Do you have a go-to pattern for gift?
 

My husband and I are invited to 3 upcoming weddings and are not particularly close to any of the couples. Do you have a go-to pattern that you would use for gifts? Would a home-made gift seem cheap to a young couple? My son just got married a week ago, and I was stunned at the generous gifts they received.

Any ideas for something personalized?

No help with your question - just wanted to say I love your avatar!

Thank you! It's my life verse.

It's really hard to say. If you don't know the couple, you don't know their style. If they don't like or have an appreciation for hand crafted items, they won't understand the value (a Walmart quilt is $35). It doesn't mean that they are bad people, they just have different tastes. Then there's the home dec aspect. Where will they use it? If it's a bed quilt, would they have to repaint to use it? If it's a throw, will it go with their couch? The only type of quilt I'd give to someone I didn't know well would be a picnic quilt (along with a picnic basket, cute gift). Make sure the card or quilt label is clear that you hand made it for them.

I really wouldn't make a quilt or something hand made unless you are pretty sure it will be appreciated. You will put a lot of work and expense into it, and there could be the possibility it will be stored, given away, not loved or even liked the way you hoped. If you think it will be well received, maybe you could get a hint of their preferences from what they put on their registries. Hard decision. Good luck.

My oldest son and his wife have a great many friends and we have met a lot of them at various parties. When the friends or their children have gotten married, my husband and I are not invited. That's fine. I still want to do something nice for certain couples. I have made a set of 4 place mats using fat quarters. I don't always know their colors but I figure they can still use them. I would look for a pattern for a table runner and matching place mats. And if you have a serger to make rolled hem napkins, that would be super.

I definitely would not make a quilt for a couple that I did not know well -too expensive, too time consuming and too much chance of it not being appreciated. Our gift choice for weddings like this is $ or a gift card to Canadian Tire (they have everything!). The $ gift means less stress for you, more time to quilt your things and no hurt feelings. I've never heard a couple yet complain about cash. For one couple I knew a little better, I bought oven mitts, made a barbecue apron and tucked the cash in the pocket!

Are the weddings coming up soon? Perhaps you can make them a nice holiday-themed table runner and placemats? I have found that many of the younger generation (like my stepchildren and their spouses) do not appreciate the time and effort it takes to make a quilt. I made baby quilts for all their children (five total) when they were born. My husband told his kids how long it took me to make each quilt, and their response was "It was would been easier to buy one!" No more quilts for them!

Love the idea of a picnic quilt and a picnic basket. You could add napkins to the basket along with nice picnic ware for two :o

How about a sofa quilt? My kids are in their twenties and love to nap, covered with an afghan or lightweight quilt. If you don't know their style preferences, a holiday quilt should be safe. Blue is also usually a safe choice, as it's almost a neutral, without being so drab.

I would just get gift cards. You can pick them up at any walmart with visa or american express. That way they can purchase what they want. Or check the gift registry and see if they are signed up at any of the stores. You could also call the parents and get some ideas if you decide ona quilt.

I'm not thinking about making an actual quilt.....I was thinking more along the lines of placemats, table runner, something like that.....something fairly simple and inexpensive. Just don't want to come across as cheap, but don't really want to give a cash gift either.

I'd whip up one of those 10 minute table runners in a holiday theme fabric and purchase some cloth napkins at one of the big retailers. If they aren't wild about it they only have to use it once a year and it's something that is inexpensive to make but looks expensive. If you have an embroidery machine or know a friend that does you can monogram their initial on the napkins. I usually monogram just the initial of their last name in the corner. I can usually make this gift set in about 2 hours.

I made a Disappearing 9 Patch out of my stash for a young couple that my husband had known through his former wife. A quilt is a nice gift and another easy pattern is a Wickedly Easy - both patterns are available on the internet and can be made quickly. I do not buy presents anymore for any occasion. I am also astounded by the expensive gifts now a days and would rather use my talent and time to make something even if I do not know the couple very well.

I am going to be honest... as much as you don't want to .. give cash or check and/or see if they are registered . You don't know the taste of these couples, and it would take time and $$$ to make a gift. I am not normally a fan of cash... but when I don't know the couple... it just makes more sense .. so I can use my time to make something for someone that I am sure they will appreciate.

Haven't been to a wedding for awhile but if you are of a quilting mind the double slice layer cake is a favorite of mine.Missouri Quilt has the tutorial. I always give something personal and hand made whether by Me or someone else.Anyone can give from a gift registry!!!Good luck

How about a Christmas Table Runner (for a Christian couple), or seasonal table runner (Snow, Valentine' Day, Fall/harvest). There are some fairly easy ones. I would not do a quilt for someone I didn't really know.

Some of the handmade gifts we received included a Kleenex box cover (the upright kind with a box of Kleenex inside), table cloths, but those require at least some knowledge of the preferred colors for decor.

I have to agree with others on this. If you're not particularly close to the couples, I wouldn't make them a quilt. Take the money you would have spent on the quilts and give them a gift card or a check.

