Would you give an "imperfect" gift?

Never to imply that all my gifts are perfect, I'm curious about the idea of giving the kind of gift you've made and it's not turned out 100% the way you might have liked. Because you're still learning. I refer to, of course, a knitted scarf. I made two of them...short ones for lack of time, and abundance of impatience to move on to another kind of yarn after all...and gave them as gifts to my friends Leslie and Margot yesterday when we had our Christmas lunch.

My friend Jan admitted she would never give something she'd made if it weren't perfect. Typically, say in my jewelry designing, I'd tend to agree with her. I would only want to give something I think is way cool. I gave them the scarves 'cause they're way cool for other reasons. For reasons relating to the fact that they are my learning curve pieces. My first ones. I worked harder on them than future ones 'cause I still am trying to "get it." That's special, right? That's what I thought, anyway.

Lucky for me either my friends are fantabulous actors, or they really loved them. Loooooved them. Probably for the same reasons as I explained to you. And I think they did. It wasn't, in my mind, an act at all. Never mind the yarn was simple and not as soft as some. I can't work successfully with those yarns yet. Maybe soon...I'm trying even now...but I wasn't ready yet. And as I mentioned, they're short. But I'll always love those two little simple scarves.

I'd be curious to know what others think on the subject. Could you do it? My readers are also creative people. I know I'll get a variety of answers. Looking forward to it.

Comments

[Cheryl M]

I did that with my first two attempts at crocheting blankets. Needless to say, the stitches weren't quite what they were supposed to be and those blankets wouldn't provide much in the way of warmth. Thank God, my niece's cat claimed the one I gave to her. I made her another one when I actually figured out what I was doing. Hopefully it is still keeping her warm.

[Melody]

YAY! I'm glad it's not a club of one. And it's totally fine the cat claimed it...I don't mind if their pets do the same, in time. As long as they're enjoyed and not relegated to some box or bag on my shelf. Not useful at all. And I've seen one of your crocheted blankets. It must have been once you'd learned what you were doing...I thought it was spiffing!

[Dena]

One of my favorite gifts ever was given to me by my sister when she was 7 and I was 13. It's a stiched pillow that reads "Sisters Are For Caring & Sharing." The stiching is only half complete and I found out later my aunt did part of it for my sister. But the fact that she wanted to give me this pillow that she stiched herself means the world to me, and I still have it, sitting out in our front guest bedroom.

I'll take a homemade, imperfect gift any day of the week.

[Melody]

Oh excellent. Thank you. I feel even better now, and have read your response to Jan and used it to encourage her to give one of her beautiful scarves as a gift, too. No. Really, it's not a selfish encouragement. Really. I think... :) Hmmm.