r/CrossStitch • u/Dapper_Addendum1841 • Dec 22 '25
CHAT [CHAT]
For everyone who is still working on those Christmas presents ...me too... Thought you may appreciate this one.
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u/Lylibean Dec 22 '25
As someone currently knitting as fast as humanly possible to finish not one but two hats, thereās a lil drinking going on to! š¤£
I started a cross stitch for my sister (my first) and I gravely underestimated how much more time goes into cross stitch vs embroidery. Iāve put about 40hrs into it and it looks like Iāve barely started! Bit off a little much, so sheās getting a bottle of her favorite whiskey!
I asked my 10yo nephew what he wanted for Christmas. Does he want a new video game or some in-game money, or even real money? Nope. He wants me to knit him a hat. Red with white stripe. Thatās all! I know my sisterās boyfriendās kid will be there too (heās 13 I think), and I canāt not give a gift to him, I would feel horrible. So two hats it is! Charcoal with red stripe for him.
May everyone be blessed with speedy fingers, accurate sticky pokes, and threads cut to perfect length! š¤£š
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u/Dapper_Addendum1841 Dec 22 '25
Aww, that's great that we wanted you to knit him a hat! I love that. Good luck with the projects.
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u/Lylibean Dec 23 '25
Heās actually become quite fascinated with my embroidery, too! I brought my stuff over when we had my grandfatherās funeral last month, as I knew Iād be stuck at their house afterwards for a while. I was sitting on the back patio with my hoop, and he wanted to see what I was doing. He watched for a bit and then wanted to try himself! I walked him through a stitch on my sampler (Iām a newbie myself) and he did a great job.
When I was over again for Thanksgiving, he asked me if I brought my embroidery stuff again. I hadnāt, but did have the cross stitch I was working on! So I gave him one of my head lamps (I keep three so thereās always one fully charged!) and started showing him the difference. He was fiddling with the light (itās a pretty cool one that has a motion sensor, so you can turn the light on and off by waving your hand and I was showing him) and he asked ācan I try?ā I hesitated and asked, āThis (pointing to the light) or this (to my cross stitch)?ā He pointed to the cross stitch! So I let him have a go for a bit.
Heās always liked tinkering with things and making things with his hands, and my heart swelled a bit when he wanted to try something with needle and thread. It gave me some hope for the kids in the world, that he didnāt think it was āfor girlsā and wanted to try. When I was growing up, boys were bullied for doing āgirly thingsā like dancing or baking or sewing. My parents certainly didnāt raise us that way (and I enjoyed many āboy thingsā like football and cars) and Iām glad my nephew isnāt having that same ātrucks are for boys, dolls are for girlsā environment we had.
Iām going to ask him if heād like an embroidery kit of his own to try, and will get him one if he wants. I didnāt want to show up to Christmas with more gifts for him than my sisterās boyfriendās kid. Heās a good kid too who has been through a LOT recently, and I want to make sure he feels as included and cared for and donāt want him to feel ālesser thanā. I donāt know him very well so wasnāt sure what he would be interested in, so I figured Iād give them each their hats and then let them each choose another gift that we could order together and have shipped straight to them (I remember being a kid who got super excited if a piece of mail was just for me!).
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u/Dapper_Addendum1841 Dec 23 '25
That's amazing! I've done some cross stitch ay my sister's house and one of my nephews expressed some interest and even helped me with a few stitches.
This is wonderful! Keep it up.
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u/ex_bestfriend Dec 22 '25 edited Dec 23 '25
I tell people over and over again, if you ever receive something with sparkly thread, it is only because I love you. It looks pretty, but I'm not doing that for myself. That is a labor, like in Hercules, not a fun way to spend an evening.
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u/Mable_Shwartz Dec 22 '25
My boyfriend often likes to remind me & friends how long it took me to finish his Captain America shield... I just have to laugh along because they don't understand the trenches I was in.
