Originally Posted by reneebobby
That is a great idea. I wish I would of had that information years ago when I made, quilts, afghans, dresses and stuff that well, I would say were given to good will. Okay can't complain on the good will part at least someone will love it even if they don't know who made it.
There are some thrift stores here where my guild-mates go every Monday and Thursday (when they have their extra 10% off weekly sales) and hunt for handmade quilts and afgans. They rescue them and bring them to the next guild meeting. I am always shocked to see these items (and that they got them at a steal).
I went in there to look for costume pieces for DD's school (where ELSE will you find a hand-stitched 3-piece wool suit for 15 dollars?) and it was heartbreaking to see aprons with children's hand-prints on them and the words "we love you grandpa!" and other such items. I can only hope that the estates these came from were from people who passed with little surviving family...
I try not to think about some of the quilts I give away. Baby quilts, I make to be used and loved, so if they wear out, I can deal with that. My MIL doesn't put the quilt I made her on her bed because she's afraid FIL will destroy it (he's rather incontinent now). The chemo quilt I made my mother was used a lot by my dad at the assisted living after mom died and before he died, and they were rather harsh washing it, so it's pretty faded from being bleached now. It's one of our couch quilts.
I only give quilts to people who I know will appreciate them and understand the effort it takes to make one of these things. (also why I only knit small items for family members. If it's a sweater, it's for me :P )