Kids prefer fuzzy blankets
 

Have been quilting for about 40 years. Have made quilts for kids and grandkids. Some of them have small to medium stacks. Many quilts, as you know, have a small fortune in fabric, thread, batting and backing. None of them are using any of these quilts. They all have fuzzy blankets to snuggle up with. All of them. No one is using even the table runners I spent time making just for them. Quilts folded up, put in a closet somewhere. I think I need to reassess who I give my quilts to.

I've been thinking about this lately. I'm a new quilter and have made three quilts for my family which we use and love. Now making 2 quilts for nieces aged 10-ish, which I'll give at christmas. They didn't ask for them. I'm sure they have snuggly blankets they like more. So why am I doing it? Selfish reasons I think, I want them to have something from me that lasts and they might treasure later. It's better than buying them some cheap plastic toy that gets thrown out in a year. Also, I think their mom will be impressed. But I want to let go of any illusion that the kids will love and prefer them to the fuzzies. I'm enjoying making them and if the kids really like them that will just be a bonus. In the future who konws? I might not make more quilts for family unless specifically requested.
Oh. Edit...I did make the backing out of flannel in hopes the quilts will be a little snugglier.

How about quilts out of Minky fabric? Those would be snuggly.

You definitely do need to reassess. If the people you are giving quilts to don't appreciate them, do you want to bother making them another? I've made bags for people who could barely take time to open the gift and probably didn't use it so why bother. I'd rather keep them than give them to someone who doesn't appreciate them.

My grandson is upset with his friends that use fleece blankets. Told them that they need a real blanket. He asked that I make them quilts to use. Love that boy 🥰

That is so disheartening - I'm sorry you've had that experience. :-( I've not made all that many quilts but have been fortunate in having most of them appreciated, at least for the first little while. All of my baby quilts have been I Spy quilts (rather busy ones because I want them to grow with the child) and I enjoy sharing some game prompts with the recipients (or gifters if I'm making for a friend who's anticipating a grandchild, for example). I have also been known to refer to them as "activity mats" to show that I'm hoping they will be used/worn out rather than treated like museum pieces. :-)

One of the first gift-worthy quilts I made was for my grandmother for her 95th birthday. When she died, none of the family in the old country seemed to want the quilt and it was sent back to me. I was grateful - it is draped over a chair in my bedroom and is a reminder of the relationship we had, even though we lived far apart.

I do have to wonder whether the recipients of your quilts truly understand how much love, money and effort goes into making a single quilt. Perhaps your generosity has spoiled them. :-(

Well, I think I spy quilts for the little ones are usually well received. I usually just pick a pattern and then go through my scraps and pick out all the "I spy" fabrics. Yep, even forks, spoons, barns, blueberries, even just colors. The other thing that seems to have been well received and used is flannel throw quilts and yep, everyone wants a queen- or king-sized flannel quilt for the winter. These are the quilts I see used continuously. I don't particularly like minky or polar fleece quilts as they seem to me to be somewhat "slimy" feeling when being used. Too me, flannel quilts are much cuddlier and warmer.

Yup. This is why I have not made quilts for one set of grandkids. They have many fleece blankets and told me quilts made them 'cold'. Maybe when they are older.

I used to by polar fleece and make warm throws from those. I too love my cat print warm soft cuddly blanket! So I know why kids do too!

I prefer to give my quilts to the less fortunate such as women in shelters and Project Linus...they all seem to be the ones that appreciate them. My grandkids and my oldest son do use their quilts. At least I've seen photo's of them using the quilts on their beds. The middle son uses his wildlife throw on his recliner.
Quilting is a very expensive hobby to have. Until someone has to go out and buy all the needed supplies they have no idea what it cost or the process to make a completed quilt. I suggest finding an organization to donate to. You'd be surprised how it makes you feel. I'll never stop giving to these needy organizations...if not quilts them pillow cases made from the left over yardage.

I think some quilts are not used because the adult in charge is afraid they will get ruined.

And let's face it, blankets or fleece throws are generally cheaper, warmer and easier to launder than quilts. This is a very crazy hobby that we have.