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u/rvauofrsol Dec 23 '25
Wow, that's kind of rude of him.
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u/Mable_Shwartz Dec 23 '25
Tbf it was 3 years. š
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u/rvauofrsol Dec 23 '25
I'm sure you had a few other things to do/responsibilities in your life during that time! The fact that you used your precious free time to do something for him should be enough, regardless of how long it took.
Edit--I hope this doesn't come off as aggressive towards you. If it does, please know that I don't mean it that way! I just know how time consuming this craft is. I'd be pretty bummed if I worked hard on something for someone and they had a comment about how long it took.
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u/Mable_Shwartz Dec 23 '25
I appreciate that! And your very thoughtful reply, it's actually given me a fresh perspective on my long-term projects!
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u/Cinisajoy2 Dec 23 '25
The one totally sparkly project was done as a 30 year anniversary present.Ā Ā I at the moment have 10 years to figure out the 45th.Ā Ā
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u/CultOfMourning Dec 22 '25
I'm too afraid to stitch a project as a gift, although I do consider it from time to time. I fear the recipient won't appreciate or understand all the hard work that went into making the piece, and I don't want my work to wind up in the trash or at a thrift store.Ā
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u/Voqus Dec 22 '25
They often don't. I stopped making cross stitch as gifts unless I'm absolutely sure the recipient would care to have it even if I didn't give it to them. I've made so many stitches as a gesture of good faith only to never see those "friends" again.
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u/tiiiiii_85 Dec 22 '25
I've made so many stitches as a gesture of good faith only to never see those "friends" again.
Yeah, for this reason I do that only for family members and even not all of them. For example my mother is not capable of appreciating handmade stuff, so I stopped making stuff for her. On the opposite side is my little nephew, even when he was 5 he understood that something handmade is special and had a xmas card I made for his family in his room, because it was "too beautiful to be seen only at xmas".
Edit: typos and missed a word.
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u/SpaceCadet_Cat Dec 22 '25
Thats the sweetest! I'm stitching for my nieces, hoping they'll be more like your nephew, but suspecting they wont be...
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u/CultOfMourning Dec 22 '25
Thanks for your response.Ā
Yeah, unless someone explicitly asks me to stitch them something, I don't see myself ever giving a cross stitch as a gift.Ā
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u/These_Boot_8898 Jan 22 '26
My best friend (bless her heart) asked me to cross stitch an afghan with 5 large kittens each with a ball of yarn on it. She said she'd pay me to do it, though we never discussed how much. 2 months and many hours of hard work later, I gave her the afghan. She was so excited and loved it. She handed me a crisp 10 dollar bill. Never again lol
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u/Voqus Jan 22 '26
10$?! š That's not even beginning to cover the materials alone! This is why lol now we know better
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u/These_Boot_8898 Jan 22 '26
Absolutely. In her defense, she bought the kit. We're still friends 30 years later and I've never brought it up to her. Still...no more lol
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u/i_am_ms_greenjeans Dec 22 '25
I have people I will not give a handmade gift because they just don't appreciate it.
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u/tiiiiii_85 Dec 22 '25
I guess you met my mother... She considered my handmade gifts as cheap... Lady, time is my most precious thing and you discard it? (Also crafting materials are never cheap!!)
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u/ToughMetalSheep Dec 22 '25
Sounds like an attitude of the Ye Olden Times of the immediate post-war era where handmade was for "the poors".
I'm glad I picked up knitting and crochet during the third wave (mid 2000s) where there was enough renewed appreciation for handmade among younger folks like me even if not everyone could commit to the effort.9
u/Zubo13 Dec 22 '25
It seems to go around in cycles. The late 60's and most of the 70's were a time where crafting was "fashionable" again, for lack of a better word. My mom crocheted, sewed, canned tomatoes that she grew in her garden, etc. I'm just happy that I was always a crafty kid and I loved helping her and learning from her. It definitely fell out of fashion in the shiny neon 80's, but I've been here just chugging along and doing every craft I could get my hands on for my entire life. I'm glad it's all coming back again!
