One year I decided to knit socks for my parents and 2 brothers. I started months in advance, and finished in time for Christmas. I used their fvourite colours and made each pair unique. The reception to the gifts was polite but not as excited as I hoped. I figured everyone would enjoy the cozy socks, but I was wrong. So, lesson learned😜 After that I became very selective about who I make gifts for.
Preach! I listened to this video while working on carving a rubber stamp to make Christmas cards. Your video affirmed that while this project is definitely something I am enjoying and will be appreciated, I don’t need to feel pressured to make anything if I don’t want to.
There is a real pleasure in choosing ONE person, or ONE project each year . . . Or not even that. I didn't have a Christmas gift project this year . . . Until l met up with a close 'almost family' friend and found his wife upset over the start of a Cashmere sweater for his grandmother. A cardigan that his mother had started, her mother had tried to work on, she had tried . . . "Oh, give it here!" I'm rather enjoying it! I know and love his grandmother too, and she's 94 so this is a real opportunity to wrap her in love and cashmere whilst she is still here.
Yes! I 100% agree with this. I have made knitted items for my niece and nephew when they were wee but that was one jumper per year and I knew they were going to be appreciated. I don’t make things now unless I know the recipient is into hand made gifts and even then I make something that won’t totally suck my creative time away.
Another thing to consider is the expectation the following years. I made my mother a scrapook calender the year my son was born and she wanted one each year and was so dissapointed that i didnt make one right after my twins were born (I had a 2 year old and newborn twins and time was tight!) But i got one made for her birthday in February. I'm still making that yearly calender by hand 22 years later. 😅 I'd like to vista print it but that wouldn't fly after the embellished handmade ones. Luckily i enjoy the craft but it is the olny scrapbooking i do now my kids are grown. My handmade gifts consist of handpainted gift card holders and gift card to a store they enjoy of frequent often so i know what i am giving will benifet them unless i absolutely know they want a specific thing. I don't want to give clutter or waste money.
@goalgether I print next year's calender grid on cardstock and bind it into a book and make svmcrapbook layouts with photos and embellishments on the opposite pages so you have acscrapbbok at the end of the year.
I do a lot of embroidery, so I'm planning to embroider small christmas ornaments for a few of my coworkers. These are relatively quick to complete, and I feel they look pretty professional. They strike the perfect balance: small, easy, thoughtful, unique. I wouldn't endeavor to make each of them a larger piece that would take more time/effort because it just isn't the right fit for those friends. This is a very personal decision, and I've decided differently several times before.
I very rarely make handmade gifts for others, in fact I can count the amount I've gifted on one hand. Having said that, I'm currently knitting a hat for my husband because he saw the yarn I had ordered, really liked it and asked if I could make him a hat from it - and he barely ever comments on things like that so I knew he really did like it and want the finished object!
I aggree and can expand on this. There are also, conversely, a lot of creative people who make more beautiful things than they can use in a timely manor, but don't have the right people close to them togive things to. If this is you, wait and give slowly. There's nothing that says the arisanal Chrismas cards you made this year have to all be given to your friends this year. Better to have five years worth of really nice gifts for Christmas and birthdays stored up for the person they really are meant for, than to be lavish with folks who don't know you well and may or may not get how valuable a handmade thing is. Sure, occausionally you might choose to risk that excess generosity, but it's a choise to be made intentionally. You value purchasedgiftswith the ammount you pay for them. Value your time, by waiting to give time-consuming gifts to people who apreciate them.
I’m a quilter. I rarely give a quilt as a gift. I’m giving one quilt this year - to a close friend of many years. He’s also a maker so I know he will appreciate it. It’s based on three interests he’s had for years, so I’m confident it will hit well.
Wise words. I'm in the process of making two, small Star Wars quilts for a couple of little grandsons (4 and 5 years old) . However, before I started the process, I made sure they were both into SW, and that their parents were onboard. Even knowing those things, I found myself totally exhausted after standing for hours quilting the first quilt, and as I rolled the last 15," I realized the stitching on three rows needs to be taken out and redone because I'd skipped a step when rethreading the machine. I'm going to plow ahead, but after watching your video, I'm going to buy the rest of the grandkids' gifts and save the receipts.
