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“I Was Honestly Dumbfounded”: Person Takes Back Crocheted Blanket After SIL’s Remarks
“I Was Honestly Dumbfounded”: Person Takes Back Crocheted Blanket After SIL’s Remarks
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“I Was Honestly Dumbfounded”: Person Takes Back Crocheted Blanket After SIL’s Remarks

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At first glance, a handmade gift seems perfect, particularly if you have a “crafty” hobby. There is something special about getting an item that is for the most part entirely unique. Of course, this does not mean that some of the more entitled folks out there won’t still insist on making demands about every little detail.

A netizen asked the internet if they were out of line when they refused to “fix” a minor error in a handmade crocheted blanket that was intended as a gift. As anyone who has crocheted can attest to, fixing mistakes a few rows down often means just redoing the entire thing.

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    Making a gift instead of buying it can be an exciting idea

    Person crocheting a colorful handmade gift with a crochet hook, focusing on intricate details.

    Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)

    But one netizen ended up causing some drama when they refused to do some excessive “fixes” to a blanket

    Text about handmade gift demands and perfection for a crocheted blanket request.

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    Text describing a handmade gift and a woman's reaction, highlighting perfection demands.

    Text excerpt discussing handmade gift critique and pattern issues.

    Text exchange about a handmade gift needing perfection before being considered finished.

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    Text expressing frustration towards perfectionists' demands for handmade gifts.

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    Text about handmade gift demands: "I made this blanket for her for free out of love, but she won't use it due to mistakes.

    Text discussing handmade gift returned after demand for perfection.

    Text conversation about handmade gift demands and perfection.

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    Two women on a couch; one looking upset, highlighting demands about a handmade gift.

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    Image credits: stefamerpik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    Text exchange discussing demands for a handmade crochet gift and frustration over fixing an error on a large blanket.

    Image credits: One_Entrepreneur5686

    It’s best to not be too critical about free things or labor

    While it’s possible to argue about if the netizen should have made some fixes, it’s worth pointing out that people have long argued for being more “forgiving” when it comes to receiving gifts. “Never look a gift horse in the mouth,” the old saying goes, although the original, in Latin, (Noli equi dentes inspicere donati) is almost as elegant, “never inspect the teeth of a given horse.” it originated in St. Jerome’s commentary on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

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    For those unfamiliar with equine biology, horse teeth keep developing as they grow older, pushing the first teeth forward. This is, incidentally, where the term “long in the tooth” comes from. In other words, you can tell a horse is old and less valuable just from its teeth. However, social wisdom would also tell you that criticizing a gift is just not something that is done. In general, every gift should be treated as a nice bonus, not something that you are entitled to like a client who has paid for a service.

    Even if you are a perfectionist, it’s best to not project that idea onto other people, particularly if they aren’t your direct employees. Similarly, one of the “advantages” of a handmade item is that you can often give suggestions and express your preferences, which can’t always be done if it’s from a factory. Part of this bargain is the acknowledgment that handmade items won’t be factory perfect, unless you are really working with an expert. To add to this idea, if you actually are working with an expert and they are making something for you as a gift, perhaps relax a little bit.

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    “Perfectionism” isn’t an excuse to be rude

    Image credits: SkelDry / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    While it’s possible that the SIL didn’t initially understand the scope of her demands, it’s still quite telling that she was so dismissive of the work already put into the blanket. Indeed, she even insulted the netizen’s work, as if it was just a trial run to her. The fact that she refused to accept the reality of fixing crocheting work is quite telling.

    It’s not exactly rocket science to know that being rude about a well-meaning gift is just horrible, socially. The SIL is well within her rights to be unhappy with the situation, but it’s still the sort of thing you keep to yourself. After all, in this day and age, one can just buy a blanket, taking the time to make one by hand is hours and hours of work. There are sometimes gifts that end up being so terrible that the giver needs to be called out, but this doesn’t seem to be the case here.

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    A more generous explanation would be that she thought you could go back and just make some “adjustments” to crocheting work, but given her tone and the words she used, it seems she has grown accustomed to making demands. This is rude and entitled behavior. She can hide behind her “perfectionisms” but acting like this hardly shows a person to be “perfect,” given that her words were so blatantly insensitive. In other words, she seems willing to sabotage familial relationships over a few mistakes in a blanket.

    Most folks thought the SIL was being too demanding

    Reddit comment expressing frustration over demanding perfection for a handmade gift.

