No, they are not free. It costs 20 cents per item to list items for about 3 months. Then you have to renew and pay again. If something sells, you pay a small percentage to Etsy (5%?) plus Paypal gets their cut. Not free, but reasonable.

Each quilt I've made has been given away... save one (it's on the bed in the spare room).
Thought of trying to sell one... then thought better of it. Figured I'd get my feelings hurt when no one wanted to pay what's it's worth just in materials... not counting my time. I get more joy from giving them away.

Hospice, hospitals, nursing homes, Quilts of Valor, VA nursing homes are all wonderful places that need and appreciate your efforts. You could also check with your local Meals on Wheels for a needy family. A while back there was a thread about funeral homes using a quilt over the body bag to soften the blow of seeing a loved one transported. A person could also make quilts to use for "adopt a child/family" at Christmas.

Whatever you decide to do with your excess quilts, I hope it brings you joy! :)

Being a cancer survivor I have made many quilts for my family. They love them because they now realize I won't always be here. I have a quilt to make for my grandson and everyone will have a quilt that I have made. But for my nieces and nephews I am making table runners with matching place mats, which are quilted. I am also working on Christmas tree skirts. I love my family very much and want to leave something for each one to remember me. All three of my sisters are quilters too. So all the kids and grandchildren understand the sweat and tears that go into each item made. So be generous with your art and think of the warmth and love you are giving the individual who receives the item you took the time to make. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and will have a safe and Happy New Year!

please consider the chemotherapy cancer center at your local hospital. I found that mine is desperate for anything washable to warm the patient. the chemo is kept refridgerated and chills the patient severely. Most loose wieght in a hurry during treatment and stay cold a lot anyway. they warm the quilt in dryer and wrap the patient to warm her. or him.

It gives me a great feeling to donate quilts to our Community Quilts. They are given to the Cancer Center, children's homes, families in need, nursing homes; lots more I can't think of right now.
If you don't have a quilt guild, the Salvation Army can always use quilts in their efforts, even go directly to nursing homes, and offer to give them a quilt or 2.
Mariah

My hubby always says "so who is that quilt for" or "what is that project for". He just doesn't get it, I'm doing projects just to see if I can, or how it will look, or just because I feel like it, the fabric inspired me, etc., etc., etc !! LOL!!

I make them to give away. Even the ones I make because I like the pattern or want to try something, end up in a somewhere else. I really need to work on one for my dtr...she's been very patient with me! LOL But first I'll be making a comfort quilt for my niece who's facing brain cancer chemo and radiation. That's my next project. I've been trying to decide on a pattern...nothing too complicated, I want to get it done and off to her asap.

I make quilts for my daughter and grand-childern and for very close friends.....

I would try Craigslist first, only need a picture. Then you could try Ebay or Etsy, the fees sometimes are terrible. If you want to give any away, consider the veterans. Our quilt guild took some quilts to the veterans home and one of the men grabbed the last one which was all done in pink. He said he didn't care at all, he was just so grateful for a quilt.

I like to do patterns and techniques that are new to me; I want to feel like I learned (or perfected) something with each quilt. I can do fast, easy ones for charity, but really prefer something more difficult or new.

As several have mentioned above I make complicated quilts slowly. If I were in a hurry I'd buy a blanket.

I also quit buying fabric in 2001, just made financial common sense.

All my quilts are double sided, halving the batting needed and halving the storage space required.

I use all my quilts on our bed, rotating them out every 3 weeks to a month.

Use them, quilts were made to be loved. And I can't imagine ever thinking my quilts were too good for me to use.
That makes me sad. By the time I get 2-400 hours into a quilt it darn well is good enough to use and I'm worth it ;)

I have been quilting about 5 or so years now and have made about 65 quilts. I give them away. I give many to the abused women's shelter, single mothers for themselves and their child and baby showers at church. When someone I know is married I give one on their first anniversary. I am keeping 13 for myself (only 1 at present) and giving the rest away. I feel it is my way to give back to the community.

Try cheecking with your local police department. They won't tell you where they are located, but will probably put you in touch with someone so you can make donations.

I satisfy my need to quilt by quilting for Quilts for Kids. I love making quick quilts and they are the perfect outlet!!

I have 16 nieces and nephews, 17 great nieces and nephews, 4 step children and 2 daughters. If only I could get a quilt made for each of them BEFORE grandchildren start to arrive!

