Charity quilts vs all other quilts
 

First let me say from the get-go that I'm not wanting to offend anyone with this question. Charity quilts are very important to me & I make more blocks these days for charity quilts then the actual finished quilts because quilt completion has really gotten hard on me as I am getting older. Now I want you to know that I am not a perfectionist by any means and I make a lot of mistakes & imperfections in my quilts but I make them with love for those to whom I give them.

Over the years I have heard comments from friends & quilters concerning charity quilts that go something like this:
1. Charity quilts are good to "practice" my quilting skills on.
2. I really "botched" up on this quilt but it will make a good charity quilt & they will never know the difference anyway.
3. I have the quilting fever & want to make something...anything...and I'll give it to charity even if it's not something I would keep for myself or give as a gift.
4. I just finished a quilt but it's not something I like or good enough to gift so I will just give it to charity.
etc, etc, etc.

So here is my question to you. Isn't a charity quilt a "gifted" quilt & shouldn't it be made with the same amount of love & attention that you would give any other quilt? Shouldn't we slow down & put the same amount of time & effort into a charity quilt that we would put into a quilt for someone that we personally know? Can't we make "practice" quilts to donate to animal shelters (or something similar) & make real, thoughtful, caring & loving quilts for charities. It's true, we probably won't ever know who will end up with the charity quilt that we donate, but in my opinion that does not matter. It was made for a person in need of love, warmth & prayers at the time it was gifted to them for a very special reason.

Just some food for thought on this subject.

Thank you for your post! I quite agree!

Yes, I want my donation quilts to be good enough that I would put my name on the label and give it to someone I love. If you don't like it enough, consider giving it to a donation center and let someone choose to rescue it or not.

My donations are not always up to my standards. Sometimes it’s a mystery quilt that I didn’t particularly care for the outcome. Sometimes it’s the color combination I did not like. But as I see it, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Just because I did not like it does not mean that it is inferior. Not everyone likes what I do and that’s ok. There is someone out there that will love my efforts. If it is shoddy work it will not go anywhere beyond the deep dark corners of the closet

There is a difference between "I don't like it" and "this is a piece of 'inferior work/materials;

I think most "people in need" can tell the difference between well-made and not well-made.

Poor people recognize good quality as well as wealthy people do.

My guild requires all donation quilts given in the guild's name to be good quality and well sewn to stay together. The guild has a big supply of good fabric any member can get free to make donation quits for our guild to give. I have seen some donation quilts made from the poorest quality stuff possible. I know our community chairperson will donate to animal shelters when the call comes sleeping pads are needed. LOL

There have been a few mystery quilts over the years that have gone to charity only because I had nowhere else for them to go. I don't have a huge family that wants quilts. And, when I practice, it doesn't mean it turns out bad. If I'm sending to charity, I usually do a quicker, over all quilting as opposed to a keeper where I might do feathers or quilt each block.

I wouldn't send something shoddy, but I see nothing wrong with sending a quilt to charity that you didn't put your heart and soul into as long as it's attractive and sturdy.

Watson

I have mixed feelings about this. There is a need for charity quilts out there. Some go to homeless folks who use them in their "camps" Never will be washed as these folks do not have a place to wash them usually. Our quilt group used to donate over 100-200 quilts...older ladies...some would stitch them at home and prepare backings and yep...these quilts where then tied and not quilted. materials in them are whatever folks donate. Old sheets, knits, even curtain fabric, polyester, cotton..old tablecloths .whatever. If you have seen the photos of folks in refuge camps.....in countries where people are fleeing war or famine....that is where some of these quilts ended up. And were all these quilt used on beds?...Nope...some are used as floor coverings over the dirt floors and some as wall dividers between family units. At one time there was a request not to send fancy quilts as these would be stolen before reaching the refugees. So, while I like to do my best and only use fine quilting cotton put together with skill....a quilt put together with what can be afforded and what skill can quickly complete it...is better than no quilt at times....To me the more useful question is will the quilt I just made serve the purpose for which it was made. We here in the states often use quilts as a thing of beauty not as a necessity...My grandmother lived in a one room house heated with a woodstove. I have one of her old quilts stitched together out of old coats and large stitches, dull colors...it was warm and served it's purpose. .

I agree, charity quilts should be made with the same care that you out into quilts for people you know. I also agree that "I didn't like the way this turned out" and "this is too ugly to be anything but donation."

My charity quilts are usually simpler than my "keeper" quilts for family. Otherwise, I wouldn't have nearly as many to donate. I do believe that you should only give your best efforts, not your cast-offs. Good fabric, good sewing, good quilting.