    Text highlighting knitting advice and demands for a perfect handmade gift.

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    Text discussing demands about handmade gift, with comments on gratitude and value.

    Text discussing handmade gift philosophy, emphasizing uniqueness and love, addressing demands for perfection in crafts.

    Text about handmade gift demands, highlighting issues with picky, entitled behavior.

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    Text response to handmade gift criticism in an online forum.

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    Text image highlighting demands for perfect handmade gifts and value of fiber art.

    Comment expressing disbelief about a handmade gift needing to be flawless.

    Text comment discussing handmade gift demands and sister-in-law's ungrateful behavior.

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    Comment about handmade gift demands and gratitude advice.

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    Comment discussing demands for perfection in handmade gifts.

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    Reddit comment about unreasonable demands on a handmade gift, emphasizing appreciation.

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    Text exchange discussing handmade gift expectations and crafting imperfections.

    Text comment discussing correcting errors in a handmade gift, referencing demands for perfection.

    Text exchange discussing demands on a handmade gift's perfection.

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    Text discussing ungrateful behavior towards a handmade gift.

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    Comment about handmade gift demands and appreciation.

    Comment discussing handmade gift demands and appreciation for handmade imperfections.

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    But a few thought the situation could have been handled better

    Online comment discussing handmade gift demands and right to refuse adjustments.

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    Negative comment discussing blemishes on a handmade gift, mentioning perfectionism and a reaction labeled as YTA.

    Text criticizing the quality of a handmade gift with demands for perfect standards.

    Comment criticizing mistakes in handmade gift.

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    Text comment about crochet mistakes and handmade gift perfectionism.

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    Justin Sandberg

    Justin Sandberg

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    I am a writer at Bored Panda. Despite being born in the US, I ended up spending most of my life in Europe, from Latvia, Austria, and Georgia to finally settling in Lithuania. At Bored Panda, you’ll find me covering topics ranging from the cat meme of the day to red flags in the workplace and really anything else. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, beating other people at board games, cooking, good books, and bad films.

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    Justin Sandberg

    Justin Sandberg

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    I am a writer at Bored Panda. Despite being born in the US, I ended up spending most of my life in Europe, from Latvia, Austria, and Georgia to finally settling in Lithuania. At Bored Panda, you’ll find me covering topics ranging from the cat meme of the day to red flags in the workplace and really anything else. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, beating other people at board games, cooking, good books, and bad films.

    What do you think ?
    RM
    Community Member
    11 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The YTA's on this one really annoy me as someone who both crochets and knits. Often if you're working on a large crochet or knitting project you don't notice that you've made an error until much later when you can see the whole thing. Especially if it's just a colour change in the wrong place, something that doesn't affect shape or stitch counts. To fix an error at the start you're basically having to unravel everything and start again. Something tiny that you don't notice until you search for it is not a problem. The recipient is being ungrateful of the time, effort and skill that's gone into the gift.

    Bette
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was actually shocked to see YTA comments 😳 How could anyone think criticism, however it is worded is the proper response to a gift?! If a gift recipient is more concerned with finding fault than being grateful, I do not believe the mistakes made were, as one YTA phrased it: ".....so glaringly obvious that someone who does not crochet can find them......" I feel the gift recipient is just rude. Rather than engage in discussion, my response would be: In this country we say "Thank you."

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    Tyke
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I really hope the recipient doesn't have kids as they're going to grow to have serious anxiety issues. OP is absolutely NTA and I'd never gift this woman anything handmade again

    Broccoli
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If that SIL has kids, she is probably going to end up forcing them to be “perfect”

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    The Other Guest
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't make mistakes in my knitting or sewing. I create artistic choices and unique stylizations that make a piece truly my own. The fact that I don't do them *on purpose* changes nothing about my stance, LOL. Seriously, though, what kind of a person receives a gift and immediately starts searching it for flaws? I hope OP never ever ever crochets so much as a coaster for that ungrateful snob again.

    Abraxas59
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Which is exactly what handmade stuff is about unique one of a kind right x

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    WindySwede
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Always nice yta persones.. 😵‍💫

    Nina
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, some are so delulu. "Giving someone a janky, mistake riddled.." Tell me you've never made anything and/or are a spoiled person without telling me literally.

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    HTakeover
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'll bet $100 she was planning to sell it or give it to someone else & claim she made it.