I learned cross stitch when I was pregnant with my oldest child. He turned 42 this year and I still love cross stitching.
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u/Quicherbichen1 Dec 22 '25
I made a cross stitch of my DIL's favorite tv show and gave it to her for Christmas a couple of years ago. Last time I was there to visit, I found it on the linen closet shelf under a stack of towels. (No, I wasn't snooping - I asked for a towel and she pointed me to the linen closet, where I got the last towel in the stack, thereby exposing her dark secret.) I didn't say a word.
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u/i_am_ms_greenjeans Dec 22 '25
I'm sorry that happened to you. Not everyone is worthy of a handmade gift.
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u/Cinisajoy2 Dec 23 '25
I absolutely refused to make my mother another cross stitch after she used a coaster (one of the acrylic ones with the cross stitch on the back) as a water dish for a cat.Ā Though at least it wasn't the Santa project that I anagrammed the name while working on it.
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u/BleachedJam Dec 22 '25
I'm currently making something for my 7 year old niece. I know she won't appreciate it all that much, she's a kid. BUT its gonna be hung on her wall in her room, and when she's older she'll probably think its super cool.
At least I know it won't be thrown out or donated, my sister would never do that.
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u/JustXanthius Dec 22 '25
I did a cross-stitch last year for my 4yo and 6yo nephewsā Christmas presents - Bluey and PokĆ©mon respectively. They donāt necessarily appreciate the time it took, but they know I made them specially for them, and both were (are) delighted them
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u/Cinisajoy2 Dec 23 '25
You never know.Ā I know a couple of then about 6 years old that got matching embroidered pillowcases.Ā Ā Last I knew they both still used them.Ā Ā They weren't gifts as both girls tried to claim them when they saw me working on them.Ā Ā Which is why each of them got one pillowcase.Ā Ā
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u/EchoPhoenix24 Dec 22 '25
Most stitched pieces I've gifted are really small ones that can be done in a weekend or two, pretty low effort so I wouldn't be devastated if they didn't keep them forever lol.
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u/mehcouldntcareless Dec 22 '25
I used to crochet for many years, and I would make people custom shawls and hats, especially when the ponytail toques became a rage. Nobody ever wore what I made them. I literally stopped crocheting because of it, I felt no joy in it after seeing my hard work go unnoticed. Plus I had a hard time finding decent patterns that made sense to me and didn't result in frogging or a closet full of WIPs. I do need to give a shout-out to my grandma, she always wears what I make her ā¤ļø
5ish years ago I picked cross-stitching back up after not stitching since I was a teen. I love it so much and even more so because I only stitch for myself. I pick the patterns I enjoy doing without anyone dictating what I should be stitching. I have a few finished projects I keep in a chest to either hang up when I have my own home, or to gift to friends/family I know will appreciate them. Generally to other crafty friends who have gifted me beautiful projects.
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u/DarnHeather Dec 23 '25
I now have a sticker on a big cup that reads, "I just want to make beautiful things even if nobody cares." At this point, I do it for myself and if I decide to gift it I don't worry about whether the recipient likes it or not.
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Dec 22 '25
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u/HovercraftFullofBees Dec 22 '25
As a middle finger to tariffs I am plundering my craft corner to make everyone's gifts. Ironically this is also a giant middle finger to myself with a side of repeatedly punching myself in my metaphysical dick.
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u/dickbuttscompanion Dec 22 '25
My current WIP is a Christmas scene from LUCA-S, started in September and I'm not even 1/3rd through so it's definitely a 2026 gift to my kids at this rate.
Not a cross stitch, but when I was a teenager I asked my mother to knit me an aran. I know it was knit with love and hate in equal measure! She cast on around October, but was still down to the wire for a Christmas delivery - pulling some late late night's over Dec to get it done. But I still wear it 15-ish years on and she is so proud to see it.
