Have made quilts for family,but I know colors wanted.Other than that,I don't make quilted "surprises".My Sis doesn't care for home made anything.Doesn't bother me,just saves time & $$$.

A neighbor uses a quilt her Mom made as a car trunk liner.To each their own, but my feeling is,quilts takes so much time & work....I prefer to choose where they go.Often times, they stay home with me :)

I think I have heard of a potato chip bag but it wasn't to put potato chips in. It was a quick bag that was said to be so quick and easy that you couldn't make just one. (Like the old Lays commercial that you couldn't eat just one potato chip).

I have made baby quilts for gifts, but I know that the people I have given to are people who will appreciate anything I make for them.

I always think of the time and $ involved in making a gift. Many people just don't appreciate anything hand crafted. Sometimes it's a whole lot easier to just take a bottle of wine, flowers or a gift certificate. I hate the whole thought of gifts that are not needed or appreciated. I just had this very conversation with my new DIL. Her birthday is this week and I'm just sticking $ in her card. I'm sure that I couldn't pick out clothes for her and I want it right. She was just fine about my choice of gift and why.

Sorry, double post.

Before I make anything for another person (unless said gift is a surprise) I have to think for a while about the person and their personality and what pattern would be a good fit. If recipient is rather picky with their style, I let them pick a pattern within my range of skills. Then it is time to start picking fabrics and I always try to work in colors that will match the room it is to be used in, or colors that are requested. I never make a gift quilt that suits me, it has to suit the recipient. That way I am assured that it will be used and loved.

For me it depends on the recipient and the occassion. I started out decades ago making needlepoint christmas stockings for my nephews/nieces. My one brother - who has 3 children - has never even said thank you. And yet, because I wanted to do the same for all of my siblins, I made a queen sized bed quilt for he and his wife. He was certainly appreciative - SIL, not so much. Now, on the other hand, my other brother with 2/kids have been incredibly effusive in their thanks for the kids stockings as well as the quilt I made for them. To the point where that SIL asked me to make a quilt for my niece's room as it was sooo cold in her room and the quilt I made them was sooo warm! She offered to pay for all the materials and I turned her down. And my Sis and BIL/SIL on the other side are very appreciative. I make quilts to be used - not heirlooms. When it's friends kids for other occassions, I usually give a bought gift appropriate for the occassion. I am, however, making an oversize twin for one son's friend for his HS graduation. I'll do the same for his younger sister in a few years as well.