Originally Posted by Quiltforme
What if you had her over and taught her how to make it? Might be a good way to show her how much time and skill it takes to do what we do. Just an idea.
Several of you have made suggestions something along these lines. Believe me, I'm very tempted. We don't live close, and so the only chance I'll have is when I travel south this winter, and we are planning to visit her. I know she has a sewing machine, but she says she hasn't used it in years (decades, I'm guessing).
The one thing holding me back is that she's worn glasses since we were kids. She told me once she doesn't sew because her eyes aren't good enough any more, and I'm sympathetic about that.
I think I'm having a strong reaction to this because if she had asked me to make something for her, I would have done it gladly (sort of). But I really dislike her husband. He's verbally and psychologically abusive to her. I think she should have left him long ago, but that's just my opinion. It's her life, and she has to live it her way. It's a second marriage for both of them (her first husband walked out when her kids were babies), and I know she really just wanted to make their marriage work. She's paid a heavy price for that.
So I think I'm really put off at her asking me to make a gift for him. I don't really want to do anything for him, nor do I want her to do anything for him. She may bend over backwards to make her marriage work; but if it were up to me, I'd have thrown the bum out years ago.
I think I'll feel best if I follow through and do what I said I would do. But I won't do it if it happens again. Once I've done this project, I'll feel like my obligation as her friend is complete. Beyond that, I'll show her how to do it herself.