AITA: Knitter gives handmade scarf to sister instead of partners niece

AITA for giving my sister the scarf I made for my partner's niece? Partner upset, sister thrilled, and I'm caught in the middle - who's right?

Damjan

Published in Interesting
July 23, 2025

AITA: Knitter gives handmade scarf to sister instead of partners niece

Are you ever in a dilemma about gift-giving? Picture this: a beautiful knitted scarf made with love for a specific person, but a sudden change of heart leads to a different recipient.

This Reddit thread dives into a heated debate over the scenario where a knitter's sister swoops in to claim the scarf intended for the knitter's partner's niece. The original poster's partner is disappointed, feeling that the gift plan for the niece was ruined due to the sister's influence.

On the flip side, the sister is overjoyed with her new accessory. The conflict raises questions about the intentions behind gift-giving and the importance of sticking to the original plan.

Opinions in the comments section range from labeling the knitter as the wrongdoer (YTA - "You're The A**hole") for changing the recipient without considering the niece, to understanding the knitter's desire to make his sister happy (NTA - "Not The A**hole") but acknowledging the need for better communication and consideration of everyone's feelings. The thread showcases a common quandary many face: balancing emotions, intentions, and expectations in gift-giving situations.

So, Reddit community, what's your take on this - AITA?

Original Post

So I'm (30M) an avid knitter and love making scarves. Recently, I knitted a beautiful scarf for my partner's niece, Donna, as a thoughtful gift.

My sister, Sarah, saw the scarf and absolutely fell in love with it. She commented on how much she adored it and how it would look perfect on her.

In a moment of spontaneity, I decided to give the scarf to Sarah instead of Donna. Now, my partner is upset, claiming I ruined the gift plan for Donna.

For context, Donna is 5 years old and would have appreciated the scarf, but my sister's reaction was so strong that it swayed me to give it to her. My partner feels let down and believes I should have stuck to the original plan.

Sarah is thrilled with the scarf and has been wearing it every chance she gets. My partner thinks I should have considered Donna's feelings more than Sarah's reaction.

I feel torn between my partner's disappointment and my sister's joy. I didn't expect this to cause such a rift in our relationships.

So AITA?