Would you knit any more gifts?

I know what you mean about the lack of a thank you. Even if they don't like or want what you have knitted, a simple text or email would show some appreciation of your kindness. Every stitch would have been knitted with them in mind. Just don't bother to send them anything else - but keep knitting.

I totally understand you, Antonia. I stopped giving gifts or going out of my way for those who can't be bothered to appreciate or show appreciations with a simple thank you or even any acknowledgement of receiving something from me.
I keep my best for those who understand me and with the rest, I'll stay polite and pleasant, if it's not possible to keep them out of my life. Trend or not, busy or not, it's very rude not to thank people when they do something nice for us. The lovely thoughts behind every kind act or gift make the world a much, much better place for us. The lack of it affects our wellbeing negatively. Who wants to be in the world of those rude and unappreciative people who deliberately make the world a worse place for us?! I weed them out of my life emotionally and see them only if I have to but stay polite and pleasant with them. One thing, I won't let them do is to turn me into something like them. Please, thank you and a smile are easy, cost nothing much but so important for our and others' wellbeing. What sort of person would withhold these simple acts from others?!

OP, have you considered actually speaking to the new parents and asking whether they would like you to knit more things for them, as you love knitting and have lots of spare yarn?

I hadn't thought of doing that.

Fronkydonky I realize that young people may not appreciate hand knitted gifts, but that's not the point.

Whatever the gift, it's polite to thank the giver.

At last.... two people who recognise the JOY of giving without a single string attached. I'm so saddened at some of the self centred stuff I read here.

I wouldn't say that expecting at least a thank you by text is 'attaching strings.'
Attaching strings usually means giving a monetary gift, on the condition that the giver expects it to be spent on a certain items or service.

I object to the implication that I am 'self centred.' I would not have sent so many gifts if I was. It is definitely not 'self centred' to expect a polite thank you.

Regarding wedding gifts, twice I've sent gifts chosen from a John Lewis wedding list online and never received a thank you from either couple, I think it's very thankless of them as you wonder if they ever received them , so I won't being doing that again.

I think that if you sister is the type to sneakily send thank you cards on her son's behalf, your nephew my have had alot done for him growing up, and didn't have the chance to develop simple social skills like sending thank you cards.

In my experience with wedding gifts not acknowledged and a new baby gift not acknowledged from the same person, it could be down to poor manners. I had to ask if the gift had arrived in post on both occasions because nobody mentioned them, and nobody ever thanked me for them either. I am quick to point out that not all young folk are the same, some I received a text message from thanking me and some will send a thank you card. It does make you feel unappreciated though all the same. I personally do love to see babies in hand knitted garments but unfortunately young couples don’t appreciate it these days. It’s the father’s football strip in miniature that can be machine washed, and well known brands of all in one suits that young folk tend to dress babies in until they walk. I don’t like to see them on babies but many young girls dress their female child in leggings, they cannot be bothered with ironing dresses and petticoats after laundering. Just a different era I’m afraid.

Although I mostly leave jumper knitting to the other granny, who’s made some lovely (machine washable!) ones for Gdcs, I must say that when I did look for baby/toddler knitting patterns, I found so many of them far too fussy and old-fashioned looking - for my taste anyway.

The one thing I made for the first Gdc, which was certainly well used for all 3, was a blanket of different coloured moss stitch squares, IIRC a Debbie Bliss pattern in Baby Cashmerino.

Since we didn’t know the sex until the first arrived, I made it in fairly neutral colours - yellows and cream, blues and greens.

It's only human to feel a bit of gratitude coming your way would be appreciated but, to be honest, I believe we should offer gifts with no thought or concern about whether we get to feel appreciated or not. You offering the gift is your demonstration in life and the recipient not showing gratitude is their demonstration, which shouldn't affect you one way or another. I believe if we give freely, it comes back to us in ways we can't imagine. Someone gets the benefit somewhere along the line and that's a good thing. Having said all of that, lol, I have to say it's possible that if I were making something hand made for someone and they showed no appreciation whatsoever, I might think twice before giving up such a lot of time for that particular person in the future!

Love that card, Doodledog

I remember wearing a pair of those knitted leggings, they had elastic under the foot to keep them in place!

