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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate home made gifts!

152 replies

LendAnEar · 29/11/2019 14:20

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? Grin I doubt there's many that will change my opinion.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
26
TellySavalashairbrush · 01/12/2019 08:37

I agree with you op. Although I am always grateful for whatever I receive, some people do think they are far more talented/creative than they actually are. If they do it because they can’t afford to buy then I think that’s very kind of them, but I’ve found that it’s often the more affluent friends of mine that prefer giving home made. Would rather have a £5 book token to be honest.

Roussette · 01/12/2019 08:45

My goodness there's some talented people on here. Reminds me of my dear old Mum, long gone.... she could make anything, literally could turn her hand to all sorts and made some beautiful things. She made a smocked dress for my DDs christenings, the eldest is now 30, I'm just indulging myself with this picture of it. It's very precious.

Unfortunately I have not inherited her talents!

Well done everyone on here who make these beautiful things.

To hate home made gifts!
Wincarnis · 01/12/2019 08:46

Out of habit and budget, I make Sloe Gin, Rumtopf, Bundt cakes, Chutney, and Jam - all my friends love them and ask for more. On the other hand I BOUGHT a scarf for a family member - she handed it back saying it wasn’t her colour.

Mumdiva99 · 01/12/2019 08:53

I love all the gifts on here and would love them. My friend made Florentines last year - my absolute favourite biscuity chocolaty things ever. Absolutely delicious.

SinkGirl · 01/12/2019 08:54

If they do it because they can’t afford to buy then I think that’s very kind of them, but I’ve found that it’s often the more affluent friends of mine that prefer giving home made.

This is such a misconception. In almost every area, it’s far more expensive in materials alone to make something than to buy something, not to mention time involved. I could easily have bought soft toys for less than it costs me to make them, but I hope one day my kids will love them. My mum is no longer here and I’d love to have things she made for me.

AllIWantForChristmasIsTomHardy · 01/12/2019 08:56

It depends what it is, some are thoughtful where some are dust gatherers
A boyfriend once made me a cake stand using old records, it’s just took up space and gathered dust, never used it (where he got carefully thought out gifts)
Dolls or ornaments or glittery bottles would be a Nono for me but food items or knitted scarf would be lovely

redcarbluecar · 01/12/2019 09:01

I think I’d be really touched if someone made me a gift. @QueenOfToast I love that blanket!

SinkGirl · 01/12/2019 09:12

Just remembered the time I spent three months knitting a blanket for our best friends’ wedding present - it’s still on their bed a decade later. Totally worth it.

She loved it so much that she’s one of the few people I still make presents for. There is nothing worse than spending huge amounts of time and money making something for someone and then them not appreciating it. If ive made a few biscuits then fine, but hand making something takes a really long time. I learnt my lesson and now only make stuff for people who appreciate it.

I realise a lot of people don’t have the best quality control and what they make may not be up to scratch, but at least appreciate the effort put in because they care. People who don’t make stuff themselves have no idea of the time involved.

PegasusReturns · 01/12/2019 09:17

I'd love a home made gift.

Most of my friends are cash rich time poor and so the time and thought expended would be a appreciated. I'd particularly love a home made blanket.

MyKingdomForBrie · 01/12/2019 09:23

There are some absolutely beautiful things on here I'd love to receive, the blankets, the mosaic tray, the jewellery - in fact everything that has been posted so far has been amazing.

@DimplesToadfoot I don't quite understand why you're punishing your friend who would by the sounds of it love the gift you've made her, just because some random people on the internet might not? You've said that you've got her at gift from the pound shop' and some PJs on sale in primark that won't even fit her instead - I'm not sure that it's fair to judge her on what a selection of posters on the threads say?

DimplesToadfoot · 01/12/2019 13:19

@MyKingdomForBrie

I'm not punishing her, I'm making sure I don't offend her by giving her something handmade, instead I'm giving her stuff of the same quality as she gives me, I presume you have also read where I stated she will still end up with what I made?

LittleMissnotLittleMrs · 01/12/2019 17:45

@FrenchSchnoodle I would buy them immediately for me (depending on price!) Sod giving them away - they would be (are!?) a present for me! And yes, I am serious

LittleMissnotLittleMrs · 01/12/2019 17:48

I'm making a quilt. I've never quilted or made patchwork before and it is now not for this Christmas but I'm loving the process and if it's hinted that it's not liked, I'll be taking it back 😉

@SinkGirl that painting (?) in particular is gorgeous.

SinkGirl · 01/12/2019 17:51

Thanks! It’s a papercut - four layers of paper cut with a scalpel and then stuck together. They take bloody forever so I never get to do them these days!

SinkGirl · 01/12/2019 17:51

I tried to make a quilt once... it did not end well.

Bee1511 · 01/12/2019 17:56

I’m embarrassed to say I feel the same on home made gifts. I mean if it was something incredible then great but most of the homemade gifts I’ve received haven’t been great 🤨

Saying that DD was made some beautiful blankets and quilts when she was born. She never used them as I decided to keep them in a keepsake box instead. Other than that, all rubbish!

FrenchSchnoodle · 01/12/2019 18:06

Littlemiss thank you, I'm grinning. PM me if you'd like more info.

absopugginglutely · 01/12/2019 18:12

One of my neighbours make us home made biscuits and they are to die for! Once she made pistachio and bergamot crescents, another time home made florentines that were all gooey and made with good quality chocolate.
My other neighbour makes fresh scones and puts them in a basket with jam and clotted cream.
My auntie makes utterly beautiful and intricate jumpers for DD which we treasure.
My 99 year old granny makes hats for DD and she made me a hand spun (by her hands) alpaca wool cardigan that I wear all the time.
Another neighbour made a little long legged bunny rabbit for DD with a little dress on.

YADBU handmade is the BEST!!!!

FrenchSchnoodle · 01/12/2019 18:50

abs the biscuits sound so nice. I would love that sort of thing. The point is that as I've got older I've realised that there's v little I need or couldn't buy myself. Therefore an edible gift or unusual gift is great

mokeymokey · 01/12/2019 22:28

@stuckinarutwithyou that crochet blanket is amazing. I'd be really pleased receiving that as a gift.

I'm usually happy to receive homemade gifts if they're food based. I'd be more picky if it was something that would be kept "on display" as it would need to be in my style or match the decor.

katseyes7 · 02/12/2019 15:50

Roussette That little dress is stunning!

Roussette · 02/12/2019 16:26

Awww thanks katseyes7 Smile. It's 30 years old now, unbelievable, seems like yesterday, but I've kept it carefully as a lovely reminder of how talented my Mum was.

katseyes7 · 02/12/2019 16:43

Roussette l don't blame you! l couldn't part with it either. Smocking's virtually a lost art these days, l think it looks gorgeous on little baby clothes.

Roussette · 02/12/2019 17:01

Yes it is a lost art Smile

WiddlinDiddlin · 02/12/2019 17:12

YABU to automatically assume handmade is crap.

It might be.

It might not be to your taste.

In both cases, that's no different to the gifter giving you something crap or not to your taste that wasn't handmade.

One of these was a gift to someone who saw it and went crazy for it, the other was sold to the same person.

To hate home made gifts!
To hate home made gifts!