    BrownEyedPanda
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You know, that's a possibility I never considered. But since OP took the blanket back, that operation is scrubbed.

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    Trillian
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "...she wouldn't be able to use it because she wouldn't be able to focus on anything but the mistakes." That woman needs therapy. And some instruction in manners.

    Boo
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'd tell the woman to take it or leave it! Crocheting is hard work, she's being ungrateful and rude! Most handmade items will have flaws, that's what makes them unique. My grandma used to crochet and she made all her grandkids blankets one year for Xmas (god knows how long that took - there were 8 of us). I've had it for more than 45 years and it even emigrated with me lol. I don't use it as often as I did as it's starting to wear in places and I want to pass it on down to one of my daughters, so I try to preserve it for as long as possible.

    BrownEyedPanda
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wouldn't have given her the choice. I would have done exactly what OP did, and never given her ANY gift ever again. What an ungrateful sow!

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    Alexandra
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What is wrong with people? If you receive a gift, you smile and say 'thank you very much'. That's it. It doesn't matter what you really think about it: you never throw someone's gift back in their faces. Either this person wasn't taught basic manners or she's just a naturally rude person.

    Arlnee
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Navajo purposely wove slight errors in their textiles because perfection ticks off the gods. And when I worked in a printing house we used to credit any slight errors as an offering to the printing gods. Asking for a perfect blanket just seems like asking for trouble...

    Meagan Glaser
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    and don't forget Arachne and what happened when she showed off too m uch

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    WorkAholic1
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The recipient is definitely the problem here. I crochet (and for those people who say the OP is the A**hole because "why didn't you fix it when you were crocheting?") -- those people obviously do not crochet. You don't always notice the mistake until much later when it is too late to go back and undo all that work you've done. Also, no matter what pattern you use, from the easiest single crochet to a very difficult pattern using a variety of stitches, who wants to see a mistake back on row 15 when you're on row 239? It's not easy (nor always possible) to go back and fix a problem. I'd definitely take the blanket back and keep it. Enjoy snuggling up in your hard work!

    Abraxas59
    Community Member
    11 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love zoras post lmao yup we are in the greatness of assholery she is top of that class that sil ! handmade stuff isn’t ment to be machine perfection that’s the dam point of it n to that YTA one get over yourself ! if someone made me something like that I wouldn’t even dream of nit picking it over like that entitled mare did pfft id love to be able to crochet im 60 n left handed and i just never got the hang of it I can kinda knit mainly squares lmao and often with holes in n I can’t read patterns to save my life mind u I was good on a knitting machine decades ago made a good few cardis n jumpers on that but never crochet they are beautiful items n op your NTA at all she can go do one as we say in uk n like others say send her a pack of how to crocheting stuff n tell her when she can make one as well as you then come back nd moan until then keep it shut n no she’s not having it back as she threw it back in your face so rudely she is not worthy of it ! blessed be op

    Michelle Randazzo
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Next time she wants something, say nope. I make imperfect items. I don't want to insult you with trash

    Zaach
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I remember some interesting takes on mistakes in hand made objects: An American looked at a porcelain tea cup and said "oh, look at that error" while someone who appreciates porcelain breaks down in tears for the beauty (some Japanese artists purposely make errors b/c only god is perfect

    Pyla
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Downvoting for the incredibly idiotic YTAs

    Jostanquecla
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Several times I've commissioned drawings from a client of mine who does amazing things with coloured pencils. I always pay him much more than he asks for, but even so, I feel like an asshóle when I ask for him to adjust the drawing slightly. I can't imagine making demands on someone who is gifting me their creativity for free. That said, if there are errors, it's possible that the recipient will just shove it in the back of a cupboard until the end of time which would also be sad.

    Bacon Tentacles
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    To the YTA people (because of course there are YTA people) - F**k you. F**k off. You are miserable pieces of s**t and you should feel bad. But you won't. Because you are miserable pieces of s**t.

    Kim Kermes
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Amish quilters deliberately make a small mistake as they believe attempting perfection is presumptuous and close to blasphemous as only God can achieve perfection. For her next gift, make a list of therapists who specialize in OCD, though she doesn't have it, but there are no therapists that treat azzholery.

