Your thoughts on homemade gifts

[Teri]

…..we are teaching her to crochet.



Several years ago I was asked to participate in a summer day camp here in the town where I live. I volunteered to teach a handful of girls how to crochet 2 days a week for 6 weeks. The "handful" turned into 16 fourth, fifth and sixth graders! Thank goodness the director knew someone else to call in to help me. So there we were, just the 2 of us trying to give individual attention to 16 beginners. There really were too many for them to accomplish anything of substance but by the last day of camp they had all finished hair scrunchies which they all wore and showed off to their parents. Some of the young ladies showed real promise and went on to at least start other projects. Others will remember and pick it up when they have babies of their own. And a few will never pick up a crochet hook again. I, however, will never teach a summer day camp again because camp was held in the dog days of summer, in the school auditorium with no, let me repeat, NO air conditioning. I think I sweat off about 15 pounds. All in all, it was fun, enjoyable and made me happy to see them beam with their accomplishments, even if it was just a hair scrunchie.

Wow...to teach that many girls to crochet at one time! I love that age group though...they are still at an age where they want to learn EVERYTHING...you must have had a great time ...except for the heat!

Speaking of heat...we are at -14 right now at 6:45 am...with the wind chill it is -31! We could use some heat outside right now! How is it where you live?

[BarbySue]

I have read every post and identified with most of them. I am selective who I make items for. I have been burned a few times and I will not waste my time, effort or yarn on someone who does not appreciate a hand made craft. This past Christmas we were having remodeling done in our kitchen and buying gifts that I would normally make was easier. I gave my aunt a gift card to her favorite store for shopping instead of making her dish cloths. Ooops what a mistake that was. I got a call from her asking why she didn't get her dish cloths this year and she was counting on them as she was down to her last one. I had no idea she liked them so well. So now I'm off to buy cotton yarn to make her several to stock her up for awhile. Her phone call made me smile and you can bet that she will be getting her dish cloths next year too.

[CHARCREATES]

Wow...to teach that many girls to crochet at one time! I love that age group though...they are still at an age where they want to learn EVERYTHING...you must have had a great time ...except for the heat!

Speaking of heat...we are at -14 right now at 6:45 am...with the wind chill it is -31! We could use some heat outside right now! How is it where you live?

Hi Teri,
It was great fun watching them absorb the lessons like little sponges. There were just too many to make any real progress. And the heat was incredible! I made those neck cooler thingys with the water absorbing crystals for all the volunteer ladies, soaked them in water and froze them as per the instructions. So there we were sweating buckets with frost bitten necks but we all wore them. What a hoot!

Right now at 4am my window thermometer says 3 degrees. I don't know what the weather channel says. We had our first snow the other day but it has melted on the streets and sidewalks. Still a light dusting on the grass though.

Just finished a scarf with some Homespun yarn that I wanted to get rid of. Good gosh does that stuff split! But it is toasty warm and someone will choose it, wear it and love it. Also made a scarf from a skein of tie dye sashay. Totally non-functional but they sure do look pretty. And I'm in the middle of what I consider to be the easiest ladies top I have ever made. It's called a Sweet Summer Sweater and you can find it on the Glamour4You website and it's free. I've made it a few times already and this won't be my last. It's also incredibly easy to customize for size both in width and length. Take a peek at it and let me know what you think.

[Teri]

Right now at 4am my window thermometer says 3 degrees. I don't know what the weather channel says. We had our first snow the other day but it has melted on the streets and sidewalks. Still a light dusting on the grass though.

Ahhh I just noticed you are in Palmyra, NJ! I am from Bayville! (Berkeley Township) Do you know where that is ? Ocean County...I sure do miss the Ocean and the salt air but I don't miss the Ocean county traffic! Especially in the summer. Where I am at now, in a very rural area of Central NY State, is very different. We have mountains and lots of snow and very very very cold winters. I am in pretty much a dairy community. The Chobani plant is here. Wow that was a biggy when it opened...We have an Amish settlement here also ...so traffic here is being stuck behind an Amish buggy and a tractor.....LOL...I like it here except for the very cold. The summers are amazing! No humidity. We don't even have an air conditioner. Temps get to maybe low 80's is the norm in July but very rarely hit the 90's.

