I hate that attitude of "money will make it all better."  Yeah, you can BUY something like that hat you slaved over in a store sometimes... but honestly, is it love that gives you the purchasing power to buy it?  (I see this attitude all the time at my workplace, too - one of my supervisory responsibilities asked me if I'd knit her something, and I used the "Well, sure, if you'll buy me the yarn" line.  It got her really quiet really quickly.

Anyway, bully for you, qutecowgirl - on both counts of matching presents to genuine interests rather than trends and on the effort that you're making with your kids. I think more kids need that straightening-out these days, and I hope I'll instill it in ours when they come along.

I got that book from the library. It's pretty good.
Exactly. If the giver knitted an item out of love, and the reciever almost resents it, what's the point? That sweater you knitted for that person would be appropriate for that knitter your close with in you knitting group.

Hee hee!? ?? That's great honestabby.

Someone I met at school this year said to me a month or two ago, "If we're still friends next year, will you knit me a scarf for my birthday?"? I was a little taken aback, and kind of laughed and said "What, you think we won't be friends anymore next year?"? I don't usually STOP being friends with people once they're my friends, but interestingly, this woman and I have since gotten in a huge fight and are no longer friends.? Guess I won't be making that scarf...? ?

If someone asks me to knit them something that I want to knit, I usually say that I will when I finnish the millions of other commisions I have. If I don't want to knit it/ don't like the person in question/ it's to big I just say no, I'm to busy.
I don't usually have the problem of unappreciated gifts anymore, because now I'm carefull to only give them to people who appreiciate them. Like my parents do, because they see how much work goes into a project. And my friends who I have free lesons with in school know too, because I knit then, and they see how much work goes into a project.
My latest commisions include the prepster jacket from SnB:HH (I'll start it when she gets the wool. If she doesn't do that - fine by me, I have plenty of other things to do), a cardigan sort of thing for my friend (It's a beautifull thing, and she knits but it's got all sorts of complecated bits on it, and she's struggling to do any kind of rib at the momment and it looks so fun to knit...) Oh and a crocheted baby jacket for a teacher at my school. She's offered to pay me and everything, so I might do it. She doesn't even teach me though, so unfortunately I can't get bonus marks

I have that problem with a lady I work with.  She is always babbling about how I should make things for certain people.  Last week she picked up one of my knitting magazines and asked me if I could make her the sweater she seen in the magazine.  This woman is about 5'2, 300 lbs, missing teeth and quite stinky.  (Not that I have problems with those who are a larger size-I can't stand her poor personal hygiene.)

I know if I were to make her something she would destroy it in no time.  So I told her she could buy the yarn.  The pattern called for quite expensive yarn-about $330 for the whole sweater in her size.  Then I told her I charge a fee by the hour. (I don't actually do that.)  I told her it could take 6 months to a year to finish it.  (I have my daughter and a demanding job.)

She quit bothering me about it after a while.   

When people I don't wish to knit for say,"I wish you could make me...."   I usually smile and say, "Well, what are you going to make me?"  The subject usually is dropped pretty fast.

I get teased a lot at school for knitting during class. A couple of weeks ago, I was a bit grumpy (it was an 8:30 class, after all!), and snapped, "S., when this class is over, not only will I have learned something, but I'll have a sock. What will you have?" And that was that.

Jen