    DramaDoc
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I also knit and crochet (but mostly knit). I knit my mom a blanket about a decade ago and accidentally did a knit stitch when I should have purled. It drives *me* crazy every time I see it, but my mom hasn't stopped using it and won't let me do anything about it... 6fb9fe0a98...225a4d.jpg 6fb9fe0a984a1f800d3e9127d22d71fb-67899af225a4d.jpg

    Ben Aziza
    Community Member
    11 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Does she return her PC/Phone every time it crashes? You know making a processor has some overlapping concepts with crocheting. No two processors are the same. "Weaving" all the wires connecting the logic gates which makes up layers of interconnects is NOT a perfect process! There are a lot of errors that can happen in each step and even a classification and grades based on that... Would this ungrateful b***h return her computer/phone if she learns o this fact? If she knew that she got a 95% efficient processor because a random particle got in the way in the chemical deposition process of nano chipset number 5163165 and some other errors like that? Where does she stop? This is conjecture but I think this has nothing to do with the gift. Probably wanted to humiliate her SIL for other reasons.

    Jamie Mayfield
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Someone didn't watch Bob Ross growing up or they would know those are very happy accidents that you work with as an artist. Handmade anything has imperfections, it is one of the ways you can look at something an it is automatic that we know that it was done by a human. SIL should just buy a cheap factory made item.

    Stacy Bender
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've done tatting. If someone b***hed about mistakes, I'd tell them to get bent. Handmade takes hours of work. Mistakes are character. If you want perfect, buy in a regular store with c**p made by a machine.

    LonelyLittleLeafSheep
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "I'll fix the blanket for you when you learn basic manners."

    gilliansl aka Gillian Silverlight
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I used to be able to crochet a double sized Afghan/blanket in a weekend. You jump up your granny square at the beginning and can then just go round and round. The YTAs on here, ARE the AHs! As for minor errors, they are the Hallmark of a handmade item which makes the item unique. I make something for someone and they don't like it the way it is... Okay. I'll take it back and give to someone who DOES appreciate it.

    Randy Sanders
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If someone takes all that time to make a blanket for you, you should feel honored.

    Big Chungus
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My sister made my son (her nephew) an amazing blanket in the old nostalgic millennial school colors (the blue green yellow and red colors) and I have no idea any mistakes she made (if she did) but it is literally my sons absolutely favorite blanket. It was such a nice gift and I love it.

    Kathy Brooke
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In some cultures it is customary to make at least one error in any hand made item because "nobody can make perfection but God and it is blasphemy to try ". Should have given her that response?

    Kathy Brooke
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As someone who knits, crochets and does various other crafts my response would be to go to a store and spend £7 on a cheap artificial fibre fleece (preferably with a hideous design), gift wrap it and tell her you got her a perfect one. Then either keep the heirloom one or give it to someone who will appreciate it.

    AlexJ
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If I were OP, I'd hang that blanket on my wall so people can comment on how beautiful it is. Hopefully while SIL is also there visiting.

    Margaret Nupponen
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I heard that the Native Americans put mistakes in their handcrafts on purpose, because only God is perfect.

    Sa Ruuu
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She's not selling it, she's giving it to a family member. SIL overreacted and now she's caused a strain in their relationship over something petty and silly

    Thomas51
    Community Member
    5 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some civilisations make it a point of including "errors" in hand made materials - Navajo blankets for example are not "perfect" because perfection would trap the weaver's soul or essence in the end product.

    Anne Roberts
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Here's a big raised middle finger to everyone who said YTA. For starters it was a gift mad by someone who loved the giftee. Next, who on Earth would criticize a gift someone had worked on for many, many hours? The sister in law can but her own perfect blanket. She is incredibly rude and I would never give her another gift

    sweet emotion
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ANYONE who dares to criticize a hand crafted item - especially a large time-consuming gift like an afghan - should be told that if they want perfection they can pay a third-world machine to make it. And yes, the crafter should take the item back (and if it doesn't fit their style, they can sell it on etsy).

    Lyoness
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My stepmonster criticised anything I made for her to the point where it actually made me question if anyone liked anything I did. But then she'd ask me to make something else. I'm embarrassed to admit it took 4 times before I decided to skip that happy crappy and just buy her stuff.

    Julie Schraeder
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    SIL is AH. It sounds like the gifter made some major mistakes. I crochet baby blankets and other things for gifts. It's inevitable that there will be a mistake or 2, but I can't give a gift with blatant mistakes. Sometimes I have 10 or 20 rows done before I notice a big mistake but I will rip it out and fix it. If someone criticized it after it was done and wanted me to fix it I would also just take it back. For some reason people take great joy in looking for errors and pointing them out to me even though I never leave any but very small errors.