I agree with the sentiment already express that just because I may not like the quilt that does not mean that I didn't try my best. For donation quilts I am often using donated fabric so some of them I won't "love" as much as if I had bought the fabric special

I have donated quilts to the homeless shelter as well. They were ugly..like the ugliest thing I have ever made. A neighbor donated the fabric and I didn't want to throw the fabric out. I was told those ugly quilts were snatched right up. There were people very happy to get them. So I have decided that I won't put my own tastes on donations... I just sew and piece the best that I can.

I have mixed feelings too. The guild quilts go to local groups. The quilts are chosen for that group (children quilts for police/sherrif). And sizes too. So there's so many different posibilities. I want each quilt to be attractive. Since it's for someone whom I don't know, I make it to my attractive standards. Usually the recepients get to choose so I'm thinking they get something they like. A friend gave to a recovery program and said some ladies waited for one of hers because there was a lot of thought, design and care in them. Some go to hospice. The leader said she thought these people deserved something nice at that stage of life. I've been in nursing homes and many of them haven't the mental capability to know nice, just comfortable.

Then, the Bible says to work for God in all you do. Not for man.

So I choose to do my best. Making as many as time allows-so they're simple. And with the stash at hand, being a good steward of my resources.

This fits my value system. Your value system is different. And diversity is welcome.

I make lots of quilts every year- gift some, sell some, put some away in my trunk for the right person, event, cause to come up. Sometimes it’s a birthday, a wedding, a new baby, a coworker- a cancer benefit, what ever- every couple years I pull out the quilts that are in there & check them out- if I cannot think of a specific person/ event/ place for certain ones I donate them where appropriate. So, my donations are all made as if they could be a wedding gift, birthday, a great sale.... practice quilts - less than perfect quilts usually go to the kids in the family for fort building, picnics, beach quilts,camping... ( forts are their favorite)

I make lots of quilts every year for foster kids in my county. I use fabric out of my stash that I would and have used to gift someone or some I have used for my own bed quilts. I just make them simpler but I would give them to anyone. They are small size but could be used by any size kid. I use simpler designs as I don't know if they will be liked or used.

Oh my, I agree with so many of you. I make my charity quilts with as much love, as I put into the quilts that I make for my family and friends. Those that receive them, it is not always there fault, that they are in the position that they are in that they are receiving charity quilts. Girls keep up the good work and continue to make charity quilts. I am. I have a charity that I make for, and I feel sure that the ones that receive the quilts I make, are enjoying them. JMHO.

I love to make quilt for charities.

1. if they are intended for foster kids or Project Linus or law enforcement, I try to emphasize more masculine patterns, since these are less often received.
2. For LWR, usually just donate fabric and let the church quilting ladies do with it what they will.
3. Animal shelters, use up the I don’t like it anymore fabric.
4. Nursing homes try to use more old fashioned fabrics.

In any case, I do the best work that I can. People do not deserve our second rate rejects. However, a well made quilt where I don’t like this pattern or color combination in my house now that it is completed is not a reject to me, nor does it mean that someone else may not love it. Just not my current taste.

The idea that people in need are somehow unable to recognize shoddy workmanship is offensive. If it is not good enough to gift to someone who know, it is not good enough to gift to someone you do not know. With the economic situation what it is today, your charity quilt could go to anyone—your relative, your neighbor, your friend.

Getting off my soapbox now.

I have probably given away about 100 quilts in my lifetime....not as many as a lot of you.....I do know that the cost for me to make a quilt varies from 100-300 dollars....just for the materials as I only use quilt shop fabrics and good batting, good quality thread. yikes....100 X 100 is $10,000 plus my time.....so as I really am not rich, I am not going to kick myself if I make a simpler quilt. I do believe my quilts have lasted longer than many store-bought ones....at least that is what feedback I have gotten back from folks. I do use up scraps when I make quilts to give away....The last fancy quilt I made cost me about $400 for the fabric, pattern, tools, and class and then I paid another $600 for light custom work...and then I gave the quilt away. I must be crazy! tee hee....but I will continue to do it as long as I am able.

I hear what you are saying--I've been asked to quilt some real messes made by a group from my church intended for charity. I worked to get many that be acceptable but there were some that got tossed by me (with organizer's ok) cause really a mess & they were going to foster kids. When I first got my LA my guild was cranking out quilts for every wartime vet in our county (some from WWII up to present) and with about 700 quilts we needed all our long armers. I considered those practice quilts--not that they were not done well, but it was me learning different patterns, etc. I've since gotten better, but those were fine, too.