It cost very little to list on Etsy as I sell fabric on Etsy..the only thing is that it does not seem to be as well known as EBay for example

I've been quilting for nearly 30 years, and have sold only one quilt...and for MUCH less than it was worth. I give mine away and keep some as well. For me, the joy is in the making and in the giving.

I too have many quilts and have given away many. I use my quilts for decorating. As runners on beds, on quilt racks, on couches, folded in glass case (made for dishes). Even use them on tables. I enjoy looking around and remembering working on the quilt or where I bought fabric. Also enjoy the warmth quilts bring to a home. Enjoy them!!!

Etsy listings are not free... and they take a percentage of your sales as does Paypal. You also need to know how much you will charge for shipping ahead of time.
I have an Etsy shop for my crochet designs. There are quite a few quilters out there that use Etsy - and Craigslist which is free however you'd have to meet the person to do the transaction. I have seen a lot of quilts and crocheted/knitted items for sale in Craigslist.

Give them to others.
 

I have given most all of my quilts to relatives, friends, charities, new babies, and have kept only the ones I really wanted or needed for beds. When I started quilting, my husband suggested I keep a record of what I made; so I did. I have pictures of all my quilts and some purses and where they went (over 50). I treasure that album of quilts almost as much as I liked making and giving away the quilts.

When I contacted our local hospital to donate quilts for cancer patients they told me they could not accept anything home made. I wanted to make and donate to the children who go through chemo.

Is there a special pattern you use for the car seat ones?

I love to make quilts and have them stacked to the ceiling. My boys have very little interest in them, and I make them for anyone I know who has a baby. But I love theme quilts and keep making new ones. One day my hubby asked me if we were going to have a garage sale with all my quilt "crap"... Needless to say, it's been the last time he asked a stupid question like that! :eek: So for now, they just keep piling up, who knows what I will do with them some day!

I worked in a school, I give a baby quilt to every staff member that has a baby or a grandchild. My daughters have several quilts and so does every member of my family. I even made a few for my future grandchildren. I have quite a few saved, so that I may give one to a coworker who is going thru a difficult time in their life. I am also building quite a stash and I planning to try and sell them at a craft fair. If I am not successful then I will try and sell it thru Etsy and if that doesn't work I will let my daughters deal with them when I am gone!

I don't make quilts specifically for any one person. I make quilts that I want to make. I did go to two small craft shows in October and sold several things. One was a quilt I had intended to give to my older daughter because it was a purple and cream log cabin, but I sold it to the husband of a very good friend of hers because her friend also loves purple. I really hated to see that quilt leave the family, now I have to make another one for my daughter. The $350 that I got for the quilt was just a fraction of the cost if you give yourself anything for labor.

I usually make quilts to give away - though I made snuggle quilts for DH and me last winter. I have a huge stash, so I start a new quilt as soon as I finish one. I don't want to leave that stash for my non-sewing DD to deal with! She loves quilts, and I've made a ton of them for her ad DGD - but usually from their discarded clothing, so that doesn't help get rid of the stash. I'm going to start making charity quilts if I don't have a person in mind who 'needs' a quilt from me. Plus, I have a stash of quilt leftovers to make into charity quilts.

If I'd been in CT when the Sandy Hook murders happened (10 minutes frommy house), I would have made a bunch of children's quilts for the families who lost children and have siblings left behind. As it was, all I could do was sit here in AZ and be miserable. My local sewing machine dealer is joining in the call for snowflakes for Sandy Hook - and I've been dropping by to sew some when I have time. If I had an embroidery machine here in AZ, I would be making them in my house. What a time to have 2 embroidery machines in CT and none in AZ.

I have five grandkids (nuggets) and every time I show them a quilt I have finished or one that I am working on, they immediately ask if they can have it. Each of my Nuggets have more than 1/2 dozen quilts I have made for them and they use everyone of them. The quilts go to football games, picnics, camping trips, on their beds, and they cozy up with them in front of the TV. Does my heart good!! In the mean time, I continue to make quilts knowing they will all have a good home.

My quilts are given to those I love and I have 8 children who really benefit. They get them as gifts and once they are gifted they can regift them to someone they really care about. Will be making lots of scrap quilts now in different patterns. I like lap size quilts that can be used as toppers on beds and maybe I will make more of them including pillow covers and other such things that I can quilt easily on the machine. Most all of my large quilts (except those that I hand quilted many years ago, are machine stitched by me or my favorite long arm quilter. My kids know the value of quilts so they don't just give them away to people that will use them for car covers or their pets.

