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Pregnancy

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Original poster

How do you guys HONESTLY feel about handknitted/homemade baby gifts/garments etc?

168 replies

Filly4LOOP · 25/02/2007 07:57

I really want to know.

Does it put you under an obligation that you don't like?

Or do you love it that someone has taken the time and trouble to knit something especially for your baby?

I tend toward this sort of thing if it makes a difference.

Thoughts? I don't want to be giving people stuff they don't want and have suddenly become paranoid.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

themildmanneredjanitor · 03/03/2007 09:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

iwasntborniwasknitted · 15/10/2007 03:37

Hi I'm really maybe one of the 'older generation' @ 55 but I've still got one child @ home and look after my 8 year old grandson when my eldest daughter is working nights as a midwife, so being a mum seems to be eternal!
I did quite a bit of knitting when mine were small, and I've come back to it now.
My second daughter was married last year and hasn't reached the baby stage yet, but one of her good friends is about to have her first baby just before Christmas. This friend lost her mother when she was a teenager so I'm knitting a few things: a small blanket/cover for a buggy, and a little set: a beanie hat, a baby shrug/wrap and some socks, hoping that it might be a little something as she doesn't have a mum to knit for her.
My daughter says that her friend has already been given a few knitted things and she likes the fact that they are different from what is in the shops. I've just tried to adapt the designs a bit, and update the old matinee jacket (what the heck was a matinee anyway?!) to a shrug-type wrap; and the old helmet-style hat to a beanie, hoping that they will be a bit more modern, and new mum will like them. :-)

LolaTheShowgirl · 15/10/2007 03:43

They sound lovely iwasntborniwasknitted. i'm sure the mum-to-be will be thrilled!

Califright · 15/10/2007 05:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jennifersofia · 15/10/2007 06:47

Very mixed. Had some booties, which were great and went for 2 children, a jumper in an awful mint ice cream colour, a hat which was lovely, a scarf which was also lovely but too short so girls didn't like it, and a Jemima Puddleduck (!) which, to my great I got rid of in a clear out thinking that the girls didn't need yet another large stuffed toy. They have since asked for it, and I don't think I could look the lady who made it (friend's mother) in the eye.

FlightAttendant · 15/10/2007 06:51

I had some snow-white, holey knitted acrylic jumpers given to me by my Granny, which for some reason I could not make Ds2 wear - the (lack of) colour didn't look nice on a pale baby, plus I always feel her gifts are given reluctantly - she will make jumpers (sometimes great ones) for Ds1, which she then stockpiles, waiting for me to visit her - this is going to sound incredibly mean, but she has always been rather hard to get on with and I know she finds my boys exhausting, gets tired and cross, feeds them mountains of sweets etc. even when they say 'No thankyou' and I'm trying to say it's their dinner time in a minute so please no more. Very undermining in other ways too so we don't go very often.
Meaning Ds1 never gets some of his jumpers. She sees my parents every day so could pass them on but it feels like she just wants me to feel guilty?? but I hate to put the boys through an uncomfortable, tense visit like we had to endure when I was growing up, so I don't go.
OMG rant, sorry!!!!!

Yes, blankets are the BEST thing ever - mum made the boys one each, which they always use, and seem to grow with them somehow?! Nice, heavy, big stitched, simple blankets that don't fall off!

I love those hats NBG, and Filly those little moomin type squirrel type animals are exceedingly sweet

FlightAttendant · 15/10/2007 06:54

Ooh hats are either brilliant or no use at all, imo...I made (bad knitter) a 'helmet' for Ds1, which he wore for a couple of years (yup only when it was cold, lol) and it was excellent though I say it myself - just very lucky that's all - now it is lost and I will have to (cringe) make ANOTHER one for Ds2!

Arghhhh

MyTwopenceworth · 15/10/2007 06:56

I think they're really really sweet (if they are well made)

Plus I think it is a great compliment that someone sets time aside to create something just for my baby. It's a lovely thought.

I wouldn't think much of someone who was ungrateful, tbh.

