A few months ago, I posted a photo (http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-74029-1.htm) of a quilt I made for my DGD. She loved it, her mom loved it, and in fact they show it to just about everyone who visits.

However, I recently found out that my DDIL has decided not to allow DGD to use the quilt as her daily cover. She wants to only use it occasionally, because she wants to "preserve" it.

While I'm glad they love the quilt, I am a little sad that it won't get used as I had intended. Has anyone else had this happen?

it happens to all of us i think sooner or later, the price of being great quilters!
make her another less fancy one for everyday and she can save her other to love as an adult and mom will be happy

YES!!!! My DIL is the same way... as my older GKs.... they don't want it to wear out.... I told them.. I made it to be used, If it wears out I'll make u another one.... it will just give me reason to make another!!! PLEASE use it...heirlooms are wonderful.... but I do not agree things should be set on a shelf and looked at... I feel things should be functional.. ( I understand there are exceptions to the rule.. I have them too)

I hate that. I always tell people 'this is a functional quilt. It's to be used, not stored away'.

Yup! Made a baby blanket for my step-daughter - our first grandchild in fact. One day a few months after receiving the blanket, she posted a pic of the closet she just finished the organization of and there on the top shelf in a plastic bag was my quilt! I had to say NOOOOOOOOO!!!

Another baby blanket I made for my best friend when she became a new grandma ... the card I included said "this is not a "quilt" - it's a "blankie" to be dragged around the house". My friend took my advice and that blankie IS used when her grandchildren come over.

So let's call them "blankies" not "quilts". :)

The important thing is that they like it. Better than ending up at a yard sale as some have posted.

Good point. :shock:

Taking care of things is nice, but putting them away for "good" is kind of sad. When my Mamaw died, she was wearing a ratty bathrobe that would make a hobo blush. When we cleaned out her house, she had 11 brand new robes that she had put away for "good".

"Good" comes to seldom. I want to use my quilts for every day life. I have much more of that than I do "good".

Oh Ya... The Christmas quilt I made for my sister was over her family room couch and I thought it would get used. She told me that she doesn't want it to get ruined. I told her it was meant to be used to snuggle under, not just admired. I even told her it is meant to be washed many times and that it is well made so..... please use it!

Yessssss, I have had this happen. My DDIL took the pirate quilt off of my grandson's bed because he occasionally wets the bed and she didn't want him wetting the quilt. She put it in his closet and there it sits. He loved having his pirate quilt on his bed. I am heartbroken that he isn't snuggling under it, wrapped in love from gramma.......

I made a quilt for my new grandson. I asked my daughter why she wasn't using it. She said she didn't want to ruin it. I told her I made it to use, and it will wash. He now sleeps under it every night.

awww. sweet that they value the q's. but really, there's love in every stitch.

I babysit my g-dau (4 1/2 yo) Thurs pm's while dd is in school. Made her a doll q Sat, it's gift wrapped up, ready to give to her tonight.

DD kind of went, you know she's going to play with it, right? I laughed. Well, I don't want her dragging it in the dirt, but I DO want her to drag it around with her.

Non-quilters do not understand that a quilt gets more character when used.

I sent a note with the quilt that just went to my grandson, that this was for snuggling when he feels the need, but also for taking to the beach. I don't want it on a shelf.

I made a crib quilt with matching bumper pad and sheets for a friend and she passed it along to a cousin who nailed the quilt to the window for a curtain. Upon entering the room I gasped and asked politely where did you get that curtain from and she told me it's just an old blanket(maybe a year old at the time) my cousin gave me. UGH!!!