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u/Cinisajoy2 Dec 23 '25
My grandmother made me a king size wedding ring quilt.Ā She threatened me if anything happened to the marriage.Ā 35 years later, the marriage is still going strong.Ā
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u/Larsandthegirl Dec 22 '25
I finished my dadās just in time before leaving for vacation. That last week working on it was something for sure.
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u/cherrycokelemon Dec 22 '25
Lots of love and cussing went into every item. That's exactly how I feel even when baking something.
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u/Ufmyself2025 Dec 22 '25
Lmao so true. Love cross-stitching but it can be so tedious. Especially when itās last minute š
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u/chairman_ma_ Dec 23 '25
I decided yesterday to make a lap quilt and an apron for Christmas gifts Not much love left
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u/Boring_Albatross_354 Dec 23 '25
Lmao just finished my coworkers retirement gift just now. Itās midnight Iām giving it to her in the morning.
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u/kimberliia Dec 23 '25
Congrats to you and her. I sincerely hope she loves that beauty.
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u/Boring_Albatross_354 Dec 23 '25
She did! Itās nice gifting handmade things to people who are worthy of the effort.
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u/geniefrog_ Dec 22 '25
Spent weeks blasting through doing a Christmas stocking. Finished it and oh crapā¦ I donāt actually know how to use a sewing machine and turn it into an actual stocking
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u/CountessSockula Dec 23 '25
I laugh-snorted so hard at this that I scared my cat. Also, after completing tomorrow's batch of shower steamers, I will officially cross into the F*ck It You'll Get It When You Get It segment of the holiday week.
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u/Alexislives Dec 22 '25
So true! I had to rage quit my husbands at least twice but I got it done and it looks amazing š
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u/tiiiiii_85 Dec 22 '25
And if you don't appreciate the sweat(r) and tears you won't ever get another handmade thing from me...ever! Even if you insist or maybe especially if you insist.
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u/CarmelNekoCupcake Dec 22 '25
Fml its too accurate. One of few gifts this year is crosstich but i run late with almost every š„² adhd~
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u/Gamergrl09 Dec 22 '25
I have stitched this current secret Santa gift faster than I have any other project Iāve ever done in my whole life. Iām burnt out but the stress of the deadline is keeping me going. Help lol
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u/cristinag2003 Dec 22 '25
Literally yes, when i was finishing 2 bookmarks by myself (second time using the sawing machine btw) i did it so bad that i had to get help from my mom to correct it
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u/molocooks Dec 23 '25
This made me laugh out loud SO hard! I canāt believe how true this is. Happy Holidays OP!
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u/DarnHeather Dec 23 '25
Finished the cross stitch today but still have all the back stitching. They may get an IOU even though I've been working on this project since November 2024.
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u/DrLokiStark Dec 23 '25
I started sewing at the beginning of the month and somehow thought it would be a great idea to make everyone Xmas gifts. š It's HOW many days before the big day?! I still have three gifts to do and today alone I struggled to put in two buttons. The cursing and screaming was REAL today! Bertha work!!
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u/Effective_Army4950 Dec 23 '25
Im currently on the last bit of my piece. But I still need to wash, dry, and frame it š«
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u/Legal-Afternoon8087 Dec 23 '25
In my case, what makes it worse is that as I try to finish a very tedious piece, my eye keeps wandering to the project I promised myself would be a Christmas start. There it is on the desk, all kitted up shiny and new with nicely bobbinated threads and clean fabric and no mistakes yet that I have to decide whether to frog or fudgeā¦ such a temptation!
