Uh-oh, apparently Grandma is knitting Christmas presents again this year...............

[MadreInglese]

This is Not Good

[ungrateful grandaughter alert]

but if you could see some of the previous monstrosities you would feel my pain

It's been ok for a few years as she got bored of knitting and took up rag-rugging (is that what it's called?) and cross-stitching so she made some fab things for all the children in the family, but apparently she's back on the clickety clack needles again

She won't ask anyone what they'd like, or take any subtle hints about styles or colours, but instead wastes spends hours knitting horrors clothes and accessories that we'll never wear

Apparently there is talk of berets and matching scarves this year

Yep you are ungrateful! My mum decided to knit me a jumper for the start of university. I graduated 16 years ago and I'm still waiting!

I have wiped from my memory was very grateful for the striped cardigan with my initials on the back six inches high that I received aged 15

I know what you mean about hideous jumpers but as I was reading your post, I was thinking "shame the grandmother doesn't stick to things like hats, gloves and scarfs" which are very "in" these days. And then I see she probably is doing just that.

So I think you should reserve your horror until you have seen what she has made you. She might be about to give you a very trendy present.

reminds me of sil she once made a lovely angora cardigan for eldest (she was 5)same year she made a god awful patchwork jumper for youngest who was 1

MIL once knitted matching jumpers for DH and I. Fortunately, she must have noticed that we never wore them as that was the last hand knitted gift received.

My gran used to knit the most fabulous dolls for the DC, with kilts and bagpipes.

She also made a bride and groom for our wedding day.

I don't think she ever made a jumper with initials on it.

Well, am sat here wearing a jumper knitted by my Mum, and would be quite happy to receive more. Unfortunately in my 40 years I think she has turned out approximately three knitted garments, so I'm not holding my breath!

The one I'm wearing now she knitted while she was pregnant with me (for her to wear, not me, obv, I don't think she was thinking that far ahead )

I do feel your pain though, my Nan used to knit me school cardigans when I was 15 or so - to the same pattern she used for her own cardies, complete with bow at the neck . . .

thing is I don't wear hats, never have since I was about 8 and she knows that

My aunt did mention to her when we heard she might be making scarves that nice long scarves would be really lovely, but she doesn't like long ones so we're getting short scarves because they tuck in better

It's lovely that she takes the time to think of and make things but in reality the finished products are so bloody godawful I wish she would check with people first because it ends up being a real waste of her time. She won't take any hints though.

I have all the embarrassing lovely jumpers my mum knitted me stored in a box in my loft. I just can't bear to throw them out.

i love hand knitted stuff!

my mum refuses to knit for me, but once made a cardigan for my ungrateful little sister wh wouldn't accept it because it was a bit baggy at the front (it really is, god knows what happened to the pattern! )
but it's a lovely purple colour, so i went with mum to victoria market and bought some hippo buttons (every one different colour mix) and sewed them on then I had the cardigan.
still wear it now. it's lovely.

but she still refuses to knit me stuff!
where's the logic??!!!

...I love hand knits. Although I can appreciate that if your granny's tastes tend toward the lurid, it's not going to be easy to act pleased and grateful.

Why not think of it from the point of view of the (elderly) knitter? She spends days - no, weeks - of her time making unique, handmade presents for the family she loves. She thinks of each person as she's knitting - maybe not the whole time, but it's impossible not to think about the person you're knitting for - and if you want to get ickily sentimental about it, she's knitting her love into each garment. It makes her happy to make things that keep the people she loves warm.

Yes ok, she chose a 100% acrylic in neon lime and beige, but it made her happy. I'd focus on that and try to be nice about it.

In the future, have you thought about going to John Lewis or wherever, and buying enough yarn in a colour/material that you like, and presenting her with it? I did this with my MIL before DS was born - that way, we ended up with a crop of (beautifully made) cardigans in lovely soft 100% wool and nice colours, rather than the horrible squeaky white acrylic she was planning on using!

nice idea mamagoblin but she's not open to any suggestions - we have tried so as not to waste her knitting time!

I'd love to think that each item is chosen specifically with love, but she will churn out (for example) 30 x identical snot green jumpers and wrap them and give to each grandchild and great grandchild (same pattern for age range 5-35) and they are labelled 'child' or 'adult' and handed out

My cousins and I have done our time as children wearing hideous grandma jumpers and thanking her - it seems only to have convinced her that it's a good idea! It's just such a shame she spends all this time making stuff that none of us will use.