Originally Posted by
lisalovesquilting
I am making a wedding quilt for my son and DIL. It is king size and all batik bought from LQS. By the time I am finished it will have cost A LOT. I don't begrudge the cost at all. My problem is how to impress on them how valuable it is so they will take good care of it. I don't want to come right out and tell them how much money has gone into it. Please give me your thoughts on this.
There is another thread currently on this forum about giving quilts with strings attached.
If you are concerned about replacement value for insurance that is one thing, but really insurance will only give them money not the love that went into the quilt.
Once you give it to them you cannot dictate how it will be used or looked after. You do not want to impress upon them how 'valuable' the quilt is to the point they are afraid to use it.
As I posted on the other thread my MIL wanted to give us her dining room suite when she downsized. She was all about how valuable it was, to the point that it had only been used 2 times in the 15 years she owned it. I refused as I knew it would never be mine to use as we saw fit. She gave it to my BIL and checks each time she is at his house for scratches and proper polishing. He has only used it twice in the 6 years he has owned it. Both times she was present and made many comments on the table and how careful everyone had to be. This is not an antique, but she wants it to become and heirloom. My BIL has no children and at 50 is not likely to now.
My grandmother has an antique solid oak dining suite. It has dents and scratches and so many fond memories attached to it. We learned to play cards on that table, we made crafts with glue, shells sticks and stones. We ate meals, spilled drinks, sewed and so much more on that table.
So my point is maybe your son and his wife will take your gift camping and it will smell of smoke, or have a pet snuggled with them in or on it. In a couple years your grandchild may have a diaper changed on it, a few years after that they may use it to build a fort or take it to the beach. Let them create their own memories with the quilt. Those memories and the love you put into making the quilt give it far more value than an insurance appraisal.
My son will be getting married in a year or so, (they have not set the date), if I make them a quilt it will be freely given, no strings attached. Just as I have given him an engagement ring set, no strings attached. They can use it as it is, sell it or have it redesigned.