    Joey Jo Jo Shabadoo
    Community Member
    10 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I dont read the filler BP puts in with these posts usually, but the line about horse teeth caught my eye, so I actually did this time. And theres no way a normal human being wrote this filler. That is AI generated nonsense to fill a word count.

    Schmebulock
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Tell her she can wipe her a*s with it for all you care, but that s**t is complete.

    Annabelle
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is not a perfectionist quirk. I've fought perfectionist sh!t within myself as long as I can remember, and it would never enter my f*cked up brain to treat someone this way, ESPECIALLY about a custom, special, handmade gift from my family. F*ck that c*nt! I wanna ram your crochet needles where she ain't so f*cking perfect. She's a nasty b!tch SEARCHING for flaws in everyone, everywhere, and she deserves to live with all the pain she must feel to double down her cruelty. *breeeeathe* Thank you for vent space. I've fought perfectionist tendencies in my own creative work, mostly because of my mother's piercing cruelty in my head my whole life. If this b*tch doesn't change her ways, may her children grow up and go no contact with her, too.

    RM
    Community Member
    11 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The YTA's on this one really annoy me as someone who both crochets and knits. Often if you're working on a large crochet or knitting project you don't notice that you've made an error until much later when you can see the whole thing. Especially if it's just a colour change in the wrong place, something that doesn't affect shape or stitch counts. To fix an error at the start you're basically having to unravel everything and start again. Something tiny that you don't notice until you search for it is not a problem. The recipient is being ungrateful of the time, effort and skill that's gone into the gift.

    Bette
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was actually shocked to see YTA comments 😳 How could anyone think criticism, however it is worded is the proper response to a gift?! If a gift recipient is more concerned with finding fault than being grateful, I do not believe the mistakes made were, as one YTA phrased it: ".....so glaringly obvious that someone who does not crochet can find them......" I feel the gift recipient is just rude. Rather than engage in discussion, my response would be: In this country we say "Thank you."

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    Tyke
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I really hope the recipient doesn't have kids as they're going to grow to have serious anxiety issues. OP is absolutely NTA and I'd never gift this woman anything handmade again

    Broccoli
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If that SIL has kids, she is probably going to end up forcing them to be “perfect”

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    The Other Guest
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't make mistakes in my knitting or sewing. I create artistic choices and unique stylizations that make a piece truly my own. The fact that I don't do them *on purpose* changes nothing about my stance, LOL. Seriously, though, what kind of a person receives a gift and immediately starts searching it for flaws? I hope OP never ever ever crochets so much as a coaster for that ungrateful snob again.

    Abraxas59
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Which is exactly what handmade stuff is about unique one of a kind right x

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    WindySwede
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Always nice yta persones.. 😵‍💫

    Nina
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, some are so delulu. "Giving someone a janky, mistake riddled.." Tell me you've never made anything and/or are a spoiled person without telling me literally.

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    HTakeover
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'll bet $100 she was planning to sell it or give it to someone else & claim she made it.

    BrownEyedPanda
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You know, that's a possibility I never considered. But since OP took the blanket back, that operation is scrubbed.

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    Trillian
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "...she wouldn't be able to use it because she wouldn't be able to focus on anything but the mistakes." That woman needs therapy. And some instruction in manners.

    Boo
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'd tell the woman to take it or leave it! Crocheting is hard work, she's being ungrateful and rude! Most handmade items will have flaws, that's what makes them unique. My grandma used to crochet and she made all her grandkids blankets one year for Xmas (god knows how long that took - there were 8 of us). I've had it for more than 45 years and it even emigrated with me lol. I don't use it as often as I did as it's starting to wear in places and I want to pass it on down to one of my daughters, so I try to preserve it for as long as possible.

    BrownEyedPanda
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wouldn't have given her the choice. I would have done exactly what OP did, and never given her ANY gift ever again. What an ungrateful sow!

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    Alexandra
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What is wrong with people? If you receive a gift, you smile and say 'thank you very much'. That's it. It doesn't matter what you really think about it: you never throw someone's gift back in their faces. Either this person wasn't taught basic manners or she's just a naturally rude person.

