Why don't you make a quilt for yourself? There is no rule that says quilts have to be gifted. Make one for your bed, the sofa, the guest bed, the dog bed, the quilt rack, the wall in the stairway..... If by then you haven't recaptured the love of quilting, you may be beyond help.

I make baby quilts to hold up to abuses. Stains won't show on a clean quilt if it's scrappy bright colors. I don't see the point of making a heirloom baby quilt and then get upset because it was used. I save the nicer quilts for myself. The kids can have them when the time comes I don't need them anymore. I won't know what happens to them anyway.

I agree with all the responses posted, but I add this idea: Involve the recipient of the quilt in the planning process. I recently made my mom 14 checkerboard placemats... no small feat (in my opinion), and I went fabric shopping with her, gave her a few patterns to pick from, etc. It was nice because she had an idea of what she wanted/needed, but I was able to have some control, and I put my efforts into something I was confident she would love. I understand how both sides feel, because I have seen some homemade gifts where I thought "glad I didn't get that!", but I LOVE giving homemade things that the recipient will love as much as I have loved making it.
I figure if the recipient helps with the design, it is a fun project together and they can match colors to what they like/need/want.
Just an idea.
I love quilting, but honeslty, the projects that I start for myself never get completed.
Good luck!!

I really like this idea - except I asked my DIL what she wanted - and I was thinking couch size and she wanted a king-size.

I think it's a good idea to limit the choices to what you are able and willing to make.

I have to say that babies really do make messes, and some stains are super hard to get out. I've mentioned the 3D Bowtie quilt I made for my daughter before...Yeah, I'll never make one of those for a baby again. Do you know how hard it is to get spit up and puke out of those little pockets? Yuk!


Yeah I do understand babies. She wanted the quilt for the wall as decoration when I made it. That was the frustrating part of it to put hooks on it and everything like she wanted it then find it like that. As the ol saying goes water under the bridge.
If I had known she wanted it to put IN the crib I wouldn't have gone through that much trouble.

Churning out quilts en masse and giving them away willy nilly like will help break you of your expectations. That's one way.

You can't guarantee how others will behave so it's really your expectations which have to change. That way, it's a nice surprise when someone respects your work.

You could make blankets for shelters, sick children, wounded warriors, etc. Those are groups of people who, for the most part, appreciate the gift.

I would be leery of making a blanket for someone I like while fearing their reaction. I wouldn't want to alter our future relationship due to my possible disappoint with that person (and in a situation I created to boot).

It's a lovely quilt you posted. I wouldn't be surprised if she someday regretted not keeping it as an heirloom.

I agree with sewingladydi, becoming involved with charity quilts might change your prespective. Sick and needy children or wounded soldiers would cherish every stich and separate fabric your personally chose, just for them. I've read about soliders dying and requesting their quilt be buried with them because of all the comfort it brought them. What better experience to change your fears away.
Bless you & best wishes. Keep on quilting.

Andie :D :D :D

I agree with sewingladydi, becoming involved with charity quilts might change your prespective. Sick and needy children or wounded soldiers would cherish every stich and separate fabric your personally chose, just for them. I've read about soliders dying and requesting their quilt be buried with them because of all the comfort it brought them. What better experience to chase your fears away.
Bless you & best wishes. Keep on quilting.

Andie

with the expense time and love it takes to make a quilt I am very careful who I give them to only to people that I really know and that I know would really appreciate them I was in a beauty shop and listened to a conversation and knew I made the right decision when I overheard a lady say how shocked she was at an auction when someone paid 75.00 dollars for an old quilt I have also seen them very misused also mine are just stacked on the spare bed and when I know someone really wants one then I will give it

"Gift and forget" - I love that!