As I read the various topics, I realize many quilters give their quilts away. Unless someone would ask me and discuss the colors they would like, I hesitate to sew items that the recipent might not like. I have a friend who lovingly made a quilt for a relative and later found it on the cement outside with oil and dirt from a car. I would not want to put all the time and money needed to sew a quilt and and come to realize the person really did not like it nor will they use it.

I am finishing a quilt for my GD and one for her sister.(They showed me with colored pictures what their favorite colors are.) Everying else I have sewed which is not a lot, I have kept.

I have to say that the relative that did that would never get another gift from me.

I would only make them for people who I know will love and appreciate them. I made one for my MIL and she loves it so much she draped it over the back of her couch ever so carefully and doesn't want to actually use it. I told her to use it-that it's washable and everything! Even gave her a box of color catchers. I have a feeling it's 'only for decoration' at her house.

But it sure makes me think about how careful I'd be to choose the recipients of my quilts.

it would be nice to know someones favorite colors..but i make them when the mood strikes me, and have someone in mind for them...usually someone who is sick or needs a pick me up..
sad a quilt would end up on the ground like that..but God honors the giving, not what happens to it after it leaves your hands, no mattern what it is.
i have a hard time with those that put the quilt up,so it won't get dirty or worn.. and no one uses it to cuddle in!

while I don't care if a quilt is used as a picnic blanket, the oil catcher would make me stop and think. I have ever so slightly asked my mom what colors she would want in a quilt for her water bed. she said that she would be too worried to use it because of the dog and two cats. at least she cares enough to want to take care of it. but I don't think that I will be making a king size quilt for her for a long time.

I think about their colors, and the style of quilts that would appeal to them, tradional? contemporary?
Also, I ask if they would even like one... I wouldn't care for some abstract art pieces that I have seen, so I don't expect everyone to like a quilt either :D:D:D

And would be shot at dawn!:hunf:
Jan in VA

I started making quilts for my sister in laws kids that were having babies left & right...Not one of them ~ 4...said thank you. Nor have I ever seen them with the quilts. So I have decided no more for them. I'll start making them for MY grandbabies to be. I did make some cute Halloween things for a really good friend and saw it out on the porch wet and covered in mud. It hurt my feelings that something I took such pleasure in making JUST for her was treated like a piece of trash. I'm very cautious..about who I give things to now.

I always ask if there is a special color combo or pattern they may like. I haven't had anyone not use the quilts I make.

If I didn't give my quilts away rather freely, they'd be so piled up I wouldn't be able to get in and out the door. I don't spend all that much time worrying about the what ifs.