I made my first quilt at age 65 for my first granddaughter, who is going on 15 and still has that quilt in her room, VERY used and appreciated. Its design was pretty good, but I'd make a nicer one now and did for the next two, now 5 and 10, whose quilts are reaching the same stage as the first one - very loved. They enjoy using the sewing machines I gave them and they can go on from where I left off. Kids can be great.

Gratefully the quilts that I've made for my grandkids and daughters have been greatly appreciated and they want more whenever I would like to make them.

For the adult daughters, I do ask what colors they would like and even show them photos of quilt patterns to see what their choices would be.

I had lots of Christmas blocks from a quilt xmas block swap and let my 3 grand kids pick which blocks they would like in their quilt and let them arrange the blocks on the floor (b4 I had a design wall) ... they loved getting to choose the blocks and the placement. They LOVE their Christmas quilts. My grandson who was 9 at the time even helped sew his blocks in rows, he was jazzed about that.

Now I have bunches of Halloween blocks and will do the same thing, but for next Halloween, not enough time this year. I now have 5 grandkids, ages 3, 4, 7, 7, 11 and have enough blocks to make a quilt for each of them.

I wouldn't make a quilt for someone without knowing if they really want it and would appreciate it. Too many charities to donate a quilt to, and not have to think about it getting damaged or disrespected.

warm quilt hugs, sue in CA

I am currently making a quilt for our 21 year old GD. She lives in Illinois so it gets really cold there. She saw the quilt in my Keepsake Quilting catalogue and picked it out. I am backing it with flannel so it will be warm. It started out to be queen size but she got a kingsize bed and now I am adding borders to make it bigger. The cost of the fabric and backing is now close to $300. That is not including my time or to have it quilted. My dh is paying for it . I certainly hope she doesn't mistreat it. The good thing is that she is in Ill. and I am in Calif. and probably won't know.

People don't know how much money and time go into a quilt and love!

I had to sort of laugh at myself when I started reading this. I have been busy cutting fabric to make a quilt as you go quilt for a Christmas gift. My young grandson was engaged to a girl that just has a baby. Thought at Christmas I would give her for the baby a crib quilt. But when I was buying fabric in the back of my mind told me to get enough fabric to make a lap size. Well I did and I just found out that the wedding is off. Sad for my grandson but glad I can now enlarge the quilt to lapsize and it will stay in the family... just someone else will enjoy it.

Whenever I decide to make a quilt for a friend I generally work in the "what are your favorite colors?" into a conversation...or casually note the colors in their living/family room. Somehow, with each one I have given, it has blended with their decor. Another thing to consider might be something they really love...angels, stars, dogs, cats, etc.
Maybe they've just been polite, but have never seen it on the garage floor or lining the liter boxes. Just lucky I guess.

The one thing that would be a turn off is when someone constantly asks "Are you making that for me?" with every quilt they see me making. After several times, it stops being funny and becomes a turn off to me. Begging doesn't work with me.

Single bed quilts comprise most of my give aways. I spend just as much time and attention to detail as I do with the special gift quilts. The receivers are usually the graduating seniors in our county 4-H program, occasionally someone who earns special consideration by their deeds. The quilts are built around the favorite colors and hobbies of the students. (Pink horses galloping into a pink/orange sunset for the teen leader of the horse club, who drives a pink pick-up truck; rabbits with a tie-dye accents for the rabbit queen; a kaleidoscope from fabric selected by the "all seeing" teen leader, etc.) They haul them to our 4-H overnights and camp sessions where they are the talk of the cabins. One girl confessed that she wants to stay in 4-H just so she can get one of my quilts. Hey - if that works to keep them involved, my labor of love serves an extra purpose.

I've set up a little sewing clinic in my home to teach the kids to make their own. We'll be starting with place mats and table runners next month.

What a forward thinking quilter you are. Getting the 4-H'ers involved and learning to quilt is a great idea. It probably be the start of a special lifetime hobby for some of them. I love the way you decided what quilt to give to each one of them.

I made a crocheted blanket for my first great grand child. The mother's comment when she opened the present was, "I can put this with the PILE of others that he has." There was no thank you or other comment. That is probably the only great grand child that will get anything hand made. And that's a shame!

What is sad to me is that people don't write thank you notes any more. I think EVERYONE should, don't you? I don't understand what happened to manners.

If I make something quilted as a gift, I usually do a table runner or a small wallhanging that has a Holiday theme, like Christmas or Thanksgiving. Who knows what they might like tomorrow decor-wise, but most people like to have something for the holidays.

Pat

I agree no more anything for them. I have not so far had this problem. I do make my quilts to be used. I am guilty of not using one of my quilts because it is too heavy, but I have made many lap quilts that are meant to be used. I also have many quilt tops that need to be quilted. I have given my nieces some of my quilts and they seem to really enjoy and charish them. My sisters do not quilt so they are always wanting them. I have one quilt that my sister Nancy started before she died of ovaian cancer. Our oldest sister got it when she died and has asked me to finish it for her. She has also made a couple of the blocks and I am trying to get our youngest sister to make a block (with my help) so it can be made by all four of us as a "sisters quilt". We have been working on it for four years now, so I really want to finish it. I get sad when I work on it because I miss her so much. But, back to the subject. We do need to give to those who appreciate and will use our quilts. I'm not worried about the cost as I am about the love. One little thank you can mean so much.