    Arlnee
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Navajo purposely wove slight errors in their textiles because perfection ticks off the gods. And when I worked in a printing house we used to credit any slight errors as an offering to the printing gods. Asking for a perfect blanket just seems like asking for trouble...

    Meagan Glaser
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    and don't forget Arachne and what happened when she showed off too m uch

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    WorkAholic1
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The recipient is definitely the problem here. I crochet (and for those people who say the OP is the A**hole because "why didn't you fix it when you were crocheting?") -- those people obviously do not crochet. You don't always notice the mistake until much later when it is too late to go back and undo all that work you've done. Also, no matter what pattern you use, from the easiest single crochet to a very difficult pattern using a variety of stitches, who wants to see a mistake back on row 15 when you're on row 239? It's not easy (nor always possible) to go back and fix a problem. I'd definitely take the blanket back and keep it. Enjoy snuggling up in your hard work!

    Abraxas59
    Community Member
    11 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love zoras post lmao yup we are in the greatness of assholery she is top of that class that sil ! handmade stuff isn’t ment to be machine perfection that’s the dam point of it n to that YTA one get over yourself ! if someone made me something like that I wouldn’t even dream of nit picking it over like that entitled mare did pfft id love to be able to crochet im 60 n left handed and i just never got the hang of it I can kinda knit mainly squares lmao and often with holes in n I can’t read patterns to save my life mind u I was good on a knitting machine decades ago made a good few cardis n jumpers on that but never crochet they are beautiful items n op your NTA at all she can go do one as we say in uk n like others say send her a pack of how to crocheting stuff n tell her when she can make one as well as you then come back nd moan until then keep it shut n no she’s not having it back as she threw it back in your face so rudely she is not worthy of it ! blessed be op

    Michelle Randazzo
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Next time she wants something, say nope. I make imperfect items. I don't want to insult you with trash

    Zaach
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I remember some interesting takes on mistakes in hand made objects: An American looked at a porcelain tea cup and said "oh, look at that error" while someone who appreciates porcelain breaks down in tears for the beauty (some Japanese artists purposely make errors b/c only god is perfect

    Pyla
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Downvoting for the incredibly idiotic YTAs

    Jostanquecla
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Several times I've commissioned drawings from a client of mine who does amazing things with coloured pencils. I always pay him much more than he asks for, but even so, I feel like an asshóle when I ask for him to adjust the drawing slightly. I can't imagine making demands on someone who is gifting me their creativity for free. That said, if there are errors, it's possible that the recipient will just shove it in the back of a cupboard until the end of time which would also be sad.

    Bacon Tentacles
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    To the YTA people (because of course there are YTA people) - F**k you. F**k off. You are miserable pieces of s**t and you should feel bad. But you won't. Because you are miserable pieces of s**t.

    Kim Kermes
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Amish quilters deliberately make a small mistake as they believe attempting perfection is presumptuous and close to blasphemous as only God can achieve perfection. For her next gift, make a list of therapists who specialize in OCD, though she doesn't have it, but there are no therapists that treat azzholery.

    DramaDoc
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I also knit and crochet (but mostly knit). I knit my mom a blanket about a decade ago and accidentally did a knit stitch when I should have purled. It drives *me* crazy every time I see it, but my mom hasn't stopped using it and won't let me do anything about it... 6fb9fe0a98...225a4d.jpg 6fb9fe0a984a1f800d3e9127d22d71fb-67899af225a4d.jpg

    Ben Aziza
    Community Member
    11 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Does she return her PC/Phone every time it crashes? You know making a processor has some overlapping concepts with crocheting. No two processors are the same. "Weaving" all the wires connecting the logic gates which makes up layers of interconnects is NOT a perfect process! There are a lot of errors that can happen in each step and even a classification and grades based on that... Would this ungrateful b***h return her computer/phone if she learns o this fact? If she knew that she got a 95% efficient processor because a random particle got in the way in the chemical deposition process of nano chipset number 5163165 and some other errors like that? Where does she stop? This is conjecture but I think this has nothing to do with the gift. Probably wanted to humiliate her SIL for other reasons.

    Jamie Mayfield
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Someone didn't watch Bob Ross growing up or they would know those are very happy accidents that you work with as an artist. Handmade anything has imperfections, it is one of the ways you can look at something an it is automatic that we know that it was done by a human. SIL should just buy a cheap factory made item.

