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?

I'm a knitter but have never made things for babies, as I learned to knit after mine were babies and I've had no other babies to knit for! The pictures you attached aren't the latest (subtle, Scandi-style) knitwear fashion, but I wouldn't say they are garish. I really like the grey one. Real quality wool is nicer, but people often use acrylic for babies because you can just chuck it in the washing machine when they spit pureed carrot all over it!

Your relative sounds like she's set in her ways, knitting-wise. If you don't like her stuff, you are going to need to ask her not to make you any more. I only knit for people who have asked me to make them something.

I think they are amazing and could be paired with solid black/cream/denim bottoms. But I’m probably just weird. 😂

Donate and don't give it any more headspace.
This is the sort of thing that really stressed me out when I first had my little one - but I've recognised now that the people who don't listen to your preferences/needs are actually just acting selfishly. You can be polite and grateful to their face, but just do what you need to do quietly and behind the scenes to make the problem go away.

I mean they're a bit dated but surely they can wear them at home if you don't want to take them out in public wearing them?

if they are too small maybe donate to local baby unit to hand out when people are caught off guard

THE knitter? Of lovely pink jumpers? Well done if so.

I loved the knitted stuff I got (30 odd years ago) so these seem ok - my dh says they’d old fashioned though.
I know my own grandchildren wouldn’t ware them, as their dm is fashion conscious, which is fine.

But if someone was continuously giving me unwanted stuff, and ignoring my requests, I’d politely, give them back.
It actually possible, that’s why you’ve got odd sizes, because the person she’d originally made them for did not want them and gave them back to her, (after also failing to get colours they liked ) and so she palmed them off on you.
I find people who do this , aren’t doing it to be kind, but to make themselves feel good - look how generous I am.

Firstly yes they knit beautifully and I think the pink is ok. The rest is a bit eighties. I feel a bit bad because my mum and gran were in dated pattern land in my youth and I wasn’t necessarily kind. Also nice wool is expensive. I would try the commission approach if you can which may be easier when children are a little older- x would love a jumper in his team’s colours, y needs a cross over cardigan. For ballet but it must be plain white - I am happy to get the wool… and quietly donate the unusable.

So if you’re the knitter, and op says can you do them in a particular colour (fair request) why not say , to op, sorry can’t afford wool or pattern , and leave it at that?
But instead keep giving her stuff in the wrong colour which she doesn’t want. ?

My child didn’t care what they looked like at that age and they look like they’d keep them warm, so I’d definitely have been using those tops.
I also quite like them, but that’s not really my point.

I really like them op.
I dont think they look dated or tacky.
Love seeing all ages wearing knit wear.
Im on the look out for a good knitter as i have a jumper i want made and you just cant buy them.

I quite like the pink hat and jumper and would put it on a boy since pink is appropriate, referring to the protection of St. Joseph and thus signalling a baby boy. Girls should wear blue to invoke the care of the Virgin - all this was done until USians turned things topsy-turvy. We should reclaim the colours that we used to use. (Perfectly aware I am taking a rise, thanks, but it's true: blue for a girl and pinkish red for a boy, these being the colours associated with St Joseph and Jesus' mother.)
The chocolate one is a bit garish but the patterns hark back to the nineties and rubic cubes - quite retro. Donate them all! Someone will love them.
Edited to avoid some religious nut-jobbery.

These are adorable and not dated nor garish they are cute little jumpers for a baby

Babies need functional items to help keep them warm

However I totally understand if it's not your style your allowed your opinion on them as it's your baby just plonk it on for an hour or two get some pics and take them the charity shop

Those of you saying take photos of the children wearing the items and then get rid of them - no! It's gaslighting.

I assumed she just means she is in the same boat as the OP's knitter! Not the same one.
I'm currently knitting an (unsolicited) scarf for a friend and am now rethinking my actions!

This

I guess theres no accounting for taste, cause i love the pink and black one! It reminds me of a liquorice allsort (in a good way!)

I love those 🥹 if she'd like to knit my boy something I would glady purchase i love the button cardi

The pink jumper and hat are lovely, I'd happily put my child in those.

I really quite like them and think they would look immensely cute on.

OP you should put them on vinted since so many people here love them so much... however I expect nobody would actually buy them.

I haven't knitted anything for a long time , those look adorable to me but it's a matter of taste. Pass them on . It takes a lot of time and effort to knit these things someone will appreciate them . That cable knit type is especially tricky . My dm knits I had tonnes of hand-knitted jumpers including aran knits ,really itchy, as a child. I'd suggest to your relative to put these on etsy .

I love a bit if an ugly knit. She's a great knitter so it's done well.

She's maybe knitting what she likes colour and pattern wise, just do what you like. Donate or keep them for messy play.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and personally I think these are lovely - cheerful and quite stylish. From the description I was expecting hideous cartoon animals and the like! But no two tastes are the same. And OP is entitled to feel they make her child stand out too much, among kids dressed in more conventionally tasteful style.

The real issue is that the knitter is presuming too much. About style, colour, yarn and size. That's a tricky one, especially when the knitter thinks they're doing a lovely thing. It's like those posts where older relatives burden young families with unwanted kiddie crap from charity shops.

I'm glad PP's suggestions for pattern books and Fb groups are helpful OP, and best wishes for a positive convo with your demon knitter!

I must admit that they are growing on me!

Age are they for?

I'm currently knitting a matinee jacket just for something to do whilst watching tv!

Think I might do a cable jumper or cardi instead thouh.