Non-Knitters Don't Get It

#1

There have been threads on here before about co-workers, friends, etc asking for hand-knitted items with no idea of what was involved. maybe I can beat all of them: Today I was asked by a co-worker if i would knit a hat and a scarf for her to give to her cousin’s DOG for Christmas!! I explained that

  1. I could not add anything to the list of items I had to finish before Christmas.
  2. I don’t have enough time to knit all the things I want to knit.
  3. It would not be economically feasible to pay someone to knit these items, to which her response was that she knew that my price would be lower than stores.

I give up!! Some people will never understand. Hopefully she was not too offended. I have knitted a scarf for her a while ago, at her request, without charging for the time or the yarn.

#2

that’s not cool that she thinks she can use you as a discount mill for any knitted goods that she needs. most people i talk to don’t understand that the process of knitting is also enjoyable. you don’t work in a sweat shop!

#3

Yep, custom hand made items are always cheaper than the mass produced crap in the stores.

Uh huh.

So, this lady is a bit on the stupid side eh?

#4

:roflhard: :roflhard: :roflhard: :roflhard:

I’m so glad I found this site. Although my friends get excited for me when I tell them I’ve finished a piece of the sweater I’m knitting, they don’t really understand how hard I’m working on it (as my first piece of clothing it’s a really long process). When I tell them it’s taken me two or three days just to knit one sleeve their eyes get big but I don’t think they really get it. I love that you guys do. Get it, that is.

#5

Ugh! That’s just sort of disrespectful. To be asked to knit someone’s DOG something? I mean, it’s fine if you choose to knit your own or a friend’s dog something, but…to be asked to knit something that could be bought for $5.99 at Walmart? That’s insulting.

#6

That’s kinda what I thought. I know many people knit things for their pets, but I wouldn’t even for my own. Certainly not to be given to the dog of a person I don’t even know!!

#7

:noway: Well, I have one more response for her-- teach her how to knit. When she gives up after 7 stitches, maybe she’ll get it. But before that, of course she’ll need to purchase the yarn and needles-- and be sure to send her to a boutique, hand-dyed in micro batches $$$$ site for the yarn, and insist on Lantern Moon for the needles. :biting:

#8

You have a real mean streak.

I like that in a person. :mrgreen:

#9

:roflhard::roflhard: That’s a good one, I’ll make sure to send the next person with the crazy request to the most expensive store around here, maybe then they will “get” it:roll:

#10

Why thank you:) .
Yeah-- I figure I’m going straight to hell-- but with a smile on my face:) .

#11

I am SO glad that I don’t know many of these people. All of my friends except one really do appreciate the work I put into my homemade gifts, because most of them make things, too (or are dating people who do, lol…). I did have one girl who didn’t comprehend the work involved (I don’t really consider her a friend), but she thought it looked cool and I kept telling her I didn’t have time or patience to knit her a scarf (I’m sorry, I hate knitting scarves. I offered her a hat…), so finally she decided that I should teach her to knit. Alright, fine, if that will get her to leave me alone. So we went out and bought yarn and needles (Boye needles and mid-range acrylic yarn that is honestly hideous… so unfortunately no hand-dyed expensive yarn or lantern moon needles) and I gave her a lesson in knitting. Or rather, in casting on. She didn’t get it. LITERALLY seven stitches and she wanted to give up.

On the upside, she gave me the yarn (ICK!) and needles. So it wasn’t a complete waste of three hours.

#12

:roflhard:

#13

You GO, Jess! I wanna be like you when I grow up. :wink:

#14

I’m so glad I’m not alone!!

#15

:roflhard: Sounds like something I would do. :twisted:

#16

you’re not the only one who’s been asked to knit for a dog…without recieving payment.

my adoptive mom asked me to knit an LSU sweater to match the one she wants me to make for her DH for her teacup poodle (have i mentioned i HATE this dog? mom’s one of those that carries the dog around in one of those carrier pack things and lets it eat off her plate and drink out of her cup while she’s also eating and drinking! EWWWWWWWWWWWWW… not to mention when they stayed here a few days the dog messed on the carpet in my bedroom and mom picked dog up, poopy butt and all and put it on the QUILT ON MY BED… can you say NEVER AGAIN?).

I’ll make one for her dh (my adoptive dad) because he’s a real sweetie and even if he doesn’t understand how much work goes into it, he’ll still appreciate it (and wear it… they go down to the LSU games quite a bit!).

#17

Triole EWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!.

And annomalley-- thank you:) . And a question-- you say in your OTNs that you’re making the gloves from the Handy Book of Patterns. Me too-- have you noticed that the 5th finger comes out a little too small? It feels tight to me, my hands are pretty standardly proportioned, and the stitch count did seem a little low for that part. And you?

#18

Jeez, I meant triPle. . .:roll:

#19

[FONT=“Arial Black”][COLOR=“Magenta”]My experiences are the opposite most of my family/friends/co-workers are amazed that I would attempt such a difficult task, they understand that it’s not easy. They [B]do not[/B] understand why I spend my time knitting, when I could go into a store and buy a scarf, sweater, etc. [/COLOR][/FONT]

#20

I have a co-worker who constantly tells me that I can buy ‘whatever item I’m knitting at the time’ a lot cheaper at a store. She thinks I’m silly to pay more money for yarn and take the time to knit it myself when I can buy ‘the same thing’ for a lot cheaper at a store.

I find that so offensive! It is not now, nor will it ever be, the ‘same thing’. You cannot buy custom made, high quality, hand crafted items at a discount store!