I make mine to be given away and how ever the gift recipient chooses to use them, it is okay by me. I don't want them saved on a shelf because they are 'too pretty to be used'.

Good for you butterfly blue! You are my style of quilter!

NannyQ

Even though I'm a newbie, the ones I've made have been as gifts. I just want someone to love them and feel the love I put into them.

I make my quilts as gifts to be used and abused ... for cats, dogs, kids to wrap up in - get sick on... if they get worn out ... I will gladly make a new one... I wrap myself in one every day... I know life is too short and my quilts are made to enjoy, to cry on, to live on... Not to be in the smithsonian... and probably won't ever win a blue ribbon or appear in a magazine ,,, but you never know... I just want the person to enjoy the quilt as they wish... it is my gift to them.... nothing more and nothing less...

I use mine for bedspread and as a cover, I would never call a quilt a blanket.
I give most of the quilts I make to friends or family or friends of family, I don't really know what they do with theirs, might be better off not knowing.

I use mine as a bedspread but we sleep under it all winter. We do take the quilt off the bed to sleep in the summer time. I also have smaller ones on all of the chairs in the house and one on the sofa in the livingroom. Mine are handquilted. I have one as the cover on my coffee table, an old trunk and lots of small ones on the walls. All of ours are used. When my daughter's dog died while she was away at college I discovered that the quilt that was left on her bed at home was badly stained underneath as the dog had accidents all over it. The bed was a waterbed so the mattress was not ruined. I washed it and it is on the sofa in the basement family room.

mpspeedy, I like the look of your quilt. The blocks go well together with all the blues, whites and rose colors setting each pattern off real good. you did a real good job making that one. :thumbup:

I have a small applique quilt hanging on the wall, and a "bed-topper" in progress. All the other quilts I have made have either been given away or sold. I don't even have a quilt on my own bed...isn't that ironic! :lol:
When I sell or give away a quilt, I always include washing/care instructions, but as to how the quilt is actually used is up to the recipient.

All the ones I have made for family members are being used on their beds or have been put on a quilt rack. many have been loved to death. the ones I still have, I treat as art and they are dislayed on beds, walls, or on my quilt rack. probably these will all be given to the grandkids eventually. Since I hand quilt, I take very good care of the ones I keep. I wish I had taken better care of the quilt our Church family gave us when we were married 53 years ago.

My handquilted lap quilt that I made (my first quilt) in 1995 is still being used, washed and dried in the dryer. It's a bit faded, but no rips, tears, or worn out bindings. Right now it is folded and draped on the back of a chair in my kitchen/dining area.

I would be terribly sad if I made someone a quilt and they didn't use it. That didn't stop me from not using the quilt my Mom gave me last Christmas. I was afraid the kids, dog, cat, or husband would ruin it. I didn't wanted to put it on unless the room was spotless. The quilt is gorgous.

I read through this thread and I I throughly understand how much I hurt Mom's feelings, and now the quilt is in use.

I won't request another white quilt until the dog, cat, and and...well, I won't ever request another white quilt :)

What a beaut. bed & quilt. I'm sure you think of your mom everytime you see the bed.

You are lucky Dawn, I wish I had a double wedding ring quilt. My family are grown up and moved into their own homes. Why dont you put it on your bed on special occasions like==your birthday, wedding anniversary or if your mum comes to visit BUT close the bedroom door while the quilt is on the bed. That way you are using it and won't hurt your mum's feelings.

The wedding Ring quilt is beautiful. I would love to have one of those. Maybe "someday" I will try to make one.

Thanks! The Double Wedding Ring is in my "I don't ever plan to have that much patience or talent," pile. That is why I asked Mom for it. She had never made anything like it before and that is why it is so very special to me. She tried something way out of her comfort zone for me and took so much time to make it so beautifully. Which is why I don't want anyone to touch it!!!!!!

I don't know how far I would have to travel out of my comfort zone to tackle all of those gazillion pieces.
It is so beautiful and seems so complicated to do. You are so fortunate to have it.

My mother-in-law gave us a quilt 23 years ago. It has been used on the bed, and as a comforting warm blanket, and it is a big Queen Sized. It still looks great. Don't be afraid to enjoy the love. What a shame for all of that work to go to waste for a "rainy day". Pull out the laces, and special dishes, and use them now. For when you are gone what good are they to you then.........they can only bring you joy Now!

when I give away kids quilts, I always send a card with it. I tell the recipient to " use it, make tents with it, make a fort, use it for picnics, play on the floor on it, wrap yourself in it, lay on the couch watching t.v. , just love it and use it to pieces and when it is beyond repair, we'll make another one or two. Whatever you use it for, use it to make memories.

Exactly!!!

I would say 98% for blanket on the bed or a lap quilt to be used. The other 2% are wall hangings.