I do hope you are kidding...

I started to say yes, use them. But more important is ENJOY them. If that means hanging on the wall, on the guest bed that isn't used every day, whatever works. The quilt I just made for my friend goes on her bed every other week (and washed in between). She sleeps with two of our dogs. The batik quilt I made this year goes on my bed every other week (and washed in between). I sleep with 3-5 of our other dogs. We both love our quilts but we sure enjoy them too.

YAY Aileen.... You said it much better than I did.

As I sit in my big green chair watching the tragedy in Oklahoma, I can see three of my quilts folded over two couches and my ottoman. I also have quilts on every bed. I want them to be used ... if they get spilled on or messed up, I'll just have a really good excuse to make another one. I also tell everyone who gets one of my quilts that I made them to be used, not saved! I also tell them that their quilt doesn't have to be on the top of the bed, it can be used as a cover. Enjoy your quilts.

Start using them and tell them not to eat or drink in the bed or just relax and use them.

To not use something special is like being on a deserted island with one million dollars. Not worth squat!:mad:

I don't worry about anything like that as long as my washer and dryer work. I'm just happy if some one appreciates it and doesn't put it in a box in the attic or use it for a drop cloth for mechanical work. My cousin asked me if I thought she was wrong in using one her mother-in-law made and wrapped a large photo of father-in-law in it. Then put it into a special box when they moved. It was the last thing to pack and first to unpack. The photo was hung above a fireplace and quilt next to it. I thought it was a great idea because she thought they went together. MIL was very upset until she realized DIL didn't want anything to happen to them.

My quilts are definitely made to be used. . . on beds, couchs, chairs, tables, in the car, hanging on walls, pulled through the puppy door and found in the dogs hidee holes. Throw them in the washer. Hang them on the line (hopefully they won't blow away. I live in Arizona and have had to chase a few through the desert) and use them again. By the time they wear out, you'll be tired of looking at them anyway.

I just wanted to say that is a lot of dogs. Our pets enjoy quilts too. Nina, 8 lb doggie, always prefers the quilt over anything else.

I made a small quilt for my cousin when she was born. When I gave it to her mother, I let her know that it was made to be used. My cousin is now 9 years old and the well-used quilt doubles as a cape on occasion. I'm so thrilled to know that the time and effort I put into making it was not wasted and it is someone's favorite blanket.

Ok I'm convinced--Mama is breaking out the quilts!! You are SO right, what good are they if they are stashed in the closet? No memories there. Thanks for the posts and the lovely poem AMH had in her post.

:) :) :) :) :)

I put a selections of lap quilts in my car. A group of friends all were quilters had very different views about sitting on then it was very amusing. My dogs love the quilts and are very good when I tell them that's mine keep off.
A ,quilt somebody said on here is a hug if they are not out and being used they are not giving hugs.

Why bother quilting if you are not going to use them. Find a different hobby, one where the item you have made is put behind glass and never touched. Collecting bugs or something. If you make a quilt, why in the world would you put it in a closet and never use it. Have you ever been to a garage sale where someone's quilts are being sold for a few bucks. It's obvious that the quilts were never used and now they were being practically given away. If having a spot on a quilt will stress you out and it's the only thing you have to worry about, you're lucky. The one thing I have learned after being disabled,is to not sweat the small stuff. And worrying about if a quilt gets a spot is small stuff. I used to work for the USPS and at the time I would have customer's get very irate because the newspaper didn't make the truck before it delivered mail to all the Post Office's on the route. The newspaper company would drive their paper to the distributin center and sometimes they just didn't get there in time to make the truck.So, no paper that day. Oh, boy, some customers would call the office and shout at me because their paper did not come in their mail. At the same time, my Dad had had a stroke and my Mom had breast cancer. Believe me, there were times I felt like saying,Do you know how lucky you are that the only thimg you have to be upset about, is the fact the the newspaper did not come that day. I never said it, but, I sure felt like it. Use your quilts. If a quilt gets a spot on it, wash it. If it fades with time, so be it. Make another. Please don't make your quilts, and then put them away until you die and then your quilts will be sold for pennies at a garage sale. Enjoy them! Isn't that what you made them for? To be used and enjoyed?

i'm sorry you feel this way about your quilts---did you make them to fill empty linen closet shelves? I make quilts to be used and use them---my granddaughters take their favorite quilts to the beach- on picnics, in the car- to sleep overs---if they go chances are a quilt goes with them- we make quilts to be used---I do not understand making a bed sized quilt to hide away- if something gets spilled on a quilt-I wash it- if it starts wearing out- I make a new one- I guess if I didn't want a quilt to be used I would make a wall hanging....are the quilts you make heirloom/museum quality master pieces that should be in a museum? even the quilts I've made that were appraised for $4000 are on beds being used- I guess if I had one worth a hundred thousand or something I would not want the kids playing on it- but then I still wouldn't stick it away in a linen closet- I would send it to a show- or museum where people could see it---sorry- I just do not understand --- don't mean to sound....crabby

Of course!!! That is what they are for. You should enjoy what you put so many hrs. into making and if they show use, so what.....they were loved.

When my mom was ill, she asked each of us six kids what was one thing we would like to have from her house before she passed away. Well....I have the one and only quilt she made from scraps of fabric from hers, my sister's and my dresses/skirts, etc. We use to lie across her bed and pick out all our clothes....that was such fun. I had one brother that got upset that I chose the quilt. I asked him to show me the fabric that mom used to make him a dress....he never said another word. The memories of the quilt being on Mom's bed was great!

I have never, in all my years, heard this. We totally abuse our quilts--lay on and under, and on top and wrap them, and make beds on the floor, and use for picnics...if I couldn't use my quilts, I wouldn't make them. I'd just buy blankets!

