A friend of mine, a VERY good friend, had made me two beautiful quilts, all handmade before I ever took up trying to quilt. When she saw how worn one of them was getting due to great love and constant use, she decided she wanted to make another one for me. I didn't want her to pay for the new fabric etc and so I asked if I could go with her and pick out the fabrics. She assured me that was fine and off we went. Well, not ever having quilted, I picked out fabrics that were heavy, shiny, difficult to hand quilt and she smiled all the way saying, "SURE>GREAT> ANYTHING YOU WANT>" Sigh. Little did I know what torture I was giving her. My poor dear friend struggled for six months, working, HAND WORKING, on my terribly difficult choice of fabrics because she was too polite to tell me "NO!". The quilt is beautiful to say the least but she hated working on it. I felt terrible. (STILL DO.)
Now that I have started to quilt, my philosophy is strong. I CANNOT do somethng I don't want to do. I will not make a quilt because someone thinks they deserve one! I surprise people with quilts and they love them! That way, I love what I am doing. They love what they are getting and we are all happy. EVERYONE I HAVE CONSULTED about a quilt for them has made life difficult because they do not quilt. They have no idea of the work, the hours, the love, the cost, the layouts, etc. If you want to make a quilt for your MIL, please be open with her. Kindly ask her to sit with you, she'll probably love the attention and the gentle honesty, and go over some patterns you can do....let her choose if she wants. Show her the type of fabric you need to work on...and have her pick some colors. I have the BEST relationship with my wonderful DIL because we hug each other, cherish each other and are honest with each other in the kindest way. After all, a MIL gave you your spouse and a DIL gave you your grandchildren. Life is too short to stand on ceremonies, too short to be negative or to be trampled on either and too short not to love each other. Enjoy sitting and talking with each other and making the most wonderful quilt for her because you respect each other and tell each other what is best for both of you.
I can't believe my friend still speaks with me after the quilt choices I made for her! I did make her a quilt now, a silk quilt with silks I brought back with me from an Asian trip we went on together! She loved it, had the pleasure of know it was coming but not what it would look like. She kept petting my arm when she received it! Quilters rarely get quilts from others! Please enjoy but set gentle boundaries. It's good for both of you. Please let us all see what you do make. I'm sure it will be lovely for BOTH of you.