And a friend of my mother's knitted me an angora beret and mittens in cream which made my nose itch and sneeze.

OP, have you considered actually speaking to the new parents and asking whether they would like you to knit more things for them, as you love knitting and have lots of spare yarn?

I can just about keep up with my own children's likes and dislikes, but my sister has five adult children, and when their babies came along I asked them if they wanted me to knit for them and if so, what did they want. I linked them to Ravelry and said they could choose a pattern, or they could just ask for a 'thing' (eg a blanket) and leave the choice to me. One said that she'd rather I didn't spend time knitting, as she would worry that she'd spoil it in the washing machine, and the others all either chose a pattern or made a suggestion for me to choose.

Neither of my children want knitted jumpers, and although I would happily churn out aran garments for them, I buy them sweatshirts instead.

I don't think that many people now knit out of necessity or to save the new parents money, as happened in the past. We do it because we enjoy it - you said yourself that you love knitting - so it's not really about the recipient any more. Times have changed.

This is a bit of a tangent, but there are forums on Ravelry where people discuss knitting, and there are lots of posts on there from people complaining that they spend ages making a beautiful orange poncho, or purple fair isle flared trousers (I exaggerate for effect, but only slightly ?) and are deeply offended that they have never seen the recipient wearing them.

My son sent me this card for my birthday one year, and I think it says it all . . .

I wouldn't send anything else , they'll have a ton of stuff already , just how it is nowadays !

Lucca, I'm not saying that thanks isn't nice when received. I'm simply saying that lack of thanks wouldn't stop me from giving that person another gift if I wanted to. I don't even actually notice if someone doesn't thank me. No big deal.

Young people dont bother with thank you's nowadays.They are great takers though!

Kim19

Valdali & AcornFairy ?. At last.... two people who recognise the JOY of giving without a single string attached. I'm so saddened at some of the self centred stuff I read here.

It s not self-centred to expect some form of acknowledgement, and it doesn’t matter if it is a text or Facebook message.
When a waiter brings your food to the table don’t you say thank you ? If you are handed a present don’t you say thank you ?
It is just good manners and actually it is kindness to the giver, which I do not think is old fashioned. I’m not remotely an old fashioned type of person.

I’ve noticed so many posts saying the young parents must be “so busy with the new baby” If it is a first baby I’d say it is likely to sleep for a few hours at a time…..surely enough time for at least one of the parents to sit and send a text message ?

From my standpoint it boils down to ‘manners’ which surely is fundamental here. I am applying this to all generations. We know the younger ones don’t do letter writing but a phone call or maybe settle for a text is no more than you would expect. Lack of a ‘thank you’ doesn’t wash with me.
That said, I agree that hand-knitted garments don’t go down well with the young ones ... but still a thank you would be nice.

As a knitter I know the time and effort and more importantly the LOVE that goes into it, especially when knitting for family. Whatever you do for someone warrants a thank you. It's got nothing to do with pats on the back and all that nonsense. Good manners, all day long.

Valdali I totally disagree a ‘thank you’ should be an expectation for any giving A text costs nothing and takes seconds, if busy
It is not only good manners but a link between the giver and recipient Silence is blooming rude

Working in a charity shop we get lots and lots of beautifully knitted baby (and children) clothes and blankets that just do not sell at all as cheap as we make them we have even tried bundles on eBay but no take up at all
They have just sadly gone out of fashion
However they are still wanted for overseas babies ( refugees etc) and hospitals that’s how I make sure they are used but it’s a huge shame
I have a friend like you who so enjoys knitting and makes beautiful things for toddlers and babies she sends them to a charity that sends them to disadvantaged children anywhere in the world that is needing warm clothes

Valdali & AcornFairy ?. At last.... two people who recognise the JOY of giving without a single string attached. I'm so saddened at some of the self centred stuff I read here.

How about contacting your local maternity hospital. I know they are always crying out for prem size hats, mitts, booties and cardis as the bubbas cannot keep their heat and you will be doing such a great service.

A lot of new parents head to Primark, supermarkets etc for baby clothes, a lot are not interested in home made baby clothes. Sad but true.

valdali I disagree with you. Someone has gone to the trouble of either making or buying a gift for you or your child and you don't feel the need to say thank you and show your appreciation. I think that is very hurtful and just plain rude.