I made a quilt for my son and hung it on the wall in the living room. When he came for a visit I asked what the though of the quilt and he did not care for it. Just goes to show peoples taste changes.
Now I quilt for myself. Every other year I photograph all of the items that I have made that I want to give away. I then put it on a CD along with a list of people and addresses that will get to choose a gift. The first person on the list choses theirs and then send the CD and list to the next person on the list. This way they can choose what they want. All of the quilted items that I have given away are in a file for the person that got them. This also gives me a better idea of their likes and I can add item for them that will go with the item they picked.
My oldest daughter let me know that she really likes picking her gift rather than wondering what she will get.
If anyone wants more details on how this works just email me at [email protected]

I quilt for myself and the things that I want to make. As for giving away. I photo all of the items that I am ready to give away and send the CD and a list of receipents to the first person on the list. They are asked to choose the item that they want and put it beside their name on the list. Then they send the CD and the list to the next person and so on until both the CD and the list return to me. I keep a file of the itmes that each person has choses and the year. This will help me decide what I could make to go with the item they chose. My daughter told me that she really like choosing rather than hoping for the one she likes best. I can try new things that if I do not have a place in my home for them can find a home that will love them. I to make a lot of quilts for the Quilts of Valor and our solders.

How ungrateful.

One of my quilting friends made two baby quilts for her greatgrand babies. She was upset when she got the Thank You card and it said Thank You for the "Blanket" . Sounds silly but gosh when ya do all the work and quilt it it would be nice to be thanked for the lovey quilt you made. lol

Well, in this case maybe the person does not know the difference in the names. I really do not think I would get upset over terminology. To some people they are all the same.

It seems to me that folks who do crafts or have some sort of idea of labor involved are more appreciative, at least I think so. Some people just do not care for quilts, period. I only make them for my family, but I do clear the pattern and colors with them first. In the case of grandchildren, I pick a color and theme that fits them and work with that so it is a surprise for them, but I clear it with mom first to be sure. Before I started quilting, I really had no appreciation for them but once I started, I have a healthy respect for those folks who do fantastic quilts. I guess it is all a matter of awareness and appreciation on the part of the recipient.

Well I am not sure I will ever get this one quilt top done. Moving mighty slow on it due too health but I cannot believe that so many have had such rudeness when they have given a person a quilt or anything. I got a lap quilt from a lady in Canada and I love that quilt. We are both red hatters and the colors were perfect but you know what, I would not worry about colors of anything that I get. I am just always thankful for anything that anyone sends too me. I guess I won't have too watch my quilt/quilts not appreciated cause I am too dogged slow too get one done. I have spent hours on just the top and it really is not that big.

I have done a quilt for each of the kids in their wedding colors. Now my (step) DIL wants: Queen Size, Southwest Pattern, Turquoise, Pink, Purple and black, please make it drape like a bedspread, and can we have it by the time we move into our new home at Christmas time.

Nope, don't think so

Even an email to say thank you and I got the quilt, would be acceptable to me. But to say nothing at all??? That's just plain rude!!
:x

I make quilts and give them to the chruch to give out as needed. I don't think about who should get what only that God has given me the privilege of having the ability and resources to give to someone who can't give back. And in most cases they don't even know who made it. You know, I am blessed in so many ways because of this. Just let your heart be your quide.
When I do give a quilt to a friend, family member etc, I make it very personnal by adding their picutre into the quilt, sometimes on the back and other times on the front. With the picture their name and some other info that they would be proud to display it usually gets taken care of.
I do this with baby quilts...I get the first picture taken (usually at the hospital) and the info of their birth. With family members I do the same picture and info business and place it on the back in the upper left corner then I update their quilt each birthday by adding that year's picture next to the first. The back becomes a short story of the child through out the years.

All mine are made to use.

carron that quilt is beautiful too. Love the stars and the colors and everything about it. Maybe one day I will be able too that good of work.

That is kind of like the quilt I made for someone special and it ended up on the garage floor for the dogs to sleep on. Just breaks my heart when I see an abused quilt. I now keep them all for me.

Thank you Poodles, I appreciate your compliment. I am sure that you are short changing your own abilities. Don't compare your work with others, each is unique and exhibits it's creators personality.

Those lucky dogs to have such a luxury to sleep on! Dogs are smart and they know a good thing when they see it.

My mum has done the same thing. Her 'little' dogs' claws would catch the applique and pull them off, so she has it put away in her cupboard to keep it safe.

Both of my Aunt also enjoys what I have made for them, they are so proud that every new friend was shown the items I made. Both are craft oriented especially the youngest, she is into folk art painting and when she is well she teaches it to others including my daughter, and my GD who was 3 at the time. She has not been well this last year so DD has not been to see her.