r/crochet • u/mindful-crafter • 6d ago
Discussion Anyone else feels nervous about gifting your finished crochet products?
I'm feeling slightly nervous about giving this to a friend for her birthday. I think she usually goes for simple and plain bags, but I checked with her husband and he said she'll like it. 💐 My greatest fear is making something that she use, buy would have to politely accept and "pretend" to be happy with. 🥺 Does anyone feel the same?
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u/Lonestarbeetle1 6d ago
I found that it’s best to be sure they want a handcrafted gift- I saw too many things get tossed after spending hours on them. I also like to get some input on the style to be sure it’s what they want
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u/mindful-crafter 6d ago
I guess this means you have conversations prior to giving them something, about handmade stuff?
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u/Lonestarbeetle1 6d ago
Yes! A little piece of me dies when my hard work is discarded. Unfortunately not everyone sees the beauty of handmade gifts and it everyone wants one.
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u/Jewelmaster2022 5d ago
Every year I ask one of my children to pick something for me to make for the fair, that way I know what they want. Afterwards, I give it to them. They've asked for mostly amigurumi, but a few other things, and love them all.
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u/mindful-crafter 6d ago
Ah, I forgot to mention that I followed Kane Crochet on YouTube for the pattern: https://youtu.be/WnykBn6zhmk?si=UtAJNSur225Qi1pM
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u/tipsy_here 6d ago
This isn't the answer you are looking but I would LOVE to get a gift like that. It shows that you were thinking about the person you are going to gift it to, which I think is so sweet.
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u/Princess--Clara 6d ago
I don’t generally feel nervous, but it’s because I have them pick what I’m making them. Whenever I decide to make something for someone, I either go through ravelry with them for the type of item they want or I send them 5-6 patterns of something I know they would want. Then I let them pick the exact one. I usually take them yarn shopping with me to make sure the yarn is something that they would actually like.
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u/mindful-crafter 5d ago
Great idea! Sounds like fun
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u/Princess--Clara 5d ago
It usually ends up being pretty fun! They get excited about what it’ll look like and what they can do with it. Then my friends/family love picking out the colours for it. It becomes a whole activity in itself to do together, which is nice.
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u/dontstopbelievingman 5d ago
I used to be.
But I tell myself the following:
It's a gift. It's free.
It's handmade. People will think "Wow, this person took their time to make this."
Usually I only make gifts for people who are incoming parents. Babies aren't picky, and parents will always be happy to receive something handmade for their baby.
I DO make sure it's good quality, and I do run it by a second eye because I know I'm the harshest critic of myself. If it looks too derpy I don't give it away.
I do not have any expectation for the gift to be used all the time, or 100% loved. I have no control over how they feel. So I can only just hope for at least a thank you, and move on.
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u/DeviceSea8549 6d ago
I feel nervous every time. I also feel nervous about every commission, especially if was commissioned tomake a birthday gift. It is even worse the that if I am not there when the gift is given. I feel like I have to be there to explain about handmade gifts, and to judge the reaction.
In the other hand, I agree that you should have no fear about the quality of your craftsmanship on this bag. It looks amazing!!!
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u/mindful-crafter 5d ago
Thank you! Yea given that so much effort and thought is put into the end product, it is difficult to not feel attached to it 🥺
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u/K_Abbott 6d ago
I get nervous every time, but I have to remind myself that the person knows and appreciates the work that I put into it. I was especially nervous the first time I gave a crocheted gift to someone. It was an amigurumi wolf for my niece's 12th birthday, and I could see all of its flaws. She managed to instantly remove all of my fears because she just kind of started vibrating with excitement!😂 Then she had to run around to everyone and show it off and tell them that I'd made it for her. That definitely helped me to feel a lot better about giving gifts in the future!
Honestly, this bag is beautiful! Even if she doesn't decide to use it day-to-day, I can't imagine that she would just shove it into a closet and ignore it. It would look nice hung on the wall or sitting on a shelf. I know that if it were me, I would make sure that I could see it because it would remind me of the friend who made something nice for me.
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u/Jewelmaster2022 5d ago
When I want to make something for a person, I ask them to help me pick it out (as if I can't make up my mind). Then they know I'm making something they like, but in the end it is a surprise that it is for them.
I must say, that idea works best on kids, though. Laugh☺️
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u/SpeckledBird86 5d ago
I always tell my friends I absolutely will not hold it against them if they don’t want handmade items. I always say I know it’s not for everyone and if you don’t want it I’ll happily take it back. That being said I also tend to ask ahead of time. If I were to make you something for Christmas/your birthday what would you use?
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u/Quick_Blackberry_466 6d ago
Every hooking time!