A member of my guild works with homeless--she recommends acyrlic blankets with "space" blankets be donated as homeless have a better way to keep those clean and the "space" blankets are needed for wet weather or extreme cold.

Most of what I do are donation projects. Because some of what I do I recognize as being rather "taste specific" I really prefer groups that let the person choose what they get. My quilts can be very different and you can love one and hate another -- but they both will be good examples of whatever they are.

I use the same workmanship on all my projects, my personal gifts may have more design or technique to them. I like to piece quilt tops, and I want to make more than I have homes for -- if I did have a long arm I'd probably pretty comfortably make one per month or so, my growing stack of unfinished tops does make me pause and slow down a bit. Sometimes when I offer to make someone a quilt we go through my tops, whether my own finished or the "available" tops and someone really likes something I made with no one particular in mind.

I've seen some donated projects that I thought were pretty awful in one way or another. I don't think everything has to be brand new coordinated fabrics to look good, but things shouldn't look like you swept it off the floor either, and again, workmanship should be solid. In the guild I belonged to we supported Ronald McDonald house and we had a very critical person who did intake on every quilt (large guild, several hundred per year). She had a crew of menders, and if something was deemed completely unsuitable and/or non-fixable, there was a person with more tact who would privately tell the person what was the issue.

I say at worst a quilt will keep someone warm, but surely we deserve it to ourselves as creators as well as the recipients needing a lift at a hard point in life for whatever reasons, to make it as nice as we can. That doesn't mean that every quilt has to be show worthy, but even something humble made with love and workmanship can become more than just some left over fabric.

If at some point in making a quilt, something goes wrong, (doesn't go together right, color doesn't look good, I just don't like it, etc), I switch gears and it becomes a cat/dog blanket. I am not real talented, so try to stick to fairly simple quilts for donation, but what I donate I want to look good for whoever it will go to. So, yes, I agree with a lot of others. "Best foot forward, or in our case, best quilt forward"

I feel every quilt should be the best you can do whether its a charity quilt, personal quilt or a customer's quilt. All desire the best you have. Sure, you may make a mistake from time to time on any of them but its not with the idea.....oh well, give it to charity. I try to do my best on whatever I'm working on and most of my quilts are gifts to others. I give my love to all the quilts I make. Sometimes what ends up as a charity quilt didn't start out as one. I made one to sleep under on my quilt retreats only to realize its too long for the beds so decided to give it for an auction. Made another one for the quilt retreats but now I'm not going to them so it will also be given to the auction/charity. Made a quilt as a gift for someone but wasn't quick enough as she passed on with a fast acting cancer, even tried to make a lap quilt for her out of the same fabrics but still wasn't quick enough. Those too will become charity/auction quilts unless I can find another sweet soul to give it to. Just my take on the subject.

I agree that donations should be of a quality that could be gifted but perfection is not a requirement in my opinion. I just donated four quilts that fall into the category of "not up to my standards". They looked OK but perhaps the quilting was not perfect or the corners/points didn't match exactly every time. Other imperfections could be in the actual quilting such as the straight line stitching had an occasional slight curve or the free motion had a point when the quilt shifted. Most of my quilts are made of scraps from my stash in an effort to diminish the amount of fabric in my sewing room. I also love to try new patterns. What am I to do with all of these experiments? I donate them so an organization can meet the need for warmth and comfort to our community.

Will I give away a quilt that is just a practice quilt? No. I don't make practice quilts. I will make 18" practice sandwiches to work on my quilting skills. I am not a perfectionist, thus most of my quilts are imperfect but each one feeds my drive to create and to then bless others.

Will it hold up when it is washed? Will it hold up if the person that gets it will not be able to wash it for some time? Is it clean when donated?

Is it large enough to be useful? a 45 x 60 quilt is not big enough to cover an average sized adult for sleeping.

We spent a weekend in a friend's travel trailer - the first night we were given four lapsize quilts for blankets. That did not work out well at all. Next night she dug out a comforter that covered the whole bed at one time. Much better.

Would I give/donate a Baltimore Album type of quilt that I had spent hours and hours and hours on to "just anyone"? No.
("Just anyone" includes friends and relatives. )

The average age of our guild members is 70+. Many of our members have heath issues. But that does not stop them from wishing to help the less fortunate, by donating fabric, tops, blocks etc. How could we possibly reject any of these donations? Each top is inspected for solid seams and squareness. If there is an issue, we do not send it back to the maker for repair, we fix it ourselves. But it does involve time and effort, and we are also 'not young'. Sometimes we take shortcuts. I do not think this is 'wrong'. Nor would I take those same shortcuts on a quilt that I am making as a gift.