I craft for myself. I learned years ago that my hobbies need to stay for me and my immediate family only. Making stuff for others actually sucked the joy out of my hobbies so I don’t do it anymore. I don’t even make stuff for my husband as much anymore because clothing is so personal and it’s hard enough to fit my own body let alone fitting his the way he likes. It’s been disappointing to put so much into a garment only for it to not fit quite the way he likes.
love that sweater! i really enjoyed this video, it gets really overwhelming seeing people talk about spending all this time making people things. Sometimes not making stuff is the right choice :) Earlier in my "crafty career" i did make gifts and i let myself get bummed out when people didn't really get the time and cost involved. I had to come to terms with the fact some people just aren't that bothered about handmade stuff. That's fine, more time to make pretty things for myself :)
I guess a lot of frustration can be taken out of gift giving if we give up the surprise element especially for adults. People might prefer the same hoodie in a different color, with a hood unstead of a collar or the jacket version. Small changes sewing but maybe the deciding factor to wear the garment or not. I personally always prefer someone asking than just gifting by surprise something I do not need /want or like. My family members like to "customise" their garments.
A very welcomed perspective amidst all content regarding how we can DIY more of our gifts. I especially think the point of taking the receiving end into even more consideration and not adding more (handmade) clutter into their life.
I think a way to satisfy the urge to give a handmade gift could be to include a handmade ornament on the tag of a purchased gift - maybe like a little embroidered stocking or the like. The investment is small in terms of time and money and as is the potential burden for the recipient. Plus if you make a bunch of them for different folks, you’ll eventually get pretty skilled at it.
@@MakingCassie My mom and sister sometimes wrap their gifts in paper they decorated. It's such a fun touch and isn't an overly time-consuming thing to make!
I'm thinking of making simple cloth envelopes to give lottery tickets in. I was always going to give them lottery tickets, but I'd love to put them in something that can be reused.
Another question to ask yourself: how will I feel if the gift is not appreciated? Either it’s not appreciated in a big enough way that honors the work that went into it, or (ack, but it happens!) not appreciated at all? Speaking from experience 😭
You addressed some really important points in your video 🙏. What I'd add is: please support small businesses whenever you can. It's tough for them right now and the holidays are often a time when they make most of their sales. While one small brick and mortar store after another has to close, most big corporations are still making millions. Even if it's just a card, you help someone stay afloat. If the person you're thinking of doesn't need more stuff, consider a way of spending (more) time with them. You could offer to teach them something or if you're into mending: mend something that they need getting fixed.
Great perspective. I recently made snowflake ornaments for family members and gave them out early. It's not the only gift I'm giving them, just a nice little extra to show i care and think of them. I'm addition i made an angel ornament for my Aunt that loves angel decorations at Christmas. Total cost for the eight ornaments was $4.50 and i enjoyed making them. But I'm not making anything big or time consuming unless I'm specifically asked.
Omg I once made a “thoughtful” handmade gift for a friend who likes make up etc, I made her a makeup pouch, a scrunchie and a makeup bag for her birthday. I put so much thought into it but I could see when she was opening the gift that she did not like it at all. She didn’t even say thank you 😂😂 all this to say that I agree with you 💯, not everyone appreciates a handmade gift! Thanks for this.
I only make handmade for people I love. If it will take a long time to make or is expensive I ask first. Its nice for gifts to be a surprise but you don't want the suprise to be an unwanted gift.
1000% agree! I love bone China, fine embroidery and Waterford crystal. Ceramic wine cups? Not so much! It’s the thought that counts, and there is no way anyone could have thought I’d like them!
These are all such good points! If I do DIY gifts nowadays it's only for the few people I know will really appreciate it, something I've made before so I'm confident in doing a good job/having a nice experience while making it & it being for birthdays so I have more time.
Great video! I like to make handmade gifts, but only for my parents and sister. I also started the first items in September and now only have one left to do
I really don't want to...😆 I love your questions. I want to make gifts in theory but not in practice. Hearing you break it down helped clarify why I don't want to do it. Thank you!!