I don't make quilts as a surprise gift for someone with the exception of baby play mats for a new baby. I prefer to make quilts I like then let them choose if they want a quilt. Nothing wrong with asking if they would like a quilt and accepting when they say, No. I would rather have a No, than a closet quilt.

I agree with making them first and then letting folks pick what they want. I was getting a quilt build-up, then all of a sudden four quilts went out the door just like that, then a neighbor who I had asked before if he wanted a quilt who turned it down, requested on. But, surprise, I didn't have one that met his specs having just given one that would away! He wanted one big enough for a full sized spread. I haven't been making quilts long enough to be tucked in and for a pillow tuck.. I like to make them for of a comforter size without the pillow tuck.

That's a good possibility. My mom wouldn't let me use the quilt my grandmother made me. My mom said that it was too small to be used as a bed spread (didn't come to the floor) and so she never let me use it on my bed. My grandmother did beautiful work and all by hand. I have that quilt now and do use it. I wish I'd gotten to use it as child.

I have to admit my favorite blanky is a brown plaid microfiber throw I bought at Walmart a few years back in the after Christmas leftovers. It is both light enough and heavy enough and washes easily. It is also long and wide enough that I can tuck it under my feet and it still goes over my shoulders. I do also have quilts on the bed but for an under-$10 purchase, my brown plaid blanky was a super bargain!

I am still making donation projects and special occasion quilts when we have the few special occasions among friends and family . I do prefer groups that allow people to select their own items -- one person could be very happy with one of my quilts and think another is the ugliest thing they've ever seen. I do have a target audience in mind of older foster kids and for households such as abuse shelters which is good because I prefer working in twin to queen sized projects. In giving to such causes, I can't have a huge amount of attachment to my projects. Some people will appreciate them more than others, and sometimes in the rush of leaving a place, some things are left behind especially when heavy or not easily stuffed into a backpack. I try to get some fun out of each project and hope/think that if the recipient gets just 15 minutes of joy or just the acknowledgement that they exist, my time has been well spent.

My kids were teens and young adults when I started quilting.
They insisted they had no interest in my quilts; they prefer to snuggle with a fleece blanket.
But somehow, when they’re sick, they always ask me for a quilt. It’s like they can feel the love in the stitches, and it heals them. Can’t get that from a fleecy from Walmart!
And married daughter LOVES the baby quilt I made for her first born. For now they use it as a wall hanging, which is just fine with me.

Kids and lap quilts get fleece on the back (with no batting) if it’s donation.
I make 2 or 3 a year to keep in my “quilt vault” for myself and I use cotton backing and batting on those.

I'm so sorry you are experiencing this. It is hurtful when you put so much effort, time, and money into a project, then see it sitting in a closet. I am in the, if they don't ask for it, I don't make it boat. I made one of my grandsons a baby blanket, to this day I'm pretty sure Mom has no idea where it is, or if she even still has it, she didn't ask me to make it, I took it upon myself to make it, lesson learned. It was a crib size to grow in to a toddler bed, 2.5 inch squares, lots of work and love. I have just recently made a full, and a twin for two of my grandkids, for their new bedrooms for when they move into their new home. These were requested. Otherwise, no one in my family has a quilt I have made, and no one has asked for one. I still find plenty of projects to make and to enjoy my hobby, but they are donated to places where I too feel the recipient will appreciate them.

When I gave a quilt to anyone, child or adult, it comes with a direction to USE IT. Do not put it on the wall, in a closet or a cedar chest or save it for later because it is precious. I remind the "giftee" that the more it is used the softer it will get and I made it to warm and snuggle them. I count it a compliment that most of the folks are just worried that something will happen to my creative effort and don't want anything to happen to the piece. Depending on the "giftee", I will actually offer a "lifetime guarantee" (my lifetime ;)) for repair or replacement. Just use it! I love seeing my quilts all wadded up on the bed, recliner or crib with fading colors and soft with use and love.

