What is the worse thing that has happened to your quilts?
#81
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: sonoma county CA
Posts: 134
I made my son a quilt for high school graduation. It was late. It followed him around for several years and I suspect it was washed in beer more than once. Agfter he got married they adopted a puppy who managed to chew through to 4.5 in sqaure patches. It took me a long time (waiting for that puppy to stop teething) But even though I still had material for the missing patches I replaced one that was a mottled blue solid with a blue with dog bones printed on it.
I quilted the 5'x10' patch by SID and a large dog bone in the center. Now he doesn't show off the quilt nearly as much as he does the patch.
I quilted the 5'x10' patch by SID and a large dog bone in the center. Now he doesn't show off the quilt nearly as much as he does the patch.
#83
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Michigan
Posts: 864
I made a quilt for a relative and later I found out that she had put it in her outside dog house. I was beside myself. I did such a good job on that quilt and paid a LA quilter to quilt it. I used expensive fabric and made nice blocks. It was a very pretty quilt. Now it is muddy and ripped and full of dog hair. How could someone do something like that? I now know that I have to rethink who I give my quilts to and to explain how much work and money went into them. I'm so mad at this gal who threw my quilt in the dog house, I could explode. And she has no clue I'm upset.
#84
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Dallas area, Texas, USA
Posts: 3,042
My inlaws are like this. Handmade means you're too cheap to buy something. You don't honor them when you make something. A real gift has to be store bought and expensive to show that you really value them. DH just sends a check every year now and let them figure out what they want.
One of my family said about my aunts quilts , "it's their hobby, they don't have anything esle to do and they enjoy doing this and then they dump it on the family as presents." I've never given that person anything hand made when I took up the craft.
One of my family said about my aunts quilts , "it's their hobby, they don't have anything esle to do and they enjoy doing this and then they dump it on the family as presents." I've never given that person anything hand made when I took up the craft.
#85
I have not had anything terrible happen to my quilts. At least not to my knowledge. lol
A friend in my quilt club made a beautiful cathedral window quilt (all handmade---no machine stitching) for her granddaughter. Her son and his wife later divorced and the son got custody of the 2 children. He did not get custody of the quilt, however. When he asked for the quilt, the ex told him that it 'might' have gone in some stuff that she sent to Goodwill. (Can you say spiteful!) My friend contacted Goodwill, but it was long gone. The little granddaughter was heart-broken. Of course, grandma is making her another cathedral window quilt.
Norma
A friend in my quilt club made a beautiful cathedral window quilt (all handmade---no machine stitching) for her granddaughter. Her son and his wife later divorced and the son got custody of the 2 children. He did not get custody of the quilt, however. When he asked for the quilt, the ex told him that it 'might' have gone in some stuff that she sent to Goodwill. (Can you say spiteful!) My friend contacted Goodwill, but it was long gone. The little granddaughter was heart-broken. Of course, grandma is making her another cathedral window quilt.
Norma
#86
I would be very upset if someone used one of my quilts for a doggie bed, at least while it was new and beautiful. What happens to it when it's old and worn out --- well, I'll be dead by then, so I won't care.
My policy is to never, ever give a quilt to someone who hasn't asked me for one. I assume if they ask, they are interested in having a quilt. There are just too many people out there (my relatives included) who don't have a clue as to how much work, time and money goes into a quilt. Sometimes you have to ask what kind of quilt they want as well. My niece used to think quilts were "horribly old fashioned" until she saw a blue jeans quilt and asked me to make her one. She adores it! Has her whole bedroom done in denim now! One sister never was one for quilts, until she saw one in a catalog she adored, and sent me the photo. To me, it was boring to make: all big blocks, but great colors. I couldn't have made her happier if I'd sent her pure gold! So, as a caveat, make sure the person wants a quilt, and make sure you give them the quilt they want. And if they don't seem to want a quilt, for Pete's sake, don't give them one!
My policy is to never, ever give a quilt to someone who hasn't asked me for one. I assume if they ask, they are interested in having a quilt. There are just too many people out there (my relatives included) who don't have a clue as to how much work, time and money goes into a quilt. Sometimes you have to ask what kind of quilt they want as well. My niece used to think quilts were "horribly old fashioned" until she saw a blue jeans quilt and asked me to make her one. She adores it! Has her whole bedroom done in denim now! One sister never was one for quilts, until she saw one in a catalog she adored, and sent me the photo. To me, it was boring to make: all big blocks, but great colors. I couldn't have made her happier if I'd sent her pure gold! So, as a caveat, make sure the person wants a quilt, and make sure you give them the quilt they want. And if they don't seem to want a quilt, for Pete's sake, don't give them one!
