Thread: thoughts on what to do with a gifted GFG top

A friend has given me a Grandmother's Flower Garden top, queen size, hand pieced that her former husband brought home from an auction. She was on verge of throwing it in the trash and gave it to me instead to do whatever I want with it. Frankly, it's a, hmm, interesting quilt--thinking probably pieced in 60's-70's. There are some hexies that are wool, some cotton, some from worn flannel (nightgowns??),and who knows what else! It's totally scrappy---no real unifying color, etc. And it was in a box in her basement so it's musty and dirty. So my question is, should I go ahead & long arm (just a feathery overall) or aim for the trash? If I do finish it, it would go to charity. But frankly it's unattractive to start with & not sure quilting will help it.

oh--and I'm not really wanting to handle it being so musty and dirty---but normally I would not try to clean before quilting--any suggestions?

I don't know what to suggest that you do with is gifted top but it reminds me of an afghan that a friend crocheted for me once. When she gave it to me it smelled a bit funny so I washed it. Well, it happens that she apparently did not tie off her ends of yarn well & it came apart in tons of places. I took it to a lady in town who had a knitting/crochet shop (she taught lessons) and she agreed to repair it for me (charged me $25 for the repairs). When I got it back she suggested that I not wash it again as it still might come apart. So, what good is it to me if it can't be washed? I think if I had that top of yours I would not put any time in it since you don't like it to begin with. Maybe you could donate it to a quilt guild or organization who quilts for charity.

It was going to the bin anyway so that is where I would send it again. Don't pass the problem on to a charity - I only give charities work or fabric I would be happy to give anyone else.

Originally Posted by ManiacQuilter2

I agree with Lynnie. There is always a way of working with something somehow. You could even quilt it, put a temporary binding on it, wash it and then sub-cut it into dog quilts for your local shelter. Quilts are easier for them to wash then the tradition stuff dog beds are.

This may be the best idea - dogs won't care about the colors & fabrics. I didn't mention cats as we know how pickey they are.

That's what I did with a bunch of ugly 12 inch blocks I won, made them into 36 inch squares backed with fabric I didn't like. The animal shelter loved them.

I like the animal shelter idea. Use the quilt for front and back, that way you use it up faster. The dogs don't care what it looks like.

If the quilt top had any sentimental or historical value, I would save it, but since it doesn't, don't feel guilty throwing it away. If you wash it in order to be able to handle it, it will probably shrink unevenly or fall apart and be unusable anyway.. Save yourself the trouble.