Wow, all these stories remind me of the one quilt I made for my granddaughter. It was a queen size as that is the size her mom says they were buying for her. I even embroidered her name on the front. It took me almost a year and a half. Once given, I told my step daughter how to care for it. When my husband and I went to visit, I was in my grandaughters room and saw this quilt with torn squares and all dirty and half off the bed. The big german shepherd slept with my granddaugter or used it for a nap and it looked awful. I wanted to cry. I mentioned this to my step daughter and she asked if I could fix it. I thought and thought how would I fix this 'puff quilt". I thought of a possible way without pulling much apart. I did not fix it that time. The next time I saw it, it was tossed in the bottom of my granddaughters closet with all toys on top of it. The kids played hide and seek in the closet and were all over it. I was sick, sick, sick. I decided then and there if they treat this quilt this way, I am not going to take hours to fix it if that is all they think of it.
My step daughter asked me to make her and american/americana out of the scraps I have from another quilt. I had to think this over for about 6 mths. I could just picture it being used as an animal or kids romper room item. The thought scared me. Someone said once you give a gift it is no longer yours.
I talked it over with my husband, and I am currently working on it although my heart still isn't in it sometimes. Once it leaves my hands that is it. I told my daughter in law, you don't realize the expense and numerous hours to make a quilt. If you let the dog or the kids play on it and it gets torn, I will give you some extra fabric to fix it yourself. Maybe then you would realize just what goes into making one