Don't save them. Use them and enjoy! That's what they're for. You can always make more. I use all of my quilts and my children and grandchildren use and love theirs. Life is short so enjoy your talents.

Send them to Moore, OKlahoma and you can quit worrying should they be used...I expect they would be cherished.

I like this idea a lot :)

My mom was one who saved things for later. I only know of one time the crystal she and daddy got as wedding gifts was used - for a luncheon for my cousins bridesmaids when I was seven and a junior bridesmaid.

After I was married (and expecting child #6) and moved back home while DH was stationed overseas I started using the towels they had gotten as wedding gifts forty plus years before. Couldn't see letting them just sit there and maybe get dry rot.

Anything that I have for an extended period of time that doesn't get used, gets passed on so someone else can use it. I need to take the time soon to sort through a lot of things that haven't been used lately and find them new homes.

I might add that my DGS has a tendency to "use" my quilts before they are even finished! I sometimes have to retrieve them from him before he leaves so I can do the quilting or one I hadn't even finished piecing.

Maybe in a year after they have a place to put it.

There have already been so many answers to this, I hesitate to chime in. However, I'm a fairly new quilter and also someone who tends to "put things away for a special time". However, the quilts I've made are on the bed, on the couch, on the floor in front of the TV and under the cat. And nothing makes me happier than when my kids and grandkids come home and start requesting a quilt "just like this one", which they have wrapped around themselves. Or when they argue about who should get the next one. I know that those quilts, no matter how imperfect, will always remind them of home.

It always makes me sad when people hide their beautiful belongings away, or 'save them for good'. I use my good china, best towels, my vases have flowers in them, my dog is allowed on all the furniture. if it gets broke or worn out, so be it. That what life is about. Nothing is meant to last forever. That is not to say I don't take care of my belongings, but I do make an effort to enjoy them regularly. What a waste not to enjoy the things of beauty we own.

Hope you can bring yourself to the point where you can display your quilts and enjoy them too.
peace

I'm by quilts like I am by my china........I would rather have a broken piece of china and enjoy using it than have the whole set. I used to use my china for tea parties with my granddaughter, am now doing it with Great-grand-dau.


I would rather have a quilt with a stain on it than no use it and wish I had later.

Wear your pretty gowns to sleep in, your prettiest shoes, dresses and whatever you have that you love.....use it up during your lifetime. Took me years to realize this....so why have it and not enjoy it?? NO REASON TO!

delma

I don't think this is black and white. I use my quilts to put on the bed because I do like to see how pretty they are. I change them every two weeks if possible. I do not let my dogs lay on them nor do I give these beautiful quilts to my grandchildren to do anything they want with them. My husband is a fan of mine and he is very considerate in not sitting or laying on the quilts. I do have some utility quilts that are very pretty and everyone, even the dogs and cats and grandchildren can do whatever they want to them. But these really pretty vintage quilts are protected. I say use your quilts on your bed and look at them with the love you have, but protect them too. There is nothing wrong in preserving and using the quilts at the same time. My opinion only.

Take them out and enjoy them, let others see them and enjoy your work. Yor could also put them over the back of a chair or couch.

I agree with this poster. I have several quilts and do use them. Several are wall hangings, several are on quilt racks on display and others are on couches and beds to be wrapped in and cuddled with. I do not have dogs nor grandchildren yet but my cats do sleep on the quilts. However, if I had an Heirloom quilt or a very intricate sampler quilt that took me months to finish, I would probably be a bit more careful with it especially if it was something I would never ever make again like a Baltimore Album :)

I use them and enjoy and I hope the ones I gifted are used also...

I can understand your fears that it will be ruined but you will have no regrets when you see if on your bed! I don't have a lot of bed quilts but I change mine out often so I get the joy of seeing them. I have quilts on the backs of couches and chairs for the cats to lay on and so the couches don't fade. The grandkids love coming over and sitting on a quilt to have popcorn and watching movies. They use them when they camp on the floor. The oldest quilt on the back of a couch is over 100 years old - my grandfather helped piece it. That quilt lived on a shelf in the closet for many years and no one knew it was there. It has been on display ever since I received it. Enjoy the fruits of your labors.

I gift most of my quilts. I tell them to please use the quilt but don't abuse it. If it wears out I will make them another to replace it. The quilts I keep all get used in the house or in the RV. The only exception is the Farmers Wife quilt that I am working on. If I ever get it done it will hang on the wall above my bed.

Absolutely.
When I give one as a gift, I make sure and tell the recipient it washes just like their clothes and the only condition to the gift is they must use it. To me a quilt is love and love in a dark closet is sad.

I use mine, in fact the one currently on my bed I noticed the back is becoming thread bare...not sure If I am going to try to repair, or replace with one of my other quilts...I agree use them, I love going to my son's house and seeing a wadded up quilt on the sofa. My daughter when she was about 10 spent the night at a friends house, she came home and told me they only had "itchy" blankets. Every time she went for a sleep over after that she took her own quilt with her...lol

I tell everyone I give one to, to use it. My quilts are all made with love, and made to use. If they don't use it, I think they don't like it....

I'm a quilter today because my mother and favorite aunt had quilts on the bed to sleep under. I loved the colors, patterns the feel of the cool cotton on my skin. I have one of my beloved aunt's quilts, with scraps from her house dresses, my sister's, cousin's and my clothes. I treasure it because of the memories and the love associated with its use. In the early 80's (I think) there was an article about a woman who made beautiful hand -done quilts, which she stored away, never to be used. Made me scratch my head in wonder!

Definitely use them. All of the time. All of them. They need to be used to be enjoyed. Unless of course you just like to sew. Seriously use and enjoy them.

Guess this was worth reading! Hehehe.....I avree

I use all my quilts.