Think about the recipient of the gift. What does she like? There are people who really don't like quilts/patchwork. It might not look good with her decorating style. It was probably very difficult for her to request "no patchwork" knowing that you love to make quilts.
How about a gift card for her favorite store or restaurant. I would not even think of making a double bed size quilt for someone who didn't indicate clearly that she wants one. I have even let the other person pick out the pattern & colors.
Last fall I made a queen size quilt for a friend who loves things historical, handmade, folk-art style and decorates her home beautifully with her heritage items, but she does not sew. I made the quilt from the pattern she chose in the colors she chose. She loves it. Her chosen craft is making rugs from strips of fabic crocheted, so I gave her a huge box of 1" strips of fabric in colors she was looking for.