Now after all of that babbling.... it is only my opinion and perspective. Tee-Hee-Hee

I make quilts for charity, who knows where they end up. With my family if they don't ask for a quilt I don't make them one. My grandkids like the fluffy soft Walmart blankets. They do wash and dry quickly and they are soft. I do not make table runners, toppers, pot holders and tote bags unless someone specifically asks for it. I enjoy my quilting group and we make charity quilts for various organizations. We never know if they are loved and being used, but we know they aren't sitting in a closet waiting to pull out when grandma comes to visit.

My young grands get panel quilts made with their favorite character or theme at the time. Dinos, trucks, race cars, sports, animals, etc. They love them. I made each of them a nice baby quilt to suit their moms nursery theme. After that is is wild colors and fun. Older kids like rag quilts with flannel backing. I have never had a teen not use a rag quilt in their favorite colors or theme. My niece who is a young adult asked for a new rag quilt last week made from Nightmare Before Christmas fabric.

Forget about the kids .... I've always wanted a Minky backed quilt! Just for Me!! :)
Just haven't treated myself in that way ... yet!


Sometimes we all need to reassess .... as to who? gets what? and when?
And we may come out the other side with a whole different perspective.

Sometimes the reassessment needs to be as to whether the recipients do not like quilts? or is it that they love and treasure them so much, they fear using them? Possibly another new perspective.


Then with those new perspectives, come up with our own new strategies.
Maybe continue the giveaways? Maybe not? Maybe to different/new recipients?
Maybe make different types/styles/designs of quilts?


Good Luck, as you think things through.

I always wash my quilts in the washing machine on regular cycle, then throw them in the dryer on regular cycle before I gift them and I tell the recipient that that is what I did, and it most certainly can be done again, and I hope they enjoy this quilt, and it is perfectly ok to wash it.

I wash all my quilts before giving. I tell the person to toss in washer and dryer but only when dirty or smelly.

I just use those plush soft snuggly blankets that everyone loves for the backs of my quilts and everybody loves them. You can sometimes get ones up to 120 inches square at Costco for the same or less than what you would pay for cotton fabric for a quilt back. I can quilt them on my long arm machine - I just make sure not to stretch them.

I appreciate my grandchildren taking quilts from me when I was learning and enthusiastically gave them all those "yikes" quilts. I have no idea where they are now other than knowing where they're not - in their house. I made some crib-size quilts when my great-grandson was born and threw in a small rag quilt that I had made as a demo for my students at school. The back on that quilt is fireside so it's soft on both front and back and he has adopted it as his drag-around-use-all-the-time quilt. I don't like heavy quilting on any quilt for sleeping under as I like blankets to drape around me and assume others do as well. Sometimes even without too heavy of quilting the finished quilt is still kind of stiff. I've thought about using high loft poly batting but with a bolt of warm & natural to use it seems silly to buy batting.

Use the cuddly blankets as backing. I've made a few quilts for kids. FLeece backing is soft and warm

My sister in law uses the Halloween quilt I made for her to use with her grandkids for picnics and beach days. I think that's great!

I found 101 Dalmatians flannel fabric - just could not resist since it was one of my favorite films growing up. Wasn't sure what to do with it - so I made a changing pad for my new granddaughter with the waterproof fabric on the back and the other yard and a half I bought white fleece - quilted it together and added a binding. My 2 year old grandson loves it. It's not fancy - but who cares, it's loved and that is all that matters.

Our loving something doesn't mean that everyone does. Many younger people love microfiber sheets and fleece blankets; I don't like either.

I wouldn't make someone a quilt without finding out if they (or their parents) want one, first. My joy in choosing fabric, sewing blocks, assembling the quilt doesn't translate to someone else appreciating or wanting it. That doesn't make them wrong, or mean that they intend to hurt me. Their tastes are different, is all.

What is my reason to quilt.
Something to do with my time.
Something to do with my brain.
‘Something to do with my creativity.

This is lonely. And pointless.

so what do I want from quilting?

Wow, petthefabric, you have asked the existential question! We are alive. Might as well do what brings us joy, to the extent time and resources allow. But if part of the joy comes from feeling like we're contributing to someone else's life in a positive way... Where to find that? Project Linus or similar projects sound perfect and much more satisfying than giving to those who don't want or need the item. I love this idea!

