I hope I know how to ask this question correctly without offending anyone or starting a political discussion. I need to make a baby quilt for a couple from China.

Background: my DH's company sent him to China 4-5 times per yr. He became very good friends with a young engineer and to this day they still are even tho DH is no longer employed. DH even went to his wedding.

Problem: we just found out they are expecting their first (and due to China's one-child policy) prob only child. I want to make a baby quilt for them.

Question: does anyone know what are typical "baby colors" or themes for babies in China? They are a very educated and well-to-do hard working couple so are very "modern". I don't know if some colors are taboo or offensive or shouldn't be used for babies.

If anyone has any ideas or can help me out I'd really appreciate it. In my opinion, babies are babies are babies!! I just don't want to do the wrong thing.

Thanks-Jan

google Chinese quilts
there is a site 100 Good Wishes Quilts that is all about making quilts for babies

if I knew someone from another country and they made something special for me, I would want it to be representitive of their customs, etc. my 2 cents. :-P

Please keep us posted on this in case others of us face the same dilemna! I can't wait to see the pics of the baby quilt when you get it done!

They're either going to fold up the quilt and put it away as a keepsake for the child or they're going to display it and tell their friends that it was made by the wife of an American friend as a special gift for the baby. Either way, I think you should make what YOU would consider the best baby quilt ever made.

I hope they let the baby use it and promote international friendship by showing it to their families and friends. We need more of that in today's world.

What a wonderful thing to do. Keep us posted on what you decide.

I, too, would want to be sure not to use anything that might offend tradition.

Jan, you stated your question respectfully, courteously and perfectly. It is very important to respect the traditions of other countries. I feel you are being wise to know before you sew.
Are you shipping it to China?
If so, call your air freight carrier or the post office to ask what is and is not accepted into that country.
As well, ask what the Customs duty rate is.
Ask if you are able to pay the duty or if only the recipient can pay it.
I didn’t search long so there are more sites out there. These two have a gift giving section with important information on gift giving.
Chinese Culture, Etiquette, Customs, Manners and Protocol
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/reso...y-profile.html
This link includes a section for gift giving that has some important information in it.
Chinese Customs, Manners and Etiquette
http://factsanddetails.com/china.php...=4&subcatid=19
The link also includes a section for gift giving that has some important information in it.
As I thought about it more I did this search: baby gift customs in china. I got lots of hits and would encourage you to take a look.
I feel you are being wise to know before you sew.
Regards, Dorothy

I know that the color red is good luck to them and very special. Whatever you decide to do, I am sure they will treasure it! Post a picture when you are done.

very nice of you, can't wait to see the finished quilt

I believe color might be your primary concern. Then quilt with oriental designs. Many books will give you these ideas. Books published by Dover Publishing Co is a good source. You might also look at the on line catalog for The Stencil Co (www.quiltingstencils.com) I did a number of oriental designs for their catalog.

Jan,
I made a baby quilt for a Chinese couple (she was my graduate student) and they have since returned to China. Her mother loved it so much that they asked me for the pattern and where I got the fabric so that her mother could make one. I'll be happy to send/post a photo of it--right now I can't because my computer has gone nuts. It is a pinwheel quilt on point that is made with graduated fabrics in red, orange, green and blue.
Carol

I believe that white is associated with death, so avoid that. But colors are generally good. (My grandmother grew up in China, so going off things she said, which makes it all about 90 years old).

Personally, I would not try to do an asian theme of fabrics -- just make a very American quilt. They will understand that this is a traditional American artform made as a special honor to welcome a baby.

I recently made a baby quilt for a couple from India -- they obviously appreciated it, even though it's not part of their tradition, nor is it particularly practical in India (though they are currently in the Pacific NW with their baby, so can use it here.)



RST

"Personally, I would not try to do an asian theme of fabrics -- just make a very American quilt. They will understand that this is a traditional American artform made as a special honor to welcome a baby."

I agree with this.

From readin thru those web sites I wouldn't use green or white. I know that in Asian cultures white is associated with death.

I BOUGHT a baby quilt when I was in China in 1988 at a large fair. All of the baby quilts had red backgrounds! I was told the one I bought had good luck symbols: dragons, spiders, pandas, fish, frogs and kitties. I suspect it was made for the tourist trade, NOT for Chinese people.

We have members here from China. Try going to the User List above and look up users by location. I'm sure they wouldn't mind you contacting them and asking their opinion. :thumbup:

I am sure that anything that you make for them will be treasured. Just think, someone in a foreign land, that they had never met cared enough about them to make a gift for their baby! I WOULD enclose a note with fabric care, encouraging them to use the quilt for the baby, not to save it.

Jan, I have to chuckle, because I recently asked something very similar. I know as nurses we have the issue of being sensitive to our patients cultural practices stressed to us in training and it can definitely be an issue as different cultures have different health practices.

I recently decided to participate in the Little Dresses for Africa program and the first thing I did was email the site to ask if certain animals that I might embroider on the dresses would be offensive in their culture.

I think it is so generous of you to make this young couple a quilt for their little one. Is there a university near you that teaches Chinese language or culture classes? They would be a great resource for this type of info. My daughter took several semesters of Chinese when she was in college.

I agree with those who said that they wouldn't stick with an Asian theme. I will bet too, that they will be proud of the quilt from their American friend.

