Dislike knitted baby gifts from family member

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A member of our family continuously knits baby gifts for our children, there is not usually much consideration for appropriate seasons regards to age/sizing and the patterns/colours are always quite garish. We feel awful because there is clearly a lot of time and effort gone into these. The person is a beautiful knitter however she will not take any suggestions on colours, or doing a more neutral/single colour piece that would mean it can be paired with other items.

We are left with sooo many items piling up unused, many are completely inappropriate sizing so they are zero use to us. However the ones that may fit are always wild patterns or very dated styles. Photo is just recent examples

We have tried to talk to this person many times but as mentioned before they do not listen. I feel pressured to quietly donate many of them because we simply do not have the space to store so many unused items, and I would hope someone else can appreciate and get some use out of them

Our last ditch attempt is suggesting a specific pattern book so hopefully this works, do you have any suggestions? Am I being unreasonable, are these examples nice?

If you don’t knit you probably don’t know how expensive wool is. The posh patterns you are thinking of probably have very expensive wool - I suggest to buy her the wool as well as the pattern book. Then you know it will be a colour
you like.

We used to suggest knitted toys and blankets - easier to find a place for.

Find wool and patterns that you like and gift them to knitter - knowing of her skill and her enjoyment.
You are being quite fussy.
Dress the child in items once or twice when you see knitter.
Then leave it up to your kid whether they want to wear the garment.
Children can look non fashionable in the yard playing. They don't care and the pieces you posted were fine.

I think they’d be fine without the black stripes…maybe just say categorically you don’t like black on babies, but love x, y, z…..

if she’s still not listening then just donate them and if she asks you can tell her you were clear about what you wanted.

or just tell her you have enough now thank you

The pink jumper just brought a little tear. My dm did Aran knitting and she did 3 of that exact jumper but in red and white and a bit bigger, they were probably about 2, 3 and 4 years old. They looked brilliant and it was the last thing she made as she died soon after. My kids are in their thirties now and they obviously don't remember but I do.
It's always the unexpected memories that get you.
Anyway the pattern book sounds a good idea and also buying the wool you like.

I quite liked some of them, but for sure, if not your taste then no! Just photo, then donate, someone out there will love em.

As a side, I wouldn't ask someone to make something you like, some people get offended. My next door neighbour used to give me crochet bunnies she made for xmas. But.. she was the one who liked bunnies, she had a pet one. Me, like my cat. After 3 years of them, I said would be it be possible to have a crochet cat instead, while being very complementary of her skills. Well, by her reaction you'd have thought I'd asked her to sacrifice her first born. Never did get a cat but also haven't had any more crochet bunnies either, phew.

We have the same issue with my mum and her friend. My mum crochets and friend knits.
The crochet is outdated and garish colours. Mum does it to pass the time and keep her hands moving but she makes hundreds of blankets and then doesn't know what to do with them. My friend has just had a baby, she gave her 5 (she won't use them).
The knitter again garish old fashioned garments , knitted toys, tissue box covers, toilet roll cover, it makes me cringe so much. They have 5 bags of stuff to give me for my schools Xmas fayre and told me the other day there is more on the way.ive told them there is too much and I can't accept any more. They are so kind and so clever at it too but these things won't sell, they are from the 1970s!! I am sorry to admit that I won't even be giving them to the school. I end up keeping everything them slowly distributing it around charity shops far away that she won't go into and see!!

I was going to suggest a blanket too, they take longer but would be a practical alternative.

Obviously a lot of talent but not much taste.

Can these items be dyed? Like darker/ neutral colour?

they arent anywhere near as offensive as the post indicated

Highly subjective. Op does not like them, so they are to her and she has requested this person to adapt to her choice of colour but the knitter is not willing to.

Op didn’t say they are elderly.

I’m curious as to the age of some of the people you’re referring to. Like comments like in the old days people had to make do with unraveling wool etc. I’m well into my sixties, my grandmother was a mum during war and post war times and very much used every strand of wool she could. She would have been over 100 now! I grew up knitting gorgeous French style cotton and mohair stuff and I’m pretty fussy about wool. I’m just a bit intrigued. Sorry to have gone off topic though 😞

Yeah the colours are awful.

Luckily my mil does actually ask me about most colours as she knows I’m “fussy”
I did get one gross one. She hadn’t enough of one colour so bordered it with a bright pink that just didn’t match. I used it as a mucky cardi. I’d donate to a local charity.

I feel I am an anomaly here but my babies and small children would have spit up on or spilled on clothes so quickly that as long as it was clean I really don't care what they are wearing!

I think the colours and patterns are nice and it must have taken alot of work.

I thought the same!! I think they are quite neutral! I was expecting purple and green spots or something!

They look fine to me. I thought they were the examples of what the OP would prefer!

We bought a new pattern book for a beloved knitter in our family - the delicate white cardigans she made were lovely on a newborn, but her toddler patterns were much more dated. A new pattern book, and the offer of buying the yarn or making colour suggestions (I'd love a cardigan in this colour to go with a couple of outfits she has) - and once the children were old enough them being asked and having a say meant we benefitted from knitwear our children enjoyed wearing.

I agree. I think those are really sweet and not garish!

I like them too.

My DD is a paediatric nurse- knitted items are removed from babies and toddlers if admitted. They can be dangerous.
Babies fingers can become easily trapped in gaps in a knitted garment, cutting circulation. My DD has witnessed several finger amputations due to blood constriction caused by knitted clothes.
My elderly mother is a knitter and has been knitting blankets for our local cat rescue centre. They won't accept knitted blankets- too dangerous.

How lovely that someone in your family puts so much thought and effort into your children!
I personally love a knitted jumper etc
If the child is too young to care/get bullied then I would personally use anything that was size and weather appropriate and donate anything that isn't.
Maybe keep a few items back as keepsakes for when your child is grown up and wants to have fond memories of auntie Flo to remember her by

No, unfortunately acrylic yarn can't be dyed.

I think they are lovely and very well knitted. I don’t see how they are garish at all. They would probably be quite expensive in a shop

I'm with you op, I'm not keen on the designs and personally have sensory issues with the feel of the wool. I have a family member that insists on making them for my child, despite me asking them not to. I end up keeping them in a drawer to be forgotten about by all.

LOL I actually like them! I would just thank them and pass on a charity shop.

The pink one is beautiful! You will come along as very rude if you say anything. Just take a photo of them in it then store away in a vacuum pack if you really don’t want them.