Maybe it's just this age we live in. I learned to sew in 8th grade in the '70s, sewing was huge then and everyone was doing it. Giving or receiving a gift, making your own wedding gown, prom dress, outfit for your child's school picture or school dance, was almost revered - you were considered AMAZING if you could sew, even something so small as up a hem or sew on a button so it stays attached.

I've seen the sewing and cross stitch hobby and accessibility to fabrics and products almost cease to exist - very few brick and mortar cross stitch shops and good quality fabric stores. Now we have the 'convenience' of the internet, always a wonder if you will get something great or just ok.

What if you make smaller quilts for people who lived in those days, like nursing home or assisted living residents? Some are there alone, some whose families don't visit often. Maybe a quilt or a shawl or a handmade stuffed animal or doll would cheer them up, and bring back some memories when their lives were full and involved. I bet they would love that.
Actually, I know they would.

Good thoughts and ideas from Butterfli19!

Reminded me of a LQS seasonal quilt block challenge, from fabric kits, purchased at minimal cost. Viewers' Choice judging during a Shop Hop with great prizes. The best part was that the blocks were then made into runners/toppers for a local care home.

No reason why individuals could not do the same on their own. Just be sure to check with the facility first, to ensure they are willing recipients and to find out any specs before you start stitching.

I hear you on the fact that the quilt is not always received well by the person it is given to. Putting all questions about design and personal preference aside, I have this philosophy about quilts that are given away:

* They will find the home they are meant to be in. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but some day!*

I think we release quilts into the world like dandelion seeds, to float to wherever they will find root.

I bought a quilt, probably 80+ years old, that was culled from a collection due to moth damage. I have not repaired the moth damage on this old wool-based "camp quilt". It is part of its character. I love the old thing and keep it where I can see it. It is where it needs to be : )

I've been thinking about this thread since it started. Which is why forums and conversations are nice. At FB people talk at you not to you and it is pretty useless to try to have a conversation, it is a very clunky platform for that.

Expectations: What someone does with my gifts is none of my business. Give freely or not at all. Resentments have no part in my current mindset, and I'm much healthier for it.

Yesterday it crossed my mind to wonder what my reaction would be if Anyone gave me a gift worth two hundred dollars or more and took months to make. I think I'd be briefly amazed and honored, but then I'd feel obligated, very obligated and not comfortable, even burdened owning it.. At this stage of my life there is no one I'd gift that kind of valuable gift to, we do charitable giving instead and plenty of it.

WE know quilts are meant to be used and loved, but I can understand why they would be put away and saved for good. Particularly if someone told me what it cost and how long it took to make.
And based on a lifetime of observation, what isn't used in the home isn't wanted from the estate. No memories associated with it.

And I understand about soft. I love my quilts on my bed, change them out every month so I can see them all. But on the couch? I have two quilts within reach, but I use a $6.00 yoga blanket. On the bed if I'm just having some quiet time tapping or reading? I use my bed runners which are double sided with no batting. Very soft.

And some of that heavy/stiff feeling is probably do to the state of the art. Quality high thread count fabrics, highly processed batting, more quilting than generally done by hand? I have a couple of queen quilts (double sided) made with recycled shirts, batting without scrim....sooofffftttt ;)

Thank you team, for provoking some pondering this week :) Feel free to argue my points!

I agree with Kplumbridge to use the fleece blankets for backs that you can pick up for around $10 at Walmarts, etc. Then you have the best of two worlds - a soft feeling back and a quilted top which hopefully they will appreciate.

Do you add batting or only use the blanket and quilt top quilted together?

If you do use batting, may I ask which type of batting you prefer? Cotton, cotton/poly, bamboo, etc?

I have heard of this but on my one try it became a big mess. Can you give any tips on how to do it. I assume the fleece replaces both the batting and back else it would not make much sense.

I've done it both ways -- without any batting, and also with a layer of thin batting. Both came out fine. The one w/o batting was very flexible and scrunchable. Only thing to watch for when quilting with the fleece backing is not to stretch it. I have a longarm --- never tried using fleece when quilting on a regular domestic machine.