"Just finished a scarf with some Homespun yarn that I wanted to get rid of. Good gosh does that stuff split! But it is toasty warm and someone will choose it, wear it and love it. Also made a scarf from a skein of tie dye sashay. Totally non-functional but they sure do look pretty. And I'm in the middle of what I consider to be the easiest ladies top I have ever made. It's called a Sweet Summer Sweater and you can find it on the Glamour4You website and it's free. I've made it a few times already and this won't be my last. It's also incredibly easy to customize for size both in width and length. Take a peek at it and let me know what you think."

I am not a fan of that Homespun yarn it is hard to work with but it is very pretty. I never used the sashay. I checked out the Sweet Summer Sweater...pretty cool but not free any more...looks like it will be comfy when you finish it. I am currently attempting a double wedding ring quilt (in crochet) for a close friend of my daughter who is getting married in June, for her bridal shower. I just started it and it isn't too difficult. I am going to take it section by section and see how it goes. If it gets too hard I will just scrap it and buy her something for her shower. I am making it in Red Heart worsted weight...caffe, buff and heather gray. Here is what it will look like Wedding Ring Quilt Crochet Pattern | Red Heart.

[CHARCREATES]

I am currently attempting a double wedding ring quilt (in crochet) for a close friend of my daughter who is getting married in June, for her bridal shower. I just started it and it isn't too difficult. I am going to take it section by section and see how it goes. If it gets too hard I will just scrap it and buy her something for her shower. I am making it in Red Heart worsted weight...caffe, buff and heather gray. Here is what it will look like Wedding Ring Quilt Crochet Pattern | Red Heart.[/QUOTE]

Oh my goodness, that is gorgeous! It also looks like work - hard work. Since I crochet for pleasure I don't think I would attempt anything that involved. Good for you for taking it on. That will be a real heirloom to be treasured forever.

Yep, I'm in Palmyra, NJ, Burlington Township, home of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, just across the river from Philadelphia where I grew up. Palmyra is a tiny borough, 1 1/4 square miles with about 7,000 residents. Everyone is everyone else's neighbor and most people know almost everyone. And lots of them have hats and scarves from me, LOL.

I don't know where Berkeley Township is located but, of course, I'm familiar with Ocean County - Down The Shore! Wildwood in my younger days. Atlantic City is pretty much for gamblers now and since I'm not a gambler it holds no real attraction for me. It's not that I have any moral objections to gambling, I just don't get anything out of it. Years ago when the casinos were new I went 3 times out of curiosity and lost $30 each time. For my $90 I would have preferred a new pair of shoes or a good dinner with hubby. Hubby's brother, wife and 3 boys (2 married, 1 engaged) all live just off Long Beach Island so going to "the shore" is now to visit them.

Back in my working days, I was a sales rep for a machine tool company and covered 5 states, Lancaster, Pa. was part of my territory. Lancaster has a huge Amish community so I've been stuck behind those buggies and tractors many times. I didn't mind it though, it kind of gave me a feeling of peace and calm. Go figure.

Sorry that Sweet Summer Sweater is no longer free but if you want the pattern I'd be happy to send it to you. Since it is crocheted from the neck down in joined rows there are no seems to sew together. At the last row, you're pretty much done unless you want to do a little scallop around the neck, sleeves and bottom. Sometimes I lengthen the sleeves and then do the scallop.

With hubby's last nephew engaged I have to start working on the shower gift for his fiancee. I'm pretty much locked in on what to give since I've given the same thing to the rest of the newly engaged. A copy of my personal cook book with recipes dating back to my great grandmother. It's all in a 4" 3 ring binder and takes forever to copy. My copy has grown to two 4" ring binders so I have to whittle it down to just 1 for the gift. I'm not looking forward to that task but the rewards will be there. All of the new wives are now making the French onion soup, the chocolate crackle cookies and the Killer Bruschetta among other recipes in my book. I just love hearing about their culinary successes based on a gift from their crazy aunt.

