Comments on: Frugal Answer: Make Your Own Holiday Gifts?

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 21:30:19 +0000

I’m not particularly crafty, but I do like to make presents for people. When one of my friend’s got engaged, I made her a blanket, that was over three years ago, and she still talks about how much she loves it. She’s having a baby, so I told her I wanted to make her a baby blanket and she got so excited.

By: HC

HC — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 16:51:04 +0000

I have a friend who gave me an absolutely gorgeous scarf after she learned to knit. However, it was made of very loose and fuzzy yarn, and so it would leave yarn lint over all my clothes. Since I wear a lot of black, this was a problem. Even so, I’m trying to figure out a way to use it decoratively, because it is so pretty.

The same friend also made me a handmade soap this year which I like a LOT, and really enjoy using.

I haven’t made too many handmade gifts. The most recent involved collecting some old college pictures and putting them into a small photo album. My former roommate is out of the country for the next few years and I thought she’d appeciate the memories of home.

So I guess my feeling about homemade gifts is that they should fit into the lifestyle of the recipient.

By: English Major

English Major — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 16:11:24 +0000

I do tons of handmade gifts–aromatic pomanders, marble magnets, and knits–but I stick to the stuff I’m good at, and I make sure to package my gifts attractively. The idea is to give a good gift, one that’s both thoughtful and pleasing to the recipient, not just to give a cheap gift.

By: Golbguru

Golbguru — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 08:35:34 +0000

I have received a few handmade gifts (greeting cards, photo album and similar stuff) and I think they make better gifts than off-the-shelf stuff. I don’t care how well (or how badly) they are made the sentiments count a lot.

I have given just one hand made gift in my life, it was a watercolor painting I did a while back. Lets just say that people who received it will never forget it :)

By: indio

indio — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 04:51:00 +0000

I’ve made homemade jams in unusual flavors – spiced blueberry – homemade truffles/chocolates and given them in gift baskets. I’ve also done the knitted gift – blankets, scarves, wraps. Stained glass suncatchers. I’ve also made pottery – plates, mugs, vases. The pottery was probably the least expensive gift I’ve made. The clay doesn’t cost a lot and it’s not time intensive. Knitting is probably the most expensive; lots of time and yarn isn’t cheap.

By: Flexo

Flexo — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 02:01:02 +0000

Trixie: You reminded me, I received a handmade scarf from my girlfriend’s sister one year. It was perfect. I needed a scarf and it looks great.

By: udandi

udandi — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 01:58:08 +0000

I’ve posted about only giving handmade and usable gifts to people who I know will appreciate the time and effort.

That said, I love getting handmade and usable gifts from my mom and sister because they make great stuff!

By: Trixie Belden

Trixie Belden — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 01:55:49 +0000

I made my mom a quilt one year – and I’ve made friends handbags and sachets and scarves. I think the scarves were a little scary, but the quilt was actually beautiful. Whenever I visit my mother I actually marvel at it and am shocked that I could make something like that. Bottom-line, even if you do have talent doesn’t mean the people in your life want that kind of gift. Do you think my brother-in-law wants a handbag? I don’t think so.

By: dimes

dimes — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 01:04:25 +0000

I received a scarf from my sister who was just learning to knit. It was nice, no dropped stitches or anything. She was still in high school at the time, and it was a good way for her to get practice and not have 300 scarves lying around.

We also received a wedding scrapbook from my sisters-in-law, and it was a kitschy piece of junk. We keep it hidden in a closet.

I’m with MP on the homemade stuff, unless you’re a talented or crafty person.

By: Stingy Student

Stingy Student — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 23:46:25 +0000

I LOVE handmade gifts, and I’m a guy (stright). One of my favorite gifts is a scarf that one of my friends made for me last year. I also love any homemade food. Maybe I’m in the minority, but I like things that are unique, that not everyone is going to have. I think the fact that someone actually makes it for you means so much more than anything someone can buy.