Finish a quilt. What’s that? Do people actually finish quilts? Oh well maybe one day. But do I have fun making blocks.:D

Funny you should ask, tdy, i dropped off two Christmas wallhanging tops to be quilted. My long armer loved both of them and asked me if I was interested in selling them....after seeing the look on her face and her excitement, I thought.....why not?!! So I did..and she was thrilled! She never gets time to make some for herself so I was happy to do so. I really did not need them as I still had another one that I was keeping. Interesting turn of events. And I dd not need to spent the $$ to get them quilted.

Sandy

What is the name of the quilt ArtsyOne on your avitar?

I have tons of finished quilts Im distributing to deserving family and friends. I was recently diagnosed with incurable cancer and want to make sure quilts dont end up at Good Will and be sold for a few $$$

Many lap quilts are donated to D.A.V. and veteran home's and VA hosp that are going to a very good cause and most have a tax deductable. Keep track. It's not so much really the money. It just says thanks for what they gave and let them know we care. I know i've been there. I worked the job (Army) I paid the price. ( Agent Orange) the rest of my life. ( Laryngectomee) throat cancer. still paying that bill. Worth every penny. I'd do it again in a min.

Luana, what you and Dayle and so many others have said touches my heart. All my family are gone except for a few cousins. I have a few friends and even fewer close friends. I think after all is said and done if I can make someone's life brighter with a gift of a quilt IMHO then one of my purposes on earth is done. I do hope to sell some to make ends meet but if I can't do that then I just hope I can touch someone's life. We never know what it could mean to someone else. To me quilts mean so many things such as comfort and knowing someone cares.

Ladibug

I've given away every one I've finished. Mostly, so far, that's baby quilts, or children's quilts. I've done only one adult quilt and I gave that to my mother. Mother has taken terrible care of it, and I've had to grit my teeth and remind myself that it isn't mine anymore. The odd thing is Mother used to make fine garments, from drafting the pattern through to finished item. She sort of KNOWS how hard it is to do, she thinks quilts are much easier than garments (no fitting!), but she knows I buy nice fabric, and choose the blocks with care, and hand quilt them, so I'm not quite sure why she's so cavalier with the finished product. She does tell people, however, that I made the ratting looking thing!

When I make full sized quilts for my daughters (they've only had childhood quilts to date) I'm going to have to do the same thing - "it's not mine anymore" and make sure they hide it if it gets trashed... I think I can live with ignorance a whole lot easier than I can live with visual proof that they didn't care enough to take care of it. One daughter has told me that her boyfriend actually likes her quilt so much he now wants another quilt for them both, and he's afraid he'll overuse and ruin the childhood quilt. So, they will get one at some point, and it will be used and loved. And I will be happy that it is, just hide the damage from me! :D

[QUOTE=Minmom3;5755912]I've given away every one I've finished.

Minmom, Please remember that when you gifted these that YOUR heart was in the right place. You can't control what someone else chooses to do with what you have given them. You are a dear person and God will reward you for the good things you have done. May God Bless you and hopefully give your family insight and care and compassion.

Ladibug

I like this idea and think I will follow through....

I often feel the same....I am making them just because.......

Mine go to Quilts for Kids and Quilts of Valor. If you save your receipts, donate to an official 501c charity and itemize your taxes you can deduct the actual costs of fabrics and supplies for the items donated.

If you try selling, you may have problems getting a decent price for your items. Non-quilters just don't understand how expensive fabric and supplies are and how much time is involved.

Good luck

Here's a couple of ways to think about whether to use those beloved quilts or not:

1) So what if they get soiled? Taking the opportunity to wrap yourself in your Mawmaw's love every day is more than worth a bit of dirt. I expect the quilts I make to be loved to tatters! Start slow - Take each of them out once a week, different days, and enjoy them. Put them on the back of a chair where the pets can't lay on them, and use them when sewing or watching TV. Then put them back in the closet.

2) The only way you're "enjoying" them now is by knowing they're there. Not satisfying to me, but maybe enough for you.

3) You can't take them to heaven with you!

4) Once you're gone to your reward, someone else MIGHT enjoy them to tatters, OR, worst of all, someone may just toss them in the trash.

5) make a copy of the 'just for me' quilt to use, and keep the first one you made in the closet.