:) use search for this site: Easy tabletopper -- uses squares (5) and 1/2 squares (2 squares) -- I am currently using 6 1/2 inch squares for the tabletopper and 5 1/2 inch squares for the placemats -- they are octagons, very fast and easy to assemble and quilt -- pictures are easy to use as a pattern

in Search, Easy Table Topper -- posted in Pictures 11-13-2012 by Nancygeddes -- I have been pleased with the ease and the results of this project!!

I recently made gifts for a wedding shower I went to & they were very well received. I made placemats, napkins, a bread basket liner (from a tut on this board- I've made many of these & everyone loves them) & a wine vest (a little vest that goes around a wine bottle). I got a nice basket for the bread basket liner. I, too was worried that they might think it was chincey or cheap but she really seemed to like them. I put a little note on the basket liner saying what it was and one on the wine vest too.

If they celebrate Christmas a tree skirt would be nice. I made one for my friend's daughter when she got married about 12 years ago and every time I see her she tells me how much they love it and think of me every Christmas when they get it out and put it under the tree.
I also think a holiday table runner would be nice.

Well, most people use potholders and drink coasters and drink coffee or tea. How about a set of neutral potholders, four pretty coasters (have scraps?) and find a nice, reusable wicker basket (kitchen counter, bath storage) and a couple of mugs, with a sample bag of coffees and teas?

Or, potholders, a gender neutral apron and a little steamer, or set of nice fry or sauce pans.

Since you're not particularly close, check out their wedding registries. They would appreciate it more.

I'm making a set of linen napkins for a co-worker. Using the serger for a nice rolled hem, and am planning to put a little embroidery (machine) on them - maybe just an initial.

Personally - I would choose a gift off of their registry

I agree with quilstrinz.

I'd go for the gift registry also. I know when I got married a favorite aunt knitted an afghan for us. I have never used it but can't bear to give it away. It's an albatross in the linen closet.

MaggieMae, Beautiful placemats, napkins, vest and basket liner! The vest is absolutely adorable! Bookmark!

Any gift will be appreciated. Just this weekend I gave a Christmas quilt as a wedding gift. I don't know the couple very well, but I work with the bride's mother. I can't say that I made the quilt just for the wedding gift though.. it was just being completed and I didn't really have plans for it. the timing was just right. I was told that they loved the quilt, but if they don't that's fine too. I quilt because I enjoy doing it...

Take a look at their registry, if they have them, to get an idea of their taste. For example if it's crystal, a table runner a little more elegant with maybe nice batiks would work. I'd sign and date the piece so they would remember who gave such a thoughtful gift.

Mine is Turning 20, usually with batiks from Connecting Threads and I quilt it myself. I've made 5 of them for various friends. I make a personalized label. I also made one from my stash that was a scrappy T20 for my SIL. She loved it!

I agree with Stitch124. Personally, I always give a check. With today's weddings, many of the couples are paying for them on their own (not the parents of the bride as in years past) and appreciate a cash/check gift more. To me, a check is always a "good fit". JMHO.

Anita

I would not spend my time, or money, making a wedding gift unless I knew that it would be appreciated, especially for people I am not close to or do not know well. Go to their gift registry or give a gift card.

That's a tough questions, a lot of young people I know these days seem to be minimalist and aren't sentimental so I'm not sure I would give something home made. It's also hard to guess what colors to use. The only thing I can think of is a table mat and placemats in either a holiday theme or either a neutral palette or black and white. I would definitely include a label on whatever you make so they at least know it was done with love and care.

Is it possible to ask the couples what they would like? I rarely make for the younger generation and was hurt by my daughter's comment after all the stuff I made for her kitchen tea (she has learnt from her now husband to put a dollar value on gifts) she thought a gift of some plastic ware was more valuable. Needless to say the quilt I was making as a wedding gift wasn't given. Her husband proclaimed to one and all at the wedding rehearsal that couples today want money, grrrr

If you aren't really close to them - enough that they would know how much of your time and talent went into a handmade gift, I'd give them a gift card, or something from their registry list. That's why those lists are created these days-so kids don't get a dozen cheese trays like we did, even though I'm sure every person who gave it thought they had a great, unique idea.

If they are family members I usually crochet a name doily for them and they can do the framing to suit their taste. Otherwise if I hardly know them, they will probably get a table runner for the current season. Even the ten minute table runners can be cute if you jazz them up a bit with buttons or yoyos. Whether they appreciate hand made is not important to me. I gave them something I made myself and that's good enough for me. It has to be a child or grandchild to get a quilt!

This may sound odd but my usual wedding gift to acquaintances is a very nice sewing kit. Quality large and small scissors, a Superior bobbin saver filled with bobbins of different colors, package of hand sewing sharp needles, safety pins, measuring tape and a seam ripper. I try to find the perfect container so it doesn't look like Grandma's sewing basket. It may not be a wow gift but when needed it is a welcome gift.