Did you ever wonder what happened to your quilt when the recipient passed?
 

I made a very cute, happy lap quilt for a dear aunt several months before she died. She had no idea that I quilted and was overwhelmed to receive it. She kept saying, "I can't believe you made this." I know that she treasured it. After she died, I 'assumed' her daughter or granddaughter took it but, no one ever said anything to me. Shame on me, I didn't put a label on it so I am not 100% sure they knew where it came from although they probably did. I don't want it back and hope they will keep it as a treasured memento of my aunt. I've thought about asking the daughter (my cousin) about it but, not sure if that's appropriate. At the time, I wasn't a very good free motion quilter so I wonder if they might have discarded it however, it was nicely pieced and constructed and I really can't see them doing that. The design was very cute. Have others had similar experiences?

I made a quilt for my Aunt and gave it to her just 5 days before she passed, My cousin said she wanted to display it at the funeral but did not want to offend me. I know they kept it as it was neatly folded on the sofa when I last saw it.

i've not given it that much thought. i enjoy the making of the quilt and when it leaves my home, it is no longer mine. if i happen to see my quilt later, i just give myself a smile because i know that it is being loved.

I'd ask and let them know that you were in such a hurry to give it to her that you forgot to put a label on it but would like to so that the family would always know for whom the quilt was made and when. Let them you'd like to fix that and put a label on it now if possible. I wouldn't get upset if it were no where to be found because things happen in sad times but just in case it was still around. I read once that if you were giving a quilt to someone in a nursing home you should put the label on before the quilting because others in the nursing home have been known to steel quilts and take the labels off. If it is in with the quilting it can't be taken off without it being noticed. I thought that would be a good idea no matter what.

No, never had that feeling. When I give a quilt to someone, it stops being mine. They are all labeled so the source is never in question and their fate is in someone else's hands entirely, without any regret.

As for nursing homes, extended care facilities and the like, I think saying things are stolen is way too harsh. Most are simply picked up by residents who think they are their own. Most residences require labels on everything for that reason. Dementia is not even close to dishonesty.

I do agree that once you gift a quilt it is no longer yours. However, that can be hard, as they sometimes feel like one of our children. :)

I made a lap quilt for my grandma when she was living in a nursing home. She loved it, but didn't want anything to happen to it, so she stashed it in her closet! When she passed my aunt gave it back to me. I then gave it to my mom, who still has it.

The year that my dad died (1995), I made 5 small quilts out of his neckties. I gave one to each of my siblings, to my mom and to my grandma (the same grandma who got the quilt). Unfortunately, there were not enough ties to make one for myself. However, when grandma died, I got her necktie quilt back. So, it has a double meaning for me. I display it on my antique 1889 Singer 27 treadle sewing machine.

I believe that I would continue to assume that one of them had it and was treasuring it and leave it at that. Should you ask and find out that it had gone to Goodwill or the garbage you will have bad feelings for a long time. Better to believe that they have it whether they do or not.

I'm with Roman - I would tell them you'd like to put the label on it. Let's face it - it should be on there. If it's no where to be found or they "forget", then just let it go. But, if you are able to, get your label on it and return it to whomever owns it now. It would be a shame if it was out there an no one knew it was made by a family member... If I had it, I would want to know that fact, and I would be honored to have the label placed on it. (Then I'd flip a coin - you win - you get it back - I win - I get to cherish it.) JMHO

My SIL returned the one I made for my brother. I did offer it to her but she said she knew I had put a lot of work into it and he had treasured it so she wanted me to get it back. The one I made for my Mom my sister made sure I got it back.

I have a friend who's terminally ill and some years ago I made her a queen quilt out of the blues and yellows that she loves. I've wondered what she will do with it. She says her will is all made out. I'm not going to ask though. If I get it back that's great. If it goes to someone else then it will get loved on two times.