#87
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New York City/Manhattan
Posts: 1,316
I seem lucky in that all my quilted gifts have been loved and adored. Remember the book,"The Velveteen Rabbit"? the beloved stuffed animal was so loved his fur was rubbed right off. And when this beloved rabbit had to be discarded because of some pre-antibiotic infection, how it became real? and years later, the little boy saw the real rabbit and thought of his beloved stuffed animal? This is how I want my quilts, especially baby and children's quilts, to be. Loved to death. I don't want my quilt to become anyone's heirloom, put away and only looked at on occasion.
And, about burying the dog in the quilt, I am sure this was meant as the highest of honors. I am sorry that you felt hurt. When I worked on a locked unit and one of the patients died, I had everyone work on a community, memorial quilt. It was gorgeous. When I asked what they wanted to happen with the quilt, I was told to send it to the mother of the patient who'd died so it could be buried with him. This was a group of patients who were locked up due to not having their medical condition treated in the community, posing a very real risk of disease transmission, not locked up cause they're alzheimer's or mentally ill. And this was what they wanted to do to honor one of their own.
And, about burying the dog in the quilt, I am sure this was meant as the highest of honors. I am sorry that you felt hurt. When I worked on a locked unit and one of the patients died, I had everyone work on a community, memorial quilt. It was gorgeous. When I asked what they wanted to happen with the quilt, I was told to send it to the mother of the patient who'd died so it could be buried with him. This was a group of patients who were locked up due to not having their medical condition treated in the community, posing a very real risk of disease transmission, not locked up cause they're alzheimer's or mentally ill. And this was what they wanted to do to honor one of their own.
#88
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,048
I am so sorry that your quilt was mis-treated. I love being able to give quilts to people.
Everyone I have given has been received and very much appreciated. My DD has her son's baby quilt in the car with them at all times. The little dear can now say that his Granny made it.
I sent a baby quilt last weekend to a girl who went to school with my DD. DD said she cried when she opened the quilt.
I gave one last summer to a girl who was expecting, she watched me work on it and I didn't get it finished before she had the baby. She called me just as soon as she got out of the hospital. Asked me if I wanted to come by and see the baby....she sure was glad I had the quilt in hand.
Another one I gave away at work and the girl said her older child was trying to take it before the baby was there.
You get the idea, maybe I have been very blessed but so far I have gifted to people who love quilts.
Everyone I have given has been received and very much appreciated. My DD has her son's baby quilt in the car with them at all times. The little dear can now say that his Granny made it.
I sent a baby quilt last weekend to a girl who went to school with my DD. DD said she cried when she opened the quilt.
I gave one last summer to a girl who was expecting, she watched me work on it and I didn't get it finished before she had the baby. She called me just as soon as she got out of the hospital. Asked me if I wanted to come by and see the baby....she sure was glad I had the quilt in hand.
Another one I gave away at work and the girl said her older child was trying to take it before the baby was there.
You get the idea, maybe I have been very blessed but so far I have gifted to people who love quilts.
#89
I'm always amazed how someone can't see the work it takes to make a quilt. I think I would find the right time and let her how much time it took and the love put in it and if she didn't like it she could have said something.
#90
the worst thing and the funniest.. I decided to make a queen size hawaiian quilt that was " The rain that falls on lahua Blossoms.It was labor intensive to cut and baste. , Then applique. finally started to quilt it and had the main part done the center ( echo quilting. My job sent me on the road for quite awhile. and I left it in the hoop ( big Hintenberg) in my guest bedroom with the curtains clossed. when I came home several months later,It had faded out on the top part that was in the hoop// I have not touched it since.
Funny Last year I got a present from my daughter, and she said that she had got it somewhere , she thought it was a craft show, and it reminded her of me. I had sent the quilt to her ten yrs before as a xmas gift.. When [I] said the quilt looked familar.. She realized I had sent it to her. and was very embarassed. He cmaras
Funny Last year I got a present from my daughter, and she said that she had got it somewhere , she thought it was a craft show, and it reminded her of me. I had sent the quilt to her ten yrs before as a xmas gift.. When [I] said the quilt looked familar.. She realized I had sent it to her. and was very embarassed. He cmaras
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