If any of my carefully made quilts ended up being misused, I would be plenty upset. I did make a baby quilt for my neighbor's new grandson and the mom never said thank you or acknowledged it until I happened to see her outside and asked how the baby likes the quilt, she then hesitated Oh! Thank you yes we enjoy it very much. A phone call would of been nice and being an old fart, I would have written a note. Don't people appreciate handwork anymore? No one seems to want to thank or give any acknowledgement. The fabric alone ran me close to $50 but they never think of that. Sorry to vent but it really ticks me off when so much is taken for granted.

This is really sad. I am sure the receivers (some but not all) of a quilt do not know the time, effort, thought, and money that is put into each and every quilt made by hand (I mean not by factory made). Perhaps they should be told in some way. Perhaps a tag stating the hours spent, what part is done my hand and/or machine or both. how the colors were picked along with the pattern. Some maybe not all should be known to the receiver. Also you are all so correct in how much this hurts the quilters heart when one is carelessly destroyed. What do you think?

There are just some people who I will not give a quilt to because I know they would not take care of it and give it the proper love one must give to a quilt. Just think of all the hours of sewing, pin and needle sticks, crawling around on the floor getting everything just right to pin..... Naw, some people wouldn't appreciate that. If I know they would love it, I'll make a gift. I love seeing people's eyes light up when they get one. That feeling goes a long way.

i made a very special quilt for freinds second marriage only to have it put in storage where anything could happen to it yes it was their colors my daughter said she thinks about asking them for if they are not going to use it before something happens to it

Call me I am selfish but the only quilts that I am making to give away are to my 7 grandchildren. I am chosing colors that they like now and I hope that they will like them as they get older. I want them to curl up under their quilt when they are older and remember my love. Also I have several pattern and fabrics that I really like and I am going to keep them for myself. I can not afford to make and give away guilts even to charity. Also my friends and family do not exchange such expensive gifts. I make chemo caps, baby hats, and afgans squares to donate but these are fairly cheap to make.

About time any cost of fabric: gave one of my first quilts to a 4 year old nephew for Xmas gift and DH said, "is that all? he needs something else." While I think he meant that a 4 year old wants toys rather than a quilt - I had to remind him just how much I spent at the LQS on that quilt. My nephew is now 6 and was impressed with a little bag I made his younger sister for her birthday - i.e. that I MADE it (his mother doesn't sew)- so he may get a couple of pillow cases this year.

I usually ask the colors of what the person would like, or a object they may have in mind.
The person that made that quilt that was later found on the sidewalk with oil, and such would make me upset and I sure would cross them off my list of any further quilting.
I made a full sized quilt for my granddaughter, she was 5 at the time. This one was the 2nd quilt I made (the picture shown in my avitar). They had a German Shepherd, and when we went to visit, the quilt had some squares torn, with the stuffing hanging out ( I made quillo/puff) it was also hanging off the bed with the kids jumping all over it.
My daughter asked if I could fix it!!! Well it was only my 2nd quilt, and I had no idea how to remove the torn squares and replace them. I didn't even think I had enough fabric, and I sure did not fell to fix it, since this may happen again.
I don't think I should have made such a quilt at that young age. I learned a very valuable lesson

I used to make quilts for my kids, but they were so picky, i.e. I want these colors and this pattern, on and on. And then when the quilt was finished, they had complaints about it. Now I just make what I want to make and if they like it they can have it.

There was a quilter named Mary Schaffer that found an old quilt in the trunk of a car. She thought "How beautiful, evan dirty and someone put a lot of work into it.

She then went on to become a world famous hand quilter and applique master. She died about two years ago but I have bought the book about her years ago. Gwen Marston worked with her for years. Mary was a delightful lady. I think she hand quilted for about 40 years - all because of that old dirty quilt.

I AGREE!

Unfortunately, youngsters seldom realize the time and work and love that goes into a handmade item like a quilt. I got my first one when I was a newlywed in my 20's and even then I did not appreciate what it represented, however I always took care of it since it came from my husbands favorite Aunt, now that quilt is over 50 years old. My grandmother made quilts for each of my sons (3) and they were between the ages of 10 and 19 and I gave them to the sons, 2 of the 3 quilts have survived to today, and the third had the misfortune to be involved in a divorce, need I say more?

I will not make my 2 oldest grand daughters a quilt again for how they acted when I have these each one a few years back! I also found in their basement a baby quilt I had nmade for my first Grand Daughter on a shelf so I took it and will have a note on it it will go to her first child so that will be a gon time she is only 13 now!

I usually meke quilts I love with colors I found at LQS store that I fell in love with. When they are finished I have them out for everyone to enjoy and the first one that says they love it, guess what their next gift is?

