how to present this present?
December 15, 2020 3:01 PM Subscribe
I am thinking of knitting a something for my friend as a Christmas gift.
I would much rather have them pick the item to be made and assist in picking out the yarn and all. I am stumped in coming up with a fun way to present this gift! Got any ideas? Thanks!
I would much rather have them pick the item to be made and assist in picking out the yarn and all. I am stumped in coming up with a fun way to present this gift! Got any ideas? Thanks!
Could this be a chance for presenting something like a "catalogue" or a "menu"?
E.g., here's a little pamphlet, a column of different items [scarf, hat, socks] and a few patterns in each you'd be willing to knit, and a few pictures of the types of yarn + descriptions of the yarn [colorful and cozy, thick and luscious, fine and elegant]. Then maybe you gift them a fun pen, so they can circle which one they'd like.
posted by ellerhodes at 3:19 PM on December 15, 2020 [9 favorites]
E.g., here's a little pamphlet, a column of different items [scarf, hat, socks] and a few patterns in each you'd be willing to knit, and a few pictures of the types of yarn + descriptions of the yarn [colorful and cozy, thick and luscious, fine and elegant]. Then maybe you gift them a fun pen, so they can circle which one they'd like.
posted by ellerhodes at 3:19 PM on December 15, 2020 [9 favorites]
In the absence of the actual gift, my family has always done a picture and an IOU. A drawing of some options would be cute get the idea across.
posted by stillnocturnal at 3:21 PM on December 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by stillnocturnal at 3:21 PM on December 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
100% on selecting the options that will be fun for you to knit. Nothing hits like expecting to knit someone a quick bulky hat and feeling roped into knitting a giant lace weight circular shawl.
Select a few yarns you’re willing to work with and give them a color card to choose from, this is tough because color availability is not guaranteed, so have them rank choice and explain why.
Ditto partners. If you want to knit a hat, pick three or four patterns that would be fun for you to knit. If you want to knit a long ass scarf, then present a few patterns.
I give people cowls and explain that they are so much better than scarves: harder to lose, less likely to get stuck in your bike wheel and try to strangle you, no fancy ways to try to tie them, less bulk around the neck.
With your parameters now set, you can make a card that is more like a book with a page for each option. You can turn it into a story or funny puns or something if you like.
But as others have said, whatever you do, avoid just a blanket offer to “knit something” otherwise you’ll be knitting....a blanket.
posted by bilabial at 3:28 PM on December 15, 2020 [4 favorites]
Select a few yarns you’re willing to work with and give them a color card to choose from, this is tough because color availability is not guaranteed, so have them rank choice and explain why.
Ditto partners. If you want to knit a hat, pick three or four patterns that would be fun for you to knit. If you want to knit a long ass scarf, then present a few patterns.
I give people cowls and explain that they are so much better than scarves: harder to lose, less likely to get stuck in your bike wheel and try to strangle you, no fancy ways to try to tie them, less bulk around the neck.
With your parameters now set, you can make a card that is more like a book with a page for each option. You can turn it into a story or funny puns or something if you like.
But as others have said, whatever you do, avoid just a blanket offer to “knit something” otherwise you’ll be knitting....a blanket.
posted by bilabial at 3:28 PM on December 15, 2020 [4 favorites]
Um...literally just ask them?
Usually I ask people something like "what kind of animal do you want" and then pick out a bunch of patterns on Ravelry/Etsy, send them pictures and have them pick which they like, and ditto the yarn if that's an issue (send pics if it's in your house).
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:28 PM on December 15, 2020 [2 favorites]
Usually I ask people something like "what kind of animal do you want" and then pick out a bunch of patterns on Ravelry/Etsy, send them pictures and have them pick which they like, and ditto the yarn if that's an issue (send pics if it's in your house).
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:28 PM on December 15, 2020 [2 favorites]
"I can create something like this (show a picture) but if I get stuck it may come out different. And I may need time to find the work-around." I just finished a Christmas present that I started in October with ten days to spare -- yay me!
Know your kryptonite.
Do not offer to make a crochet black and gold queen-size blanket. Or they have to spring for the Crochet Lite hooks at the least.
A Harry Potter amigurumi box and a smile will get you nowhere. However, I can be tempted by sparkly silky yarn. Which is why I know that bamboo yarn is the spawn of the devil. Caron Simply Soft is So. Much. Better. And I now have a box of discontinued bamboo yarn, and instead gifted several lovely acrylic scarves and cowls.
Completion is based on pattern, yarn availability (I've run out of a main color of yarn, and so have alllll the closest stores on several occasions), other time commitments, illness (no fiber arts while sniffling), Acts of God, and general contrary cussedness on my part.
Luckily (?!) I don't have to convince others about fiber arts, since I know or am related to a number of people who are frequent attendees at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Jo-Ann's, the arts and crafts section at Wally World, several scrapbooking events, etc. It's more a matter of reigning in their enthusiasm. And setting limits on what I can and am willing to do.
posted by TrishaU at 4:22 AM on December 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
Know your kryptonite.
Do not offer to make a crochet black and gold queen-size blanket. Or they have to spring for the Crochet Lite hooks at the least.
A Harry Potter amigurumi box and a smile will get you nowhere. However, I can be tempted by sparkly silky yarn. Which is why I know that bamboo yarn is the spawn of the devil. Caron Simply Soft is So. Much. Better. And I now have a box of discontinued bamboo yarn, and instead gifted several lovely acrylic scarves and cowls.
Completion is based on pattern, yarn availability (I've run out of a main color of yarn, and so have alllll the closest stores on several occasions), other time commitments, illness (no fiber arts while sniffling), Acts of God, and general contrary cussedness on my part.
Luckily (?!) I don't have to convince others about fiber arts, since I know or am related to a number of people who are frequent attendees at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Jo-Ann's, the arts and crafts section at Wally World, several scrapbooking events, etc. It's more a matter of reigning in their enthusiasm. And setting limits on what I can and am willing to do.
posted by TrishaU at 4:22 AM on December 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
While these other answers are definitely more sensible, I immediately thought "a miniature knitted scarf/hat/... in a miniature gift box". So maybe both?
posted by lioness at 2:37 PM on December 16, 2020
posted by lioness at 2:37 PM on December 16, 2020
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You should also be prepared to level set, perhaps with a few patterns you think they'd like and an estimated timeline. Non-knitters don't know how long things take or how expensive yarn is. Is this a hat friend or a lace shawl friend?
posted by momus_window at 3:05 PM on December 15, 2020 [6 favorites]