its ok to donate...
 

I love making quilts for my grown boys and their families. I am afraid I may be overwhelming them with quilts...though they never complain and say they love them all...I am thinking of telling them its ok to donate them if there are too many or...keep your favorites and donate the others...so I can make them more...; )

I hear many people get upset when seeing a quilt at goodwill. I see nothing wrong with it. I would rather give to goodwill and have a person pick the quilt for them...its double the donation....I donate to goodwill, they sell very cheap and the person who is buying it also donates a small amount and feels happy and good about their find/treasure.

so to my boys...go ahead and donate if you would like...but please wait a year or two... ; )

PS: They also got my first few quilts when I just learnt to sew and the first bindings...Yup...I should tell them to donate them they are not perfect by a long shot, I would rather them have one that is better done. I know they never will unless I tell them.

Very thoughtful to give your sons permission to donate. Me I've not made enough to be OK with someone giving them away but I have told them if you don't want them it's OK to give them back. But just like my Mother I always "saved" the nice things and would never use a beautiful quilt. Now I tell everyone to use their quilts and don't save them for someone who will have absolutely no attachment to them.

I come in at the non-sentimental value side. Once a quilt is given, it no longer belongs to you, so I also would rather the recipient regift or donate a quilt, than stuff it in a closet. I would also prefer they regift it than use it for a drop cloth or give it to the dog, but it is theirs to do with as they please. I don't usually make quilts specifically as gifts. I like the quilting process, make the quilt, have it hanging around my house and when someone sees it & comments positively, they often leave the house with it.

I would much rather they donate as to see it end up in pieces on a garage floor with oil and grease.

I tell my daughter in law the same thing! So far the grandkids won't give any up...even their baby quilts still get snuggled once in awhile! The nine year old gds refused to give any up! Guess I should feel good about that!

Great idea to donate any unwanted quilt to Goodwill or any other charity.

I do something similar. I offer a quilt exchange for any recipient of a quilt I previously gave them. They can exchange one they have for one currently completed. I take the one that they "turned in" and donate it. I have had a few "bidding" situations , as occasionally two people want the same quilt. I have no issues that they are willing to part with a quilt I gave them previously, as I would rather have the quilts I make get used. I am happy they aren't sitting a on a shelf, they are happy they don't feel obligated to "store" a quilt they no longer want to use.... for what ever reason.

"I like the quilting process, make the quilt, have it hanging around my house and when someone sees it & comments positively, they often leave the house with it."

I've thought of doing that, too. I'm not at that point yet, still pretty new, but I'm leery of giving a quilt as a gift to someone who might not want it. So I thought maybe it would be better to just make the quilts I want to make, that give me satisfaction, and then look for opportunities to pass them on to someone who will like it.

That is really how I prefer to do it, but my DD just asked for a wedding quilt. I asked for a pattern. She and her fiance saw a pretty around the World at a quilt shop using 2" squares and fell in love with it. She told me that is what she wants and even sent me a color scheme.

Sure made it easier for me.

And yes, I'd rather see someone donate something than tear it up, but honestly after it gets more or less "old/beat up/starts to rip", I don't mind anyone using it for an oil drop cloth or doggy bed.

Love this idea!!!!