Yeah, I dunno...

[meretia]

One of my friends has a birthday soon and she loves owls, so I thought that I'd make her the little arumaguri-style felted owl from Crafty Alien in case the present I ordered off Amazon didn't come in time. She's also allergic to wool, so I used pure alpaca. Then I had a bunch of yarn left over, so I made another one. They came out looking like this:



Yeah.

One of my housemates apparently finds it hilarious how goofy they came out, because he keeps making comments about how they look like dead mice or the shredded remains of the dog's stuffed toys. The other is one of those people who can't say anything negative to anyone, but when I asked her point blank "are these cute, or are they weird?" her answer was "well... um... they're cute because they're weird! And she likes owls, so they're cute!"

I... don't hate them, but they came out pretty goofy. There's a reason I hate sewing. That reason is that I suck at it. Her book did finally come today, so I don't have to send the owls.

I need an outside opinion. Would you give these as gifts?

Comments

[scheherezhad]

I think they're cute because they're a little wonky, by which I mean that I would totally love them if someone gifted them to me. I know that most of my friends would feel the same, so yes, I would give them as gifts.

[fish_echo]

FWIW, I would like getting them as gifts-- they look soft (and I love alpaca) and I like small stuffed animal toys (which never ever look much like their actual namesake, it's a rule of the universe or something).

I think the larger one looks great and would give it as a gift without question. The smaller one does look a little silly (I think it's because so much of it is lopsided--which might be the photo and not reality-- and also because there isn't as much of a depression demarking the boundary between the left and right eyes). If the person I was gifting was known for being a stickler about things being just so I would probably not gift the smaller one. Otherwise, yes, I'd gift it.

[chasy]

(found this entry via /latest)

freaking a, i think they're adorable!! i would totally gift them! :D i love them.

[ysobel]

This.

[horusporus]

I won't lie, they are as you say - goofy. But on the question on whether you should give them depends not just on the objective aesthetic of the owls (they do look plushy though!) but very much on your friend's personality? Is she the sort of person who prizes the thought above the actual gift? I'm not saying she'd say straight to your face that she hated it, but based on your knowledge of her, what would she really think of the owls? Who knows, she may just enjoy them BECAUSE you made it for her especially! :)

It's not a very comforting answer I'm afraid, but that's the best I can do as a stranger.

[twistedchick]

Alpaca isn't from sheep, but it does cause allergy problems with some people; I'd personally hesitate to give it to someone who does have wool-related allergies.

[hivesofactivity]

Honestly? It does depend on your friend. My very first felted project was a little change purse with a name knitted into it before felting, and it came out, er, pretty wonky. I still gave it to my sister, in the sure knowledge she would say "what the hell IS this?", laugh her socks off, and still adore and treasure it (and maybe even use it). Another friend I have in mind would have hated me giving such a thing to her.

[pinesandmaples]

Gift perfectionist here.

I would give them as cat/small dog toys since you've felted the bejesus out of them. Otherwise, nope.

[damned_colonial]

Agreed that the one on the left is a little lopsided. I would give the one on the right without hesitation, but personally I probably wouldn't give the one on the left unless my friend had a pretty quirky/odd style. (I have friends who'd adore it! But I also know people who might not.)

[saekhwa]

Seconded.

But my friends are quirky and adore small, cute, goofy, handmade crafty things.

If you decide not to gift them, though, one thing you might try is using separate felt pieces for the eyes and beak. They can be glued on with some good craft glue after you've felted the body and head.

[neolithicsheep]

I am with this thread. They are adorable and I would totally tie little red ribbons around their necks and present them as birthday gifts.

[kitrona]

Absolutely, and I'd love to get them as gifts! They're adorable!

[ciorstaidh]

IMO, these were always going to look a little goofy - it's the nature of amiguri style...I'd love to receive them as gifts, but then I'm owl-mad and as a knitter myself I can tell how much effort has gone into making them :-) Also, looking at the relevant photos on Ravelry, even they look a little goofy, I think you've slightly over-felted, that's all! (I love them, so I've faved em :)

One of my friends who is allergic to wool cannot have alpaca, or mohair, either. Interestingly llama is okay for her though! So in future I'd stick to cheap n cheerful acrylic, or cotton, or bamboo, or anything non-animal, unless you know she can wear the fibre.

If you're still casting about (hee hee) for an owl project, I suggest Ysolda's hoot hair clips which is so so cute!

[lorres]

I love them and they would make me very happy if you gave them to me as a gift. The made-by-you part is the most important, but the goofiness is adorable too.

[withorwithoutyou]

I would totally adore these as gifts, specifically because to me, they're whimsical and adorable. I think imperfect gifts are win simply because they have so much more character. Heck, I'd probably keep one for myself xD

[ordinarygirl]

I think they're absolutely adorable. :D I would adore getting these as a gift, and I'm not even in love with owls. You put in the time to make them, and while they're a little goofy-looking, that's part of the style and part of the charm.

[zats_clear]

i love these little guys...did you ever send them? one or both? you know they'd make a great icon!