One of the most emotional repairs I have made, came from a BOM project donated by a long-time member. I could see how the quality of cutting and sewing in the blocks deteriorated as I went thru them. It turns out, the member was slowly losing her eyesight over the year that these blocks encompassed. Thank goodness the member had also donated the extra fabric from the project. Each block was examined, taken apart and resewn as necessary, and in a couple of cases, completely redone. In this case, the committee decided to finish the quilt and give it back to the maker, so that she could in turn, gift it to her youngest granddaughter. She was not told about the extensive repair work. It was the last quilt she ever made and I was honoured to have helped.

The thought never crossed my mind to do nothing but my best on a charity quilt. I am not a perfect quilter by any means. I make tons of mistakes. I do my best to correct those mistakes before I go forward on a quilt. I always have a humbling pride when I present a charity quilt. I have also given not so perfect quilts to dog rescues. I would always want to give my best to another person. As I go forward with my quilting and my skill improve better and better quilts are given to charities, family and friends.

I agree. i have never made a quilt I didn't like.

I make my charity quilts with as much attention to detail and with the same quality fabrics as my other quilts. The only difference is I usually choose a simpler pattern and I do simpler quilting to finish it.

I donate local. Women's shelters, foster kids, and care facilities. I check with the schools and there are many kids that need a special gift just for them.

I make a lot of scrap quilts to donate to the Head Start program at my church. Usually about 40 x 50 since they are for children four or five years old. Most of them are simple patterns but all are sewn to the best of my ability. Simple meandering quilting and machine sewn bindings. Never know what kind of treatment they well get and the bindings hold up well to frequent washings. Some of them are not that pretty but all are well made(as best as I can do) I often think of the child who will pick out the quilt I am working on at that time. The smiles on their faces as they hold their quilt is the best reward I can think of.

What’s a space blanket?

I also feel that a donation quilt should be as good as your regular quilts. Maybe I would take more care for a very important quilt for someone very special than to a donation quilt, but probably not. I use the same quality fabrics, thread, and time for all my quilts..

mr google says https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_blanket

Thank you, one & all for your input on this. Your comments warm my heart & make me glad I'm a quilter who tries to do my best with all I make.

Just a last minute thought about the difference between a "gifted" quilt and donation quilts that come from my sewing room. Some times it is simplicity. My donation quilts frequently will not have intricate quilting or piecing. I fall back on some of the traditional patterns that will use stash effectively and that can be finished relatively quickly between more detailed heavy quilts made for specific individuals.

yep...my requirements for a charity quilt are that it is made of fabric that will stand up to washing, that it is pieced so it lays flat, that it is securely stitched, quilted and bond so it stays together, and that I have washed after completing it before it is given away. I also use quality batting in it either a decent poly or 80/20. I don't use the bargin batting as that usually does not hold up very well. And I don't use "old" thread or cheap thread that does not have the strength to stay together. I will use older fabric that has been stored properly, not in plastic nor in the damp basement. I store all my fabric on shelves on the first floor or in the attic where it stays dry. I do keep my fabric out of the sun. I like doing turning 20's or nine patches, or yellow brick road, or rail fences for donation quilts and I will make then scrappy and also I will make string quilts...but that fabric that goes into them is the same quality as the quilts I give to my friends and family. The exception to this is the quilts I help make for the church group as we use what is given. Actually, out of my own stash, I don't make and give away that many quilts to folks I actually do not know as it seems I have an endless number of folks I know that are happy to get a quilt I have made. Same goes with masks at this point. I think I could give away hundreds. Now that we are under a masking order at anytime we are in a public place or common place even in apartment halls, folks are wanting more fabric masks ….just had a request from a friend for 5 more and I have already given her 3....which is the number I have given to most of family and friends....my stash is starting to go down! Maybe I will use it all up....

My only pet peeve on this issue is I prefer that they be called donation quilts.

Totally agree.

I have switched to using the term donation quilts as well.

I use the same fabrics in both charity and "keep for myself and others" quilts. Sometimes I have purchased panels or fabric that later I wonder who put those in my bag- LOL! If I no longer have a fancy for a particular color I may plunge into a charity quilt with it. I took a Pat Sloan workshop through our guild and Pat taught us how to "make fabric". With this improv block class, I learned so much. But I had chosen pink scraps and yardage as I wanted to see it gone. Turned out great and will go to charity at the end of this coming week. I make string blocks out of my leftovers every couple of months when mindless sewing is necessary. So far during pandemic, my string blocks in various colors is piling up. Next charity quilt up will have some of these (lingering pink strings as I have four GDs) in a baby quilt for charity- possibly on the back for a pop of color.