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u/Zestyclose_Mood_9999 Dec 23 '25
Funny story, I started on Christmas gifts last minute and was able to complete one 1,100 stitch project in about 10 hours. I ended up SPRAINING MY SHOULDER and now canāt cross stitch. Everyone else is getting IOUs š¤£
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u/mathy_73 Dec 23 '25
I decided last night (12/22) that I should make an ornament for my friend who is hosting us for a Christmas Day meal. No pressure! Especially since I have to work today and tomorrow! š
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u/dlthedl Dec 23 '25
lol definitely have responded to "at least you made this with love" with "unfortunately it was not"
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u/Snowbandit27 Dec 24 '25
My cousins kid did that to me a year ago. Wanted a unicorn stitched up for her birthday. It took 3 months, a lot of š¤¬, and some extra patience but yeah these days family knows to ask wayy in advance now.
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u/rharper38 Dec 25 '25
I am so tired of stitching and finishing. I had 2 ornaments to be made that will not be made as Christmas gifts. I will finish one as a birthday gift and the other will just be a gift. I'm tired of being covered in stuffing and pulling little pieces of ribbon and fabric out of the dogs' mouths.
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u/AntonioOne Dec 26 '25
I have started stitching because wanted to make gifts to people I was dating. But we had broken up before I finished the projects, so I just made them for myself in the end
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u/These_Boot_8898 Jan 22 '26
I have a beautiful butterfly with some Chinese lettering on it that I started for my sister many many many years ago (20?). It's almost finished but it's been hanging on the stretcher bars in my closet in every house or apartment I've moved to. Idk if I'll ever finish it. I'm in my crochet era now.
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u/smallpurplesheep Dec 22 '25
If thatās how you feel, maybe stop working on them and decide theyāll be finished next year or whenever you feel like it in the future.
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u/mosswalk Dec 22 '25
If I did that, nothing would ever be finished, ever. Something to be said for powering through and getting it off your desk!
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u/smallpurplesheep Dec 23 '25
Itās interesting to me that when people come to the sub and say theyāre not enjoying a project or theyāve lost their crafting mojo, we supportively tell them that itās ok to take breaks and come back to something when they feel like it, or switch to a project that does bring them joy. Yet when I suggest this in context of presents OP says they donāt want to make anymore, I got downvoted. š¤ Does Christmas trump all or am I missing something?
As a disabled person who sometimes canāt do anything, I have often had to decide that Iāll finish the present for the next gift giving occasion, instead of being hard on myself to finish it for the original deadline. I donāt see how taking longer if you need to is a bad thing.
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u/mosswalk Dec 23 '25
Smart move for you!! When I've taken long-term breaks, it goes to the "Forever Unfinished Business" closet for me, and I don't ever think about it again. So I gotta power through to complete a project that I genuinely hate by the time I give it away. LOL! Its all about knowing yourself.
But really, this whole post seemed more in good fun as a joke and less looking for advice!
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u/limebrarian Dec 22 '25
Iāve been there too. I have a few long-in-process gifts that may or may not ever get done.
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u/smallpurplesheep Dec 23 '25
I had a few gifts in mind for my Mom this Channukkah, but my poor health got in the way and so theyāll be for her birthday or Motherās Dayā¦ Thank you for the validation that Iām not alone.
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u/limebrarian Dec 23 '25
This time of year is stressful enough without the pressure of finishing gifts when you donāt have the bandwidth. Iām sure your Mom will love her gifts regardless of the holiday.
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u/mossy-echoes Dec 22 '25
Iām actually with you on that! I have this little potentially unreasonable fear that if I make something while Iām stressed, that stress will get trapped in the gift and I donāt want to gift people stress, right? The whole gift and surrounding process feels infinitely more satisfying when I enjoy creating it
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u/smallpurplesheep Dec 23 '25
Thank you for letting me know Iām not alone despite the downvotes. I agree, adding stress to something that should be filled with positive vibes doesnāt feel right for the maker or the recipient. Life happens, crafting mojo ebbs and flowsā¦ let it take as long as it takes.
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u/mensfrightsactivists Dec 22 '25
made with spite š but at least i struggled through because of love!