked like a tight tube.
You could wear it as an open hat or pull it down and wear it round your neck.
She said how warm it was, admitted she had been surprised by the gift and dismissed it, till the first time she used it.