Megsdaughter · 15/10/2007 07:16

Back in the day, when DS1(29) and DS2(28) were born, everything really was knitted, I did have a couple of those newfangled baby grows but Oh my goodness they were expensive, and whoever can get the legs done up properly on a wriggly baby

No really my Mom who was a expert knitter, (made up all her own patterns) made the mt beautiful clothes for the boys. The things in particular she made was envelope neck jumpers with matching dungarees, (maybe not the fashion now, but very practical) they both had about 6 sets each, plus many cardis and jackets.

The blanket and the Shawl she made I used for DGD, and is put away for the net grandchild as DDIL loves them.

FCH · 15/10/2007 07:28

I am expecting number 1 and my mum has knitted a really beautiful cream wool matinee jacket, boots and hat set, which is lovely for a November baby, but my favourite thing is the most beautiful receiving shawl. Mind you - I do still have the shawl that my grandmother knitted for me when my mum was expecting me, so perhaps I am a bit biased, but I do think a nice shawl is really special and I love the fact that she has gone to so much effort!

UnfulfilledLife · 15/10/2007 07:58

I personally love receiving hand knitted gifts. Perhaps I was lucky not to receive any knitted in old-lady pastel shades.

I always feel there is a shortage of girls cardigans (and probably boys jumpers) in the shops these days and wish I had the patience and talent to knot some cardigans for my DDs now 2 and 5.

My mum knitted a few nb cardigans in white when DD1 was born and they were worn over sleepsuits in the early days and dresses later on. My main criteria for dressing my babies was their comfort and agree that there are a lot of unsuitable outfits sold in mainstream shops for newborn babies.

It's likely that you would know your friends well enough to gauge their appreciation or disapproval of a hand-knitted gift. If you're going to knit for someone you don't know very well then maybe stick to a hat or bootees so you're not investing too much money and time into the item should it be received inappreciatively.

I don't have any sons but I think chunky knitted items are adorable on little boys. Why do so many people object? It's nice to see little boys looking like cuddly little boys rather than skater-boys

sweetbean · 15/10/2007 09:58

Sorry if this afends but i hate them !! i actually had to ask my MIL not to knit as she was desparte to !!!

dooley1 · 15/10/2007 10:00

My boss made a lovely cardigan for each of my children when they were born
They were both lovely colours and fitted well and were worn laods

MIL on the other hand made about 20 very tiny cardigans that were far too small and all got given to charity

So for me it depends on the usefulness of the knitted item

Emzy5 · 15/10/2007 10:08

i absolutely LOVE knitted and handmade stuff

it's a lost art.

Megglevampire · 15/10/2007 10:10

love it but then my aunt is a master knitter and she has her own boutique selling the stuff so we are very lucky to get gorgeous stuff even if it is candy pink and covered in rosettes and I mean everywhere

spokette · 15/10/2007 10:13

My DM knitted my twin boys cardigans and crochetted their cot blankets. So many people commented on the cardigans. One woman said to me that it shows how much they are loved.

My DM has recently knitted them each an arran cardigan and they are beautiful.

ProfYaffle · 15/10/2007 10:18

I love hand knitted stuff. My Great Aunt knits some fabulous things for my girls. The pattern you linked to looks lovely.

My only dilemma is washing stuff, I almost don't want to use hand knits incase I can't get them clean, eg I've got a beautiful pram blanket which now has a dirty streak of oil on it after falling off the pram. It hasn't come off after a gentle machine wash and I don't want to wash it any hotter.

Niecie · 15/10/2007 10:26

My mum has made some lovely hand knitted stuff for my boys over the years and if it is well made (my mum's work is) then it is lovely. However, I personally don't like bootees but then I had 2 boys so they looked a bit silly in them. My mum also made a lovely knitted blanket.

I am not overly keen on white knits. They are fine on a newborn but after the first couple of months, again with boys, they didn't look right. I would say don't make too many of those and certainly not in large sizes unless it is for a girl coming into the spring and summer months.

You can get some quite funky patterns for older children these days although the wool and patterns seem to be more expensive than buying things off the peg which is a shame.

The only problem is that because they are hand knitted for my children I find it really hard to part with them and as my boys are 7 and 4 now the pile of knitted clothes I have stored away is getting a bit big! I shall have to be ruthless and have a clear out one day but often each item has its own story and it is a bit sad. Sorry - a bit overly sentimental.

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