I made a quilt, when I was a raw novice for my neice who was emigrating to Australia. I collected scraps of any type of material from all the people close to her. These fabrics were from shirts, dresses, or anything else that had belonged to these family and friends. I made it a scrappy strippy quilt, and told her to wrap herself in it if she was feeling homesick. Fourteen years later, she is back home and still uses the quilt on her bed. I cringe when I see it, because it is so un proffesional, but she would not part with it. I love her. I also made a baby quilt three years ago for my new grandaughter, which is now nearly worn out. We have to spread it on the floor when we dance, and use it as a tent. amongst many other uses, I also made her a christmas quilt last year, but she insists in using it all year round. I love her. I think we can say that they are both QUILT WORTHY

Hey, Despised Quilters, you reminded me of a poem you might want to pass on when you gift a quilt.
ADMONITIONS UPON THE GIFT OF A QUILT by Diane Holden
This quilt was made with love and care
To keep you from the cold night air.
I only ask you treat it well,
For any broken stich will tell.
The handiwork that you adore
Must not be dragged across the floor.
If youngsters bounce upon your bed,
Then substitute another spread.
And don't spill tea or jam or cake
upon what it took me years to make.
But brush away each guilty crumb,
Imagining my bleeding thumb.
If you do stain it, I beseech,
I beg you - spare the chlorine bleach!
If you would hang it on the wall,
Forget the nails, or not at all.
Protect from mildew and from moth;
Don't use it as a picnic cloth.
This quilt I made as a gift to you,
But it's my share of history, too.

(Edit as desired, but give credit to the original author, too.)

Out of all the quilts I've made, I've given most away. To my DD's and grandkids. Made a memory quilt for my retiring boss and baby quilts for GGK's. So lately I've decided I'll just make quilts I like, keep them and my heirs can fight over them when I'm gone. Tee Hee...

"Blessed are the children of piecemakers, for they shall inherit the quilts."

I make Art quilts, meant to live on a wall. I have made three, that have left my house and those had fabrics that were chosen or OK'd by the owners. If someone used a handmade item for an oil mat, I'd never give them another thing, ever.

I am also very careful who I give my quilts too as I have seen kids using them on a clothes line for tents also tried giving one for a wedding present never even got a thank you
or said if she liked it and the sad thing was I was offered 400.00 dollars for it by someone else also have had people put them in garage sales as the color did not match their room I only give mine when someone really likes it but mostly sell them or stack them up

My niece has been determined by family not to cherish heirloom quality gifts. Handmade gifts to her family now bear a label that requests "return to maker if no longer wanted."

Almost all of the quilts I have made were gifts. I make quilts for family members who will treasure a handmade them. That would have broken my heart to see the gift discarded and used for a rag. Their loss to never, ever receive your quilted love again!

I didn't actually make the first baby quilts with the thought in mind of they would be used by the recipients because their Mom's also made many hand crafts for gifts. I just felt they would appreciate them. They did the children grew up with them, took them on visits to relatives, etc. I do know that as these same children have grown and married I have felt a bit of hesitation about making them quilted gifts because I don't think the wives are the type to appreciate such things. They tend to like "store bought" mass produced items. Now I turn my sights on children and the less fortunate who as sick or recovering to gift my quilts to.

Andie :roll: :roll: :roll:

I have only 2 quilts at present. Most of mine have gone as gifts for weddings. birthdays, etc. I have sold some. Not a lot of profit but helped buy more fabric. I love making quilts and finding a nice home for them. Some day I hope to make a quilt for myself. Not in any hurry though.

I have a notebook with "questionnaires" on my family members that I would want to quilt for. I have their favorite colors, likes and dislikes, etc., so that when I get ready to make them a quilt or throw, I'll be in the ballpark of what they like. I also have a "return one time" policy. I ask if it's really not what they want, that they work with me to get one they'll like and return the first one. Nobody's returned one yet, and they all say they like them.

My sons were best men in weddings this past summer. I went to the bridal registery to find out there bedroom colors. They both loved the quilts.

Our last quilt guild meeting was all about its charitable ventures. The guild gives to 2 children's homes, a hospital and nursing homes as well as the quilts for servicemen. The director of one of the children's homes came and explained how much the kids enjoyed having something all their own. And the liason with QOV read letters of thanks from servicemen that were quite touching. So, rather than making a lot of quilts for in-laws, etc., I'm hoping to get myself organized enough to do some charity quilts.

I have no children and therefore cater to the nieces and nephews on my side of the family. There are eight all together. I give them a twin quilt when they graduate from high school - I generally ask for their input. It was always something of a tradition within my family, as they all asked at Christmas one year if I would do it. Then my husband asked me to do some for his family. I made a Drunkard's Path twin size quilt for our nephew (red and gray -his favorite colors - 3.5" finished squares) - I got nothing. Not a hug, not a thank-you, not - that must have taken a long time to make, not a single thing. I am still ripped to this day about it. I guess, he didn't ask for it, so I shouldn't be upset. But, I was raised that no matter what - you always said thank you for anything you received. I love that my nieces and nephews on my side of the family cherish and use them. I'm sure I'll make them wedding ones too, when that time comes.

That is EXACTLY what happened to a baby quilt I made for a relative....garage floor w/ grease and oil on it. It was for her first baby. She's had 6 more babies, but no more quilts from me! I continue to make baby quilts for all other babies born into the family though.