I thought I was going to be mad at this video, but I agree with what you're saying. That being said, my 1 and 4 yYO boys are going to love their matching quilts. My sister, niece and nephew will love the Harry Potter themed 3d prints I made at my local library. and my bestie absolutely fawns over my grocery bag holder and I'm going to make one in her favorite color and add some cute thrfted things because we're thrifty girls. I agree though. I would not make something for everyone, that would be too much. I also am giving a friend a home sewn sleep sack at her bay shower but I have made 17-18 of these by now and can pump one out in about an hour (plus I checked with her first that she liked the color and I still ordered something from her registry).
I used to make my sister handmade cards. On her 40th, I spent extra time personalising her card to match her gift. She opened the envelope, looked at the front, put it on the table and put her drink on it. I don't make her anything anymore, but she complains a lot to other people when I make them stuff😂
I got one of my really close coworkers for Secret Santa one year and made a pinata and put scratch off lottery tickets in it. She would have been annoyed if I gave her a handcrafted gift, but the pinata was right up her ally because of how absolutely ridiculous it was. So sometimes you can craft, but DON'T make it the gift.
One year I decided to knit socks for my parents and 2 brothers. I started months in advance, and finished in time for Christmas. I used their fvourite colours and made each pair unique. The reception to the gifts was polite but not as excited as I hoped. I figured everyone would enjoy the cozy socks, but I was wrong. So, lesson learned😜 After that I became very selective about who I make gifts for.
Aw, a tough lesson but such a nice gift!
I just asked for cozy socks. Can I be your adopted sister for Christmas? haha!
@ 😂
This is the hot take the craft community of 2024 needs.
😂
Preach! I listened to this video while working on carving a rubber stamp to make Christmas cards. Your video affirmed that while this project is definitely something I am enjoying and will be appreciated, I don’t need to feel pressured to make anything if I don’t want to.
I love that!
There is a real pleasure in choosing ONE person, or ONE project each year . . .
Or not even that.
I didn't have a Christmas gift project this year . . . Until l met up with a close 'almost family' friend and found his wife upset over the start of a Cashmere sweater for his grandmother. A cardigan that his mother had started, her mother had tried to work on, she had tried . . .
"Oh, give it here!"
I'm rather enjoying it!
I know and love his grandmother too, and she's 94 so this is a real opportunity to wrap her in love and cashmere whilst she is still here.
This is absolutely so lovely!
Yes! I 100% agree with this. I have made knitted items for my niece and nephew when they were wee but that was one jumper per year and I knew they were going to be appreciated. I don’t make things now unless I know the recipient is into hand made gifts and even then I make something that won’t totally suck my creative time away.
Another thing to consider is the expectation the following years. I made my mother a scrapook calender the year my son was born and she wanted one each year and was so dissapointed that i didnt make one right after my twins were born (I had a 2 year old and newborn twins and time was tight!) But i got one made for her birthday in February. I'm still making that yearly calender by hand 22 years later. 😅 I'd like to vista print it but that wouldn't fly after the embellished handmade ones. Luckily i enjoy the craft but it is the olny scrapbooking i do now my kids are grown.
My handmade gifts consist of handpainted gift card holders and gift card to a store they enjoy of frequent often so i know what i am giving will benifet them unless i absolutely know they want a specific thing. I don't want to give clutter or waste money.
Oh yes! Great point. That calendar sounds so sweet too
What’s a scrapbook calendar?
What’s a scrapbook calendar?
@goalgether I print next year's calender grid on cardstock and bind it into a book and make svmcrapbook layouts with photos and embellishments on the opposite pages so you have acscrapbbok at the end of the year.
I do a lot of embroidery, so I'm planning to embroider small christmas ornaments for a few of my coworkers. These are relatively quick to complete, and I feel they look pretty professional. They strike the perfect balance: small, easy, thoughtful, unique. I wouldn't endeavor to make each of them a larger piece that would take more time/effort because it just isn't the right fit for those friends. This is a very personal decision, and I've decided differently several times before.
I very rarely make handmade gifts for others, in fact I can count the amount I've gifted on one hand. Having said that, I'm currently knitting a hat for my husband because he saw the yarn I had ordered, really liked it and asked if I could make him a hat from it - and he barely ever comments on things like that so I knew he really did like it and want the finished object!
