Saturday, January 26, 2008

Defeat the Winter Doldrums Topic #2

Well, here is my next weekly topic from my "Defeat the Winter Doldrums" swap that goes in February. Please speak up and tell me your sad sad stories of people who didn't appreciate your hard work!

There are many people who ADORE receiving hand-knit or crochet items; but there are just as many who have no appreciation whatever of how much love, work, and time goes into a hand-made item. Share a story of a hand-made gift you gave to someone and how it worked out - good, bad, or ugly!

I have spent hours and hours working on baby gifts and send them out to the new owners, only to have no mention of my gift or a 'thanks'. Do you understand how much time it takes? Planning, buying the supplies, debating on colors, patterns, etc. along with all the actual hours of work that goes in!! I guess not. I know a little bit of knitting is self serving... we all love to hear how pretty our stuff is...even if it's for charity, we all like to be praised! I guess I just want some recognition that I worked hard. I agonize over my gifts... the right color, pattern, yarn etc. Sometimes I wonder if I should just not care and then my feelings won't be so hurt... but I know I can't do that, that isn't my nature! argh!

One woman (sorry if you read these, not trying to steal your thunder) told a story of making dozens of dishcloths and taking them to family at a picnic(I think) and people just grabbed them like they had nothing at home to wash dishes with. She said as she left, one person was using the brand new dishcloth to check the oil on their car and wipe oil off the dipstick and off their hands!! Appalling!! Anyway, I haven't had anything quite that bad(that I know of). What are your stories??

5 comments:

Aunt Kathy said...

Oh Oh Katie O now that's a topic... hmmm

Well I once made some scarves and slipper socks for the granddaughters of a woman at my church. The girls however thanked me politely (I even used their favorite colors, I asked) but when they got home they said they were ugly and I was color blind and threw them away. Oh well, guess I won't make them more.

Most of the time though I think my stuff is well received and used. At least that's what i choose to believe. I know my sister loves the dishcloths and uses them all the time.

Wendy said...

I made the nephews hat and scarf sets for Christmas, well they are young so they could not tell me what they felt, but their mom said she loved them...well I have to see them on the kids...Yet I also remember the year I had no money for gifts and made everyone stockings, I sewed them together, embellished them with beads, sequins and other trims and embroidered their names, Everyone LOVED them even my nephew who was 10 at the time, he cried when he opened it and gave me a big hug for making something for him...Everyone still uses them, So I guess it depends on the item, as to if the people I give to appreciate them or not...The time and love I put into everything I make, makes it so hard when it is not recieved thankfully.

Aunt Kathy said...

I'm back Katie just to let you know that


YOU MAKE MY DAY... and I told you so on my blog today

Dorothy said...

I once cross-stitched, painted, and made huge efforts to make a couple dozen Christmas ornaments for a wedding gift. The thank you note was a photocopied little sign, with not even the bride and groom's signature. At Christmastime when I talked to the bride she said "We just don't have any ornaments on our tree." When I pointed out that she got ornaments as a wedding gift, she said "Really? From who?"

The Yarn Nut said...

Oh Katie, I'm reading all these comments and yours included just make me sick to my stomach. You know once I do get good enough to knit something for someone, "I'm not going to do it"! I'll just keep my little craft to myself and other knitters that know what goes into this effort.