The two Guilds that I belong to make quilts for needy babies at our local hospital, For disabled Veterans at the Annual DV Winter Sports Clinic at Snowmass Ski area and Community quilts for accident, illness, house fires,etc. The rest are for family and friends. I only use one bed and can only use a few quilts of my own.

Sometimes it is a shame to see that some only value something by how much it cost in $$ to make, rather than how much it cost physically and emotionally. No one gets one from me unless I think there is a mutual acceptance of that concept. A male acquaintance of mine gave away a quilt he was given by a lady in his adopted town because he didn't like the indigenous colours and design that she had made them in. As he is not Australian, I am sure she was making an "Australian Quilt" to welcome him. So your point was evidenced there. I personally think it is beautiful - but it is now up for raffle.

This year I made birthday quilts for my 2 kids, and my sister and my brothers and sister in laws. I asked them for their 3 favorite colors. The design was up to me. So far everyone loves them. Am sending my son and BIL theirs next week. Then my SIL and I will be done! THEN I can work on all the projects I want to make for me! :)

One woman made a quilt for her son and daughter-in-law as a wedding gift. It was a double wedding ring and had more than 3,500 pieces. One day she went over to her son's house and saw the quilt in the dog's pen. She took the quilt back with the excuse she was going to wash it. It was never returned.
When our son was married I asked him if they would like a quilt. I didn't get a response, so they got money instead. At least they would use that.

I have an Aunt that treasures hand made items so much that she does not use them either!! She will show them to everyone that is willing to look at them!! LOL So, if she requests something - I will make it,but I try to get her to use it too!!!

The only quilts I have given away have been appreciated by my nieces, nephews and my daughters when they were expecting their babies and as thank yous for people who have done something special for me. I also made one for my son and his new wife and they both loved it. since they live out of state and we don't visit that often it would be awhile before I'd know if they really don't like it. But my understanding is that they're decorating one of the bedrooms in their new house around that quilt which was a beautiful carpenters wheel. I think it was the nicest quilt I've done so far.
I have also made a quilt for each of my 5 grandchildren for Christmas last year to keep and use at our new summer home in the mountains. The rest of the quilts that I make I keep and might some day give some away, but it would have to be to someone that is really special to me.
I swore up and down that I'd never make a quilt for my one daughters. My mother had quilts made for my girls when they were teenagers (for their hope chests) and my oldest daughter uses hers for the beach and the yard. When she asked me to make a rag quilt for her I thought hard about it before actually making it. She uses it all the time (in the house) and asked for another one for her birthday this year. I made another one for her and one for her husband (to use in their theatre room). She uses hers but he never said "thank you" so it's his last one.
If and when I would ever see it being used for working on the car and covered with oil I think I would just break down and cry.
I've joined a guild though and I think making quilts for the needy is just a great idea. We do that at the guild but they provide the fabric. I just might make some on my own from now on and donate them.
I'm always working on a quilt because I love to do it. Quilting has taken over my life. I don't work on any of my other hobbies anymore. I guess when it leaves our hands we shouldn't be concerned with what happens to it because it's no longer ours....but that's difficult!

I made a beautiful basket quilt for my DH's bro and new wife. SIL never shows the patchwork side, only the back, as the baskets don't go with her Mardi Gras decor. :roll:
SIL considers quilts to be blankets with no value to them.
I asked if I could make my niece and nephew twin size quilts for their beds and SIL said they had enough blankets.

Now I only make charity quilts for kids and our Soldiers. I know they are appreciated by the recipients.

I made a beautiful basket quilt for my DH's bro and new wife. SIL never shows the patchwork side, only the back, as the baskets don't go with her Mardi Gras decor. :roll:
SIL considers quilts to be blankets with no value to them.
I asked if I could make my niece and nephew twin size quilts for their beds and SIL said they had enough blankets.

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...45965719fgaxFs

Now I only make charity quilts for kids and our Soldiers. I know they are appreciated by the recipients.

Have been reading this thread this morning (and have read a few similar ones as well) I also don’t worry about the what ifs?

While I haven’t been quilting for as long as some people I have made quite a few quilts. Have only kept one or two of them for my own use, while my DD has commandeered two of them, I made one for her good friend who uses it regularly and several for other friends. I also make one or two a year and donate to charity for raffle prizes.

Once they have left my hands though I do not worry about them at all and this is because I love making them, and can’t bare the thought of them accumulating unused in my cupboard. Now that would be a real waste.

Maybe1day

AMEN!!!! Even an imbicile knows anything made by someone has been made with love and care pfffffftttt on them

My gosh! That would make me sick.

Before I give away a quilt to anyone, I have to feel confident that the recipient would like the design, the color choices, the size, etc. Some people don't even like home-made quilts, bless their little pea-pickin' hearts.

As we all do, I put a lot of creativity, ingredients, time & work into the quilts I make. Although I have many WIP's here, all the ones I've completed over the years have been given away, have been and still are appreciated.