I love that!
I aggree and can expand on this. There are also, conversely, a lot of creative people who make more beautiful things than they can use in a timely manor, but don't have the right people close to them togive things to. If this is you, wait and give slowly. There's nothing that says the arisanal Chrismas cards you made this year have to all be given to your friends this year. Better to have five years worth of really nice gifts for Christmas and birthdays stored up for the person they really are meant for, than to be lavish with folks who don't know you well and may or may not get how valuable a handmade thing is. Sure, occausionally you might choose to risk that excess generosity, but it's a choise to be made intentionally. You value purchasedgiftswith the ammount you pay for them. Value your time, by waiting to give time-consuming gifts to people who apreciate them.
Great points!
I’m a quilter. I rarely give a quilt as a gift. I’m giving one quilt this year - to a close friend of many years. He’s also a maker so I know he will appreciate it. It’s based on three interests he’s had for years, so I’m confident it will hit well.
Wise words. I'm in the process of making two, small Star Wars quilts for a couple of little grandsons (4 and 5 years old) . However, before I started the process, I made sure they were both into SW, and that their parents were onboard. Even knowing those things, I found myself totally exhausted after standing for hours quilting the first quilt, and as I rolled the last 15," I realized the stitching on three rows needs to be taken out and redone because I'd skipped a step when rethreading the machine. I'm going to plow ahead, but after watching your video, I'm going to buy the rest of the grandkids' gifts and save the receipts.
I craft for myself. I learned years ago that my hobbies need to stay for me and my immediate family only. Making stuff for others actually sucked the joy out of my hobbies so I don’t do it anymore. I don’t even make stuff for my husband as much anymore because clothing is so personal and it’s hard enough to fit my own body let alone fitting his the way he likes. It’s been disappointing to put so much into a garment only for it to not fit quite the way he likes.
I’m very similar!
love that sweater! i really enjoyed this video, it gets really overwhelming seeing people talk about spending all this time making people things. Sometimes not making stuff is the right choice :) Earlier in my "crafty career" i did make gifts and i let myself get bummed out when people didn't really get the time and cost involved. I had to come to terms with the fact some people just aren't that bothered about handmade stuff. That's fine, more time to make pretty things for myself :)
Yes!!
I guess a lot of frustration can be taken out of gift giving if we give up the surprise element especially for adults. People might prefer the same hoodie in a different color, with a hood unstead of a collar or the jacket version. Small changes sewing but maybe the deciding factor to wear the garment or not. I personally always prefer someone asking than just gifting by surprise something I do not need /want or like. My family members like to "customise" their garments.
Yes! I usually only make things I know the person wants or they asked me for it themselves
I make quilts but nobody understands how much time and money goes into making one. Very few people are "quilt worthy".
A very welcomed perspective amidst all content regarding how we can DIY more of our gifts. I especially think the point of taking the receiving end into even more consideration and not adding more (handmade) clutter into their life.
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I think a way to satisfy the urge to give a handmade gift could be to include a handmade ornament on the tag of a purchased gift - maybe like a little embroidered stocking or the like. The investment is small in terms of time and money and as is the potential burden for the recipient. Plus if you make a bunch of them for different folks, you’ll eventually get pretty skilled at it.
This is a great idea!
@@MakingCassie My mom and sister sometimes wrap their gifts in paper they decorated. It's such a fun touch and isn't an overly time-consuming thing to make!
There is a pattern for tiny sweater ornaments! 😅
I'm thinking of making simple cloth envelopes to give lottery tickets in. I was always going to give them lottery tickets, but I'd love to put them in something that can be reused.
@@qwertydeluxeI love this!
Another question to ask yourself: how will I feel if the gift is not appreciated? Either it’s not appreciated in a big enough way that honors the work that went into it, or (ack, but it happens!) not appreciated at all? Speaking from experience 😭
Yes!
You addressed some really important points in your video 🙏. What I'd add is: please support small businesses whenever you can. It's tough for them right now and the holidays are often a time when they make most of their sales. While one small brick and mortar store after another has to close, most big corporations are still making millions. Even if it's just a card, you help someone stay afloat.
