When you give a quilt away.
 

Do you ask if someone would like one or do you surprise people? To me it seems like great big thing to give someone and a risk to surprise someone with. How often to you give them away in either of these ways? As a new quilter I already can tell I am in danger of being over run with these because I love making them.

Special occasion gift for me too, and then I tend to ask the future recipient what they would like (in general terms). For example: if I am planning to give one to an expectant mum I ask her if she wants a baby quilt to hang on the wall, or one to be used, and what sort of general colors she would like. I take the designing from there. If I know a baby quilt will be used by the baby (!) I make it differently from the way I would do it otherwise - and I don't put a hanging pocket on it!

The one and only time I made a large quilt as a surprise for the recipient I think she was taken aback, and might have preferred something a little different. This is just a feeling...but you know how you can just tell, sometimes! And since it was my mother-in-law I think she may feel she needs to put it out every time we visit. I wish I had asked her beforehand...

Alison

If I want to give one to a special person, I always ask first if they like quilts because quilts aren't for everyone. If that person seems happy to have one, then I try to cater the pattern and colors to the person and their likes, where it will be used, etc. I've given quilts before to people who don't care for them...to later find them in car trunks, garage floors and dog beds. Yes, I am choosy about who gets one and I would way rather just give one, then to make one for pay.

I don't tell because I don't want to jinx it. Ha ha
You can also make charity quilts, they are well received and appreciated.

For the most part, you just kind of know your "audience". You know those who are sentimental and truly treasure the small joys in life. That being said, the only large bed sized quilts I've made to give away were to my parents and to my mother-in-law. To spend that kind of time and money, you really need to know if your gift will be used and welcomed and certainly I would "fish" a little without giving away the surprise.

I make quilts mostly for my family, my home, Quilts of Valor and a couple other charities. I am very blessed with my family because they always love what I make for them. Every other year I ask my two chilrdren, their spouses and my grandson what they would like me to make for them that year. Usually wall hangings and lap quilts. One year I made queen sized coverlets for my two children. My grandson calls my quilts "love quilts." :o This year is a little different...I asked them for their favorite colors and they do not know that I am making flannel quilts for them this year, smile.

i have given them as christmas gifts. every body in my family on both sides enjoy them. then i have them also
sitting around the house or on the back of chairs . if some of my nieces and nephews want them i let them have
them. i can always make more.

When I make a quilt to give away to a family member or friend, I involve them in the process. First, I ask if they would like a quilt, (and I have had folks say "Thanks, but not really...") then I email them a few pictures of quilts I have made...usually about six that I enjoyed making. I have them select the pattern and then the fabric. I have had a friend in Maryland who was able to tell me enough about the fabric she liked that we build her quilt out of my stash. I have had several friends who bought their own fabric, with a "quilt recipe" from me in their hand.

I wanted to make a quilt for a cousin who was diagnosed with breast cancer (33 years old!!!), and when she said yes and looked at my sample quilts, she wanted one just like I had already made. I simply sent it to her. She wanted cheerful, and that is what she got.

What I am saying is that I want input from anyone who is getting a quilt from me. It works really well for me.

Dina

I give for occasions and other times just because. Most of my quilt recipients , I have a good idea of their tastes. I do always offer that they return a gift quilt at any time in exchange for one I am making that they like better. In all years of quilting I only had one "come back". Very often a quilt gets spoken for/ or has a destination before I finish.