I think you are smart to be asking this question. Now that we have so many international world wide corporations, businesses are training their employees about these very cultural differences.
I think it is very nice of you to want to give their new baby a quilt, and one that doesn't inadvertantly offend will be cherished and appreciated. :D

I think you should gift them with a quilt from "your" culture! Then they can show their other friends how North Americans do it.

You guys rock!! I was so afraid of offending someone with my question. All your answers are helpful. I have to spend more time on the website before I decide what to do.

I made them a wallhanging for their wedding which they love. Other friends who have visited them say it's displayed on the wall in their living room and they tell everyone Tom's wife made that with her own hands. That makes me feel so good because I wasn't sure what to do then but you know men--DH told me he needed a wedding gift 3 days before he was leaving for China!! Wanted to shoot him.
All turned out well.

Thanks so much for all the GREAT advice-and if you think of anythng else, please let me know.

Ditto!

Here's the baby quilt that I made for a former Chinese student--I sent a message about it earlier.

Carol45, that is lovely. Any child, any where would love to have this.

Hi Jan,
My husband and I lived in Japan for 5 years. My Japanese friends were interested in American customs and culture. I don't think you can go wrong in making an American quilt. You might want to check to see if colors or shapes (or animals) have any particular meaning to them so as not to unintentionally offend but otherwise just make an American baby quilt.

Check the Chinese calendar and find out what animal is for 2010. You could incorporate that into the design, kind of a meeting of the cultures, friends sort of sentiment.

Carol I love your quilt-thanks for posting it. I really like the bright colors.

Thanks again everyone-I appreciate all the help and suggestions. I'm still looking a websites and haven't made a decision yet but I'll let you know what I decide. I don't know if they'll have an Ultrasound to determine the sex so I'm not going to do a gender-specific quilt (that's the only decision I've made so far LOL)

Asian art forms use a lot of pastel colors....but, as has been said, they are living in the modern world. I agree that any baby quilt will thrill them. I am in the same situation.... I befriended a young man who attended the Air Force Academy and he and his wife are now expecting their first baby. Thanks for knocking the cobwebs from my head... I need to make them a quilt for their baby!!!!!

Agreed on the traditional American art form. I made a baby quilt for a good friend of mine who is Finnish and lives in France. No way was I going to be able to meld those cultures together so I told her I was making her a baby quilt but that it would be a traditonal Amercian quilt. As it turns out, I made a Greek Cross pattern quilt becasue half my family is Greek (husband's side) and I told her that way she would remember me! (Actually I just like the pattern). She loved it, and her mother (who lives in Finland) REALLY loved it! I think the advice on color choice is wise, but otherwise I wouldn't stress about making it look Asian.

I googled and this is the year of the tiger, so i would include some tiger themed fabric either in the top or the backing.

http://www.springsgreetingcards.com/...sp?pid=250913.

Please let us know what you deceide and show us pictures.

Good call by others to check color usage. Married to an Asian, I know to be careful, but do not know what Chinese traditions are regarding color.

Other than that, I think anything would be fine.

(I have to add: my DH will NOT let me use Asian fabrics in things for our home. He won't share why.)

if the baby is to be born this year or next according to the chinese calender,it might make a difference also what colors, theme,and lucky numbers that you use

i agree that it needn't look Asian. I have sold a lot of fabric to Asian countries and very typically they pick small scale prints which are 30's reproductions. little kittens are very popular. Think of Vintage Aunt Grace prints and Maywood Studio Makin' conversation prints. they have small children and animals on them. If you use them in a traditional pattern, such as pinwheels, flower gardens, 9 patches, etc. I would think the quilt would be in good taste.

This quitling board is the most amazing thing EVER!
I just googled your suggestion about 100 Good wishes quilts for a Chinese baby and I was delighted and amazed at the information it gave me! How beautiful the symbolism is! Thank you so much for being one of a group of giving, caring, and loving people. Sigh...........how wonderful to find so much goodness in a world so filled with other things. Hugs

I think I agree here. It would make it more special to represent the country where it came from!

I Agree. We are American. They'd want an American quilt from an American Friend. Just as I would want a Chinese Quilt from a Chinaman. What a gift from another country! In our country, about 50 years ago, blue was for girls and pink for boys. Boys even wore lace and capris (knickers). As in China, colors change all the time. The typical wedding gown in America is White for "purity". This tradition is not that old. in my grandmother's day, they just wore their "Sunday Best", had a few family and friends bring a dish to pass, and ate at the church.

I wouldn't stress over Colors at all. They will love every stitch that was meant for love from a friend. If colors are important, Give them the "American"Version and tell them the meaning behind Our colors!

When my son was planning to study in China, I made this wallhanging for his host family. I wanted it to look "American", but not be red, white and blue flag stuff. I would rather have a Chinese friend make a quilt typical of China, than one they think is would be typical of American culture. I agree that they would treasure anything you do.

You may want to look up the date of the birth but right now this is the year of the Tiger Feb 14 2010-Feb 4 2011.
Last year I gave a small quilt to some young friends of mine and it happened to have cows on it. The first thing they said was how nice she was born in the year of the Ox.

I agree with everyone who said no Asian prints. I say make it nice- but it doesn't have to be flags or cherries! I think an American interpretation of their culture would be less meaningful than a good representation of our culture, or just whatever you think would be nice.
Good luck and can't wait to see pictures!