Do people really use the quilts shown at quilt shows?
#21
I have just returned from a quilt show. The quilts are beautiful, sort of putting mine to shame, but I am wondering if folks ever really use those quilts. They are just too beautiful to use. I would be afraid to put one of those masterpieces on any of my beds.
Or do they hang them, make large wall hangings out of them?
Or are they just to be admired?
I really am just wondering. I recently made a Bargello quilt that is too pretty to use. I put it on a chair for awhile and decided it wasn't right there. My husband just hung it for me, and I am quite pleased with that...but it got me wondering about these really gorgeous quilts.
I think if I had made one of those masterpieces, I would want to protect it and only bring it out for shows.
Dina
Or do they hang them, make large wall hangings out of them?
Or are they just to be admired?
I really am just wondering. I recently made a Bargello quilt that is too pretty to use. I put it on a chair for awhile and decided it wasn't right there. My husband just hung it for me, and I am quite pleased with that...but it got me wondering about these really gorgeous quilts.
I think if I had made one of those masterpieces, I would want to protect it and only bring it out for shows.
Dina
#22
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
some quilts are made just for show entries- they 'travel' around & enter lots of different shows & are kept for display. some quilts are made to be used- entered in a show or 2- then used. I have 2 that have won a number of awards in different shows- but live on my bed- I tend to 'switch out' the quilts on my bed- my fall quilt is one that is pretty spectacular & a Winner- but I still put it on the bed every October & it stays till after Thanksgiving. it's beautiful, warm, and looks great on the bed- it was made to be on the bed. same with my winter quilt, spring quilt & summer quilt...it always depends on what the person made the quilt for- who they may give it to- there are all kinds in shows. I've always felt- what's the point if most of the time it is hidden away- I make my quilts to be used....regardless of how fabulous they are. even the bargellos are used bed quilts. when I am 'gifting or selling' quilts I do ask the recipient if they want a hanging sleeve attached. my daughter's wedding quilt has a sleeve- the quilt is on the bed in the winter time- during the warm season she runs a drapery rod through the sleeve & it hangs across their sliding glass doors. it won quite a few awards the first year- when I entered it in shows.
#23
The blue ribbon quilt (my avatar) is on my bed daily. I do take it off at night. Several baby quilts that have won ribbons are the spit on, wet on and I hope used and enjoyed until they outgrow them.
#24
Everyone I talked to at our quilt show who made the most elaborate quilts said they used them. I think they are careful of when they use them, but they do get used.
I use mine and give away a lot of my work.
Mariah.
I use mine and give away a lot of my work.
Mariah.
#25
I use mine. Mainly for display. My guest room is my "quilt room" and I have a quilt ladder and a glass fronted bedside table that I store and display some of my quilts. Others are wall hangings. My 4 year old grandson stays with us frequently and I always let him pick the quilt that he wants to sleep under. He usually picks the ones that have won the most ribbons. The boy has good taste!
#27
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Heart of Colorado's majestic mountains!
Posts: 6,026
I make my quilts to be used. If I enter them in a show-so others can see them, I still intend them to be used when they come back to me. I would love to have enough quilts for the beds to interchange them a couple of times a year. I am not there yet, but I do have enough fabric stash to do it. It is the time stash that is missing! I think it would be fun to enter them all in shows just to have them seen and enjoyed by others. I love to go to shows and see the creativity of others.
#29
That's something I always wondered too Dina. So glad you asked.
At a local quilt show this Autumn there was a gorgeous quilt with several thousand pieces that looked like it had already been used. I loved that.
I'm slowly working on a quilt that will probably take almost a year to make. For quilts with so much time and effort, it would be a shame to keep it in a closet. At the same time, they should be used wisely and with great care.
It really struck me how true this was that Lisa said:
Lisa, you should make that your signature quote!
At a local quilt show this Autumn there was a gorgeous quilt with several thousand pieces that looked like it had already been used. I loved that.
I'm slowly working on a quilt that will probably take almost a year to make. For quilts with so much time and effort, it would be a shame to keep it in a closet. At the same time, they should be used wisely and with great care.
It really struck me how true this was that Lisa said:
Lisa, you should make that your signature quote!
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Pleasant Hill CA
Posts: 411
Some of mine have been in our local quilt guild's annual show and all mine are to be used and are given away to friends and family HOWEVER I have friends who make quilts for entry in the big shows like Houston and Road to California and theirs are for show only. I make mine for fun working with the colors and usually have them long arm quilted by professionals. Right now I am tying one to see how I like it and to save money. The last two quilts bill was 350 as I make large useful ones. Cats and dogs enjoy them and so do regular non-fur people!
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