If the person you're thinking of doesn't need more stuff, consider a way of spending (more) time with them. You could offer to teach them something or if you're into mending: mend something that they need getting fixed.
Great points!
Great perspective.
I recently made snowflake ornaments for family members and gave them out early. It's not the only gift I'm giving them, just a nice little extra to show i care and think of them. I'm addition i made an angel ornament for my Aunt that loves angel decorations at Christmas. Total cost for the eight ornaments was $4.50 and i enjoyed making them.
But I'm not making anything big or time consuming unless I'm specifically asked.
That’s a lovely gift!
I've been so fully de-influenced - thank you!
Yay!
Omg I once made a “thoughtful” handmade gift for a friend who likes make up etc, I made her a makeup pouch, a scrunchie and a makeup bag for her birthday. I put so much thought into it but I could see when she was opening the gift that she did not like it at all. She didn’t even say thank you 😂😂 all this to say that I agree with you 💯, not everyone appreciates a handmade gift! Thanks for this.
Aww that sounds like such a lovely gift!
I only make handmade for people I love.
If it will take a long time to make or is expensive I ask first. Its nice for gifts to be a surprise but you don't want the suprise to be an unwanted gift.
Yes exactly!
Thank you for this, really made me reevaluate all the plans I had made for this Christmas and gift giving.
You are so welcome!
I needed to hear that. You just saved me so. Much. Time.
Aw yay!
1000% agree! I love bone China, fine embroidery and Waterford crystal. Ceramic wine cups? Not so much! It’s the thought that counts, and there is no way anyone could have thought I’d like them!
These are all such good points! If I do DIY gifts nowadays it's only for the few people I know will really appreciate it, something I've made before so I'm confident in doing a good job/having a nice experience while making it & it being for birthdays so I have more time.
Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you. This was a helpful reflection!
Your sweater is gorgeous!
Thank you!
This video is on point on all points.
Great video! I like to make handmade gifts, but only for my parents and sister. I also started the first items in September and now only have one left to do
That’s awesome!
I really don't want to...😆 I love your questions. I want to make gifts in theory but not in practice. Hearing you break it down helped clarify why I don't want to do it. Thank you!!
Yay! Glad it helped ☺️
Such an insightful, well thought out video-thank you!
Aw thank you!
Preach and thank you ☺️ ahhhh such a weight of my mind ❤
So glad!
Good video! Thanks for the recap/questions at the end :)
Glad you enjoyed it ☺️
I hate making things for other people. I will only take a rare request from my children but no one else.
Haha I respect that!
Thank you! Just thank you for the validation 🎉
You are so welcome
I thought I was going to be mad at this video, but I agree with what you're saying. That being said, my 1 and 4 yYO boys are going to love their matching quilts. My sister, niece and nephew will love the Harry Potter themed 3d prints I made at my local library. and my bestie absolutely fawns over my grocery bag holder and I'm going to make one in her favorite color and add some cute thrfted things because we're thrifty girls. I agree though. I would not make something for everyone, that would be too much. I also am giving a friend a home sewn sleep sack at her bay shower but I have made 17-18 of these by now and can pump one out in about an hour (plus I checked with her first that she liked the color and I still ordered something from her registry).
You sound like a great gifter!
I used to make my sister handmade cards. On her 40th, I spent extra time personalising her card to match her gift. She opened the envelope, looked at the front, put it on the table and put her drink on it. I don't make her anything anymore, but she complains a lot to other people when I make them stuff😂
Aww yeah it’s hard to forget those moments!
I got one of my really close coworkers for Secret Santa one year and made a pinata and put scratch off lottery tickets in it. She would have been annoyed if I gave her a handcrafted gift, but the pinata was right up her ally because of how absolutely ridiculous it was. So sometimes you can craft, but DON'T make it the gift.
That’s so fun!
I sew fix stuff for people when they need but I don't do gifts.
That’s so nice of you to do?
You forgot another important question: Do I want to gift something to this person?
Vouchers are better than gifts tbh 😅
Can be sometimes!