I know last week was technically our week devoted to knit gifts, but I came across an article on the subject this week that I just felt needed to be commented on. It's written by Germaine Greer and deals with the horrors of crafty gifts, particularly knit ones.


She has a legitimate complaint after being gifted bedsocks that are two different sizes and contain a large supply of cat hair, but that's no reason to vilify all gifted craft objects as "revolting" and a "burden" on the people who are gifted the objects that they will take to their grave.


She begins her ruminations on knitting gifts by noting that knitting isn't fun and easy if you don't know how to do it well, and people on your gift list won't be happy to receive homemade gifts if you're still new to the craft. it's certainly true that none but your mother (and maybe not even she) would happily receive a hole-riddled first scarf project, but that doesn't mean there aren't beautiful, useful, well-loved handmade gifts -- knit ones included -- made even today.


Greer says when people make something for themselves they put a lot more time and effort into the quality of the project, but when they make something for someone else it takes on the air of the mass-produced and commercial. What do you think? Do we take less care with items we give to others than those we make for ourselves? What have some of the reactions been when you've knit or crafted gifts for other people?

If you're still looking for a gift for a knitter on your list, check out my thoughts on gift ideas for knitters. From the basics (yarn, needles and knitting bags) to the more interesting (a purchased kit or one you make yourself by combining a pattern with the yarn and supplies needed to make it), you're sure to find a good idea here for any knitter on your list.

I asked folks on Twitter if they had any gift ideas to share. Knitch said lotion bars with beeswax are a great way to condition hands when working with rough yarns, particularly in the winter.

The folks at Lancaster Yarn Shop said the Addi Clicks needles in the new case are a great splurge gift, while smaller gifts like tape measures, darning needles and pretty scissors are always appreciated as well.

CNN's iReport recently ran a feature on what it called "urban knitting," which we might call guerrilla knitting or knit graffiti. The story in particular highlights the work of Australian stitchers to cover a public toilet with knitting and offers lots of great pictures of the project.

And speaking of urban/guerrilla/graffiti knitting, another Australian public knitting project has won an award for creating a groundbreaking physical space. The I Heart Kings Cross project was commissioned by the city and involved hundreds of knitters decorating trees, polls and signs throughout the Kings Cross area of Sydney.

If you're a fan of nativity scenes, check out the pictures from the BBC of a knit nativity stitched up by folks at the Black Hills Yarn Shop in Henley.

This week's charity roundup includes:

• Georgia crafters knitting and crocheting chemo caps
• An 11-year-old who's started a charity knitting for people involved in natural disasters and other traumatic events
• A New Zealand woman knitting to help kids born with AIDS

It seems like people who are crafty and share freely of their crafty skills often don't get handcrafted gifts in return. It's often not for a lack of crafty friends and family members; maybe our fellow crafters just worry that we'll be more critical of their gifts than people would be who aren't that crafty?

Whatever the reason, this week I'd like to know if you've received any handmade gifts. I broke the question down into a number of categories; you can choose as many as are appropriate for you. And if you've received a really wonderful homemade gift I'd love to hear about it. My personal favorite is the quilt my aunt made me when I got married.