[Teri]

Yep, I'm in Palmyra, NJ, Burlington Township, home of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, just across the river from Philadelphia where I grew up. Palmyra is a tiny borough, 1 1/4 square miles with about 7,000 residents. Everyone is everyone else's neighbor and most people know almost everyone. And lots of them have hats and scarves from me, LOL.

I don't know where Berkeley Township is located but, of course, I'm familiar with Ocean County - Down The Shore! Wildwood in my younger days. Atlantic City is pretty much for gamblers now and since I'm not a gambler it holds no real attraction for me. It's not that I have any moral objections to gambling, I just don't get anything out of it.

Back in my working days, I was a sales rep for a machine tool company and covered 5 states, Lancaster, Pa. was part of my territory. Lancaster has a huge Amish community so I've been stuck behind those buggies and tractors many times. I didn't mind it though, it kind of gave me a feeling of peace and calm. Go figure.

Sorry that Sweet Summer Sweater is no longer free but if you want the pattern I'd be happy to send it to you.

A copy of my personal cook book with recipes dating back to my great grandmother .

I am familiar with Burlington Township a bit...Our organic hay that we would sell and use on our farm in Bayville came from a farmer there....


Berkeley Township is located on both sides of the Barnegat Bay Seaside Park is part of Berkeley Township...I was from the mainland side, but 1/4 mile from the bay. Atlantic City is about 40 minutes south via the GS Parkway. My son who is a chef worked at the Taj Mahal and then later the Borgata as a pastry chef. He is now up here with us working at an Italian restaurant...the only restaurant for 30 miles....as a chef and kitchen supervisor. I am not a gambler myself and like you I have not problem with those that like it but I would rather do other things with my money.


Yeah ...I hear you about the peace and quiet with the buggies ... but it gets old real fast ...especially when you are on your way to work!



I would love a copy of the sweater! I will send you my email address via your Crochettalk inbox....


Wow!!! what an heirloom that cookbook will be! Really nice gift. Have you ever done one of those quilted binders? My older daughter learned and makes photo albums that are just beautiful...they are not hard..I don't know how but I guess you can google it.

[Pixieglitter]

I've often wondered about the same thing. I made my sister a very simple DC cowl infinity scarf for Christmas. It wasn't anything complicated at all. And she loves it! She's texted me several times telling me about all the compliments she's received when she wears it. My sister is very well off, financially. She's an orthopedic doctor and buys whatever she wants. It warms my heart that she's so happy with it - and grateful - for my simple gift.

Shelley

[LI Roe]

[QUOTE=Pixieglitter;155915]I've often wondered about the same thing. I made my sister a very simple DC cowl infinity scarf for Christmas. It wasn't anything complicated at all. And she loves it! She's texted me several times telling me about all the compliments she's received when she wears it. My sister is very well off, financially. She's an orthopedic doctor and buys whatever she wants. It warms my heart that she's so happy with it - and grateful - for my simple gift. :)

Shelley[/QUOTE]

You may have thought it was a simple gift but it was simply from your heart and that is what counted to her!!

Roe

[Pixieglitter]

Thanks Roe! I'm going to make my sis a couple more cowl infinity scarves and mail them to her.

Shelley

[Teri]

I've often wondered about the same thing. I made my sister a very simple DC cowl infinity scarf for Christmas. It wasn't anything complicated at all. And she loves it! She's texted me several times telling me about all the compliments she's received when she wears it. My sister is very well off, financially. She's an orthopedic doctor and buys whatever she wants. It warms my heart that she's so happy with it - and grateful - for my simple gift.

Shelley

Shelley
Ya know sometimes when you are gifting someone who is well off the best thing you can do is make them something. It will be something that is "one of a kind" and they will never be able to buy it! My daughter's mother in law is financially set also. She can do things I can only dream of. When ever I get her a gift it is always something I make since I feel that it is something that she cannot buy....She always makes a big deal out of it and even asked me to teach her how to crochet! I did...once ....but it didn't take LOL