    Stacy Bender
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've done tatting. If someone b***hed about mistakes, I'd tell them to get bent. Handmade takes hours of work. Mistakes are character. If you want perfect, buy in a regular store with c**p made by a machine.

    LonelyLittleLeafSheep
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "I'll fix the blanket for you when you learn basic manners."

    gilliansl aka Gillian Silverlight
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I used to be able to crochet a double sized Afghan/blanket in a weekend. You jump up your granny square at the beginning and can then just go round and round. The YTAs on here, ARE the AHs! As for minor errors, they are the Hallmark of a handmade item which makes the item unique. I make something for someone and they don't like it the way it is... Okay. I'll take it back and give to someone who DOES appreciate it.

    Randy Sanders
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If someone takes all that time to make a blanket for you, you should feel honored.

    Big Chungus
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My sister made my son (her nephew) an amazing blanket in the old nostalgic millennial school colors (the blue green yellow and red colors) and I have no idea any mistakes she made (if she did) but it is literally my sons absolutely favorite blanket. It was such a nice gift and I love it.

    Kathy Brooke
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In some cultures it is customary to make at least one error in any hand made item because "nobody can make perfection but God and it is blasphemy to try ". Should have given her that response?

    Kathy Brooke
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As someone who knits, crochets and does various other crafts my response would be to go to a store and spend £7 on a cheap artificial fibre fleece (preferably with a hideous design), gift wrap it and tell her you got her a perfect one. Then either keep the heirloom one or give it to someone who will appreciate it.

    AlexJ
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If I were OP, I'd hang that blanket on my wall so people can comment on how beautiful it is. Hopefully while SIL is also there visiting.

    Margaret Nupponen
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I heard that the Native Americans put mistakes in their handcrafts on purpose, because only God is perfect.

    Sa Ruuu
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She's not selling it, she's giving it to a family member. SIL overreacted and now she's caused a strain in their relationship over something petty and silly

    Thomas51
    Community Member
    5 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some civilisations make it a point of including "errors" in hand made materials - Navajo blankets for example are not "perfect" because perfection would trap the weaver's soul or essence in the end product.

    Anne Roberts
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Here's a big raised middle finger to everyone who said YTA. For starters it was a gift mad by someone who loved the giftee. Next, who on Earth would criticize a gift someone had worked on for many, many hours? The sister in law can but her own perfect blanket. She is incredibly rude and I would never give her another gift

    sweet emotion
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ANYONE who dares to criticize a hand crafted item - especially a large time-consuming gift like an afghan - should be told that if they want perfection they can pay a third-world machine to make it. And yes, the crafter should take the item back (and if it doesn't fit their style, they can sell it on etsy).

    Lyoness
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My stepmonster criticised anything I made for her to the point where it actually made me question if anyone liked anything I did. But then she'd ask me to make something else. I'm embarrassed to admit it took 4 times before I decided to skip that happy crappy and just buy her stuff.

    Julie Schraeder
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    SIL is AH. It sounds like the gifter made some major mistakes. I crochet baby blankets and other things for gifts. It's inevitable that there will be a mistake or 2, but I can't give a gift with blatant mistakes. Sometimes I have 10 or 20 rows done before I notice a big mistake but I will rip it out and fix it. If someone criticized it after it was done and wanted me to fix it I would also just take it back. For some reason people take great joy in looking for errors and pointing them out to me even though I never leave any but very small errors.

    Joey Jo Jo Shabadoo
    Community Member
    10 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I dont read the filler BP puts in with these posts usually, but the line about horse teeth caught my eye, so I actually did this time. And theres no way a normal human being wrote this filler. That is AI generated nonsense to fill a word count.

    Schmebulock
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Tell her she can wipe her a*s with it for all you care, but that s**t is complete.

    Annabelle
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is not a perfectionist quirk. I've fought perfectionist sh!t within myself as long as I can remember, and it would never enter my f*cked up brain to treat someone this way, ESPECIALLY about a custom, special, handmade gift from my family. F*ck that c*nt! I wanna ram your crochet needles where she ain't so f*cking perfect. She's a nasty b!tch SEARCHING for flaws in everyone, everywhere, and she deserves to live with all the pain she must feel to double down her cruelty. *breeeeathe* Thank you for vent space. I've fought perfectionist tendencies in my own creative work, mostly because of my mother's piercing cruelty in my head my whole life. If this b*tch doesn't change her ways, may her children grow up and go no contact with her, too.

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