Gifting and getting rid of old quilts! UNUSUAL and warm reaction!
 

So! My sister invites my other sister and I to come enjoy her new beach house for a few days. I had an old quilt that I made of light weight cotton drapery samples and "tried" to learn FMQ on it. This was back when they said to really put the pedal to the medal when doing FMQing! Long time ago! This quilt has tucks all over the back and it has long stitches and short stitches. . . nothing remotely even. . . in the FMQing. It's a mess. ALSO, it's long and more narrow than a bed quilt. So I thought: This mess is PERFECT for laying on the sand. It's been washed lots but still has body. I practiced like mad and this was back when the cotton batts needed to be stitched close. It's probably got twice the stitching that it needs with crossed lines everywhere. People! This is a quilt I would not consider giving to a charity!

I hand the quilt to my sister as we go up to unpack with apologies and "my idea" of this being a sandy beach quilt. Imagine my surprise when it's laid regally over the back of her living room sofa when I get back downstairs. I start to protest but she says it matches everything in here (it does) and we have been looking for a lap robe for down here. It's perfect!

I catalogue this quilt's many shortcomings to her but she doesn't want to hear them. I take the quilt and show her husband what I am talking about, pointing out all the tucks and long stitches but he's on her side. I make him promise to take it and use it on the beach at least once so I'll feel better about seeing that terrible quilt in their beautiful living room overlooking the water.

So here's my sad tale for all of you who have given beautiful quilts (the likes of which I shall never be able to make) to thankless persons. I wish for you all a sister like mine somewhere in your future gifting. It will warm your heart and you won't feel as horrified as I do about sending your "cast off" quilts to a planned utilitarian life that turns into a place of honor instead.

You are one lucky lady to have such a wonderful sister and BIL.

What a beautiful story. I'm glad to here your sister loves your quilt.

That is a great sister. I often think my family does not appreciate what I do

I think your sister and her DH really liked the quilt. Don't be so surprised! It's probably much nicer than you think it is. And the fact that you made it makes it more special to them.

I'm so glad your sister appreciates your quilt, even though it is not one you are proud of. Many quilts that quilters ARE proud of are just packed away and not seen by anyone, yet your least favorite is given a place of honor. You should be proud. Seems you have a wonderful sister (I have 3 of them).

My sister really is wonderful and deserving! She is so classy she even sent me a Thank You note for that quilt in the snail mail! She's a keeper!

What a treasure you have for a sister!

Oh, loved your story!

Another person's trash, is someone's treasure. My first attempts at spinning wool were awlful, knubby, snarly, uneven - i put them in a box and put them for $1 at my yard sale before I moved, another spinner/knitter snatched them up and knitted the most beautiful art scarf that I have ever seen.

Just goes to show one man's trash is another's treasure...What a great story! Thank you so much for sharing. Your sister is definitely a keeper : )

How refreshing they respected the love and hours put forth and could set aside the imperfections.

What a great story and a real encouragement to keep making and giving.

love received and returned ;-)

Sisters are the best! I have made lots of quilts and I am sure the one that will survive is the awful double knit monstrosity that I made over 40 years ago. It is showing no signs of wear when we take it to the cottage each summer.:D

Oh, my gosh. Your story just got me all teary-eyed! What a wonderful sister...

What a sweet story. Sounds like you have a quilt worthy sister.

what a great sister and BIL, such love, so lucky, thats the kind of people we all wish we had to make our quilts for!

What a lovely story, its such a shame when people do not appreciate what they are given. I mad my grand daughter a quilt for her 18th birthday. I was visiting the house the other day, the quilt was ripped and chewed up in the dog basket!! Guess who will never get another of my precious quilts.

You are so blessed to have such a wonderful sister !

Lovely story - and shows that others can't see all the "mistakes" we think we've made!

I love your story! I'm making a quilt for my sister and I'm going attempt to do some FMQing. I haven't done much with FMQ, so I know it won't be anywhere close to perfect. I'm sure she won't care, but your experience make me think a little more positively about her quilt. Thanks for sharing!

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder!

Holli, you just made me cry! What a beautiful story. Makes up for the sadness I felt when reading an earlier post here about the 'Saddest Garage Sale'. Cherish your lovely sister and your 'old' quilt's place of honour in her home.

Just goes to show you quilts are made of more than just fabric - they carry the magical ingredient of love and your sister and her husband could see that in your quilt.

What a lovely story. So nice to hear of a someone whom understands.

Loved the story and don't they say that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"

Well...the world definitely needs more people like your lovely sister! Look, don't fight it...it obviously has some major charm factor happening....happy quilting and don't stop producing even more "keepers".

Hurray for your 'shabby chic' quilt and its warm new home by the sea :-))

most (non-quilters) do not notice any of what we consider horrible mistakes....unless you choose to point them out they are just considered (design choices) a gift recipient seldom has any idea it is not exactly what you planned it to be- so, instead of pointing out the 'short comings' you *envision* just keep the negative to yourself & strive to do better next time. my least favorite of all time quilt is one I gave my mother in law- when I see that quilt I think about all the trouble I had with it- how the stars didn't lay flat, how the quilting was not all I wanted it to be, how 2 of my miters on the binding are 'yukky'.... she (or anyone else who's seen it) do not see any of these problems- they see what they consider a beautiful quilt they all love- me---i'd like to rip it off her bed & burn it! but I keep that to myself & don't even peek in at it when we visit. (and I've had plenty of spectacular, perfect, expensive quilts show up on the beach- at the family picnic- tossed on the sand & played on- good thing they are washable :) )

My second quilt I made was a mess too, but being new to quilting I thought I had did a pretty good job with it, so I gave it to my sister and she loved it...a few years ago my brother had passed away and while the family gathered at her home, because my mother now lives with her, I asked her how the quilt was holding up. She told me it never leaves her bed. So I take a look, wanting to see how it looked and was mortified to see that in my haste to finish the quilting, I had overlooked one of the borders..NO quilting..not a stitch...I offered to take it and finish it but she said no, she wanted it just the way it was...sisters! gotta love em...

I think it is such a gift when someone loves and appreciates anything you have made. Your sister and BIL are gems - keep them close. :)

Beauty in the eye of the beholder! Your sister is beautiful inside and out.

That was a touching story....how often we do not receive such a nice response on something we are so proud of making or doing for someone. Your sister is a GEM and her husband is a keeper too!

I loved your story also. Have a family that does not appreciate handmade items - well, with one exception - my brother could take a crayon and draw a line on a piece of paper, and my mother would extoll the wonders of his artistic talent! But that is another story (grin) - and I am used to it after all these years. So I make gifts for my friends instead - and they truly make me feel good about what I do for them.

It was so nice to read your story! :o

I agree, you are so lucky. Wonderful sisters are a gift from God. I have two beautiful sisters, only one is like me, we could have been twins if we weren't a couple of years apart. We are always on each others mind and often send gifts back and forth. I was her inspiration to start quilting but the brat took off and has surpassed me in every way! Love her dearly, maybe a little jealous that she has more free time than I do. Lucky you and lucky sister!

Oh, how nice it would be to have more people like your sister in the world. I am happy for you both.

This sure was a heartwarming story to start the day!