Bottom line, know the person you are giving the quilt to. If you know they like crafts and quilts, pretty good chance their going to like the quilt. If your not certain, ask them if they like quilts, that clears up everything.

quote> Several years ago my SIL's mother was quite ill. I made her a lap quilt.
The 24 squares had all different machine embroidered 4 inch butterflies and the quilt was latticed, bordered & backed with a gorgeous butterfly fabric. Georgie, the Mom absolutely loved. My
SIL called me after Georgie died to say she put the quilt in the coffin with her Mom. I have to say that totally freaked me out. Perhaps I should have seen it as a supreme compliment, but I thought it was weird. Why not keep it as a nice memory? Am I nuts?[/quote]

Don't worry, you're not nuts!
But the idea of burying the lady with her quilt reminds me that in ancient times people were buried with their favorite things. For a man it might have been a bow and arrow or shield, for a woman maybe a favorite cooking pot etc. Get the picture? Maybe somehow these relatives of yours were doing something similar. Not that they have copied the ancient people, but that maybe the quilt was a favorite article of the person who passed away. We have to remember the emotions that come into play when a loved one dies. Remember Jackie Kennedy slipping her ring on JFK's finger in his coffin? That was a loving gesture. I'll stop now before this gets too morbid. :lol: :roll:

My husband was in a rehab center after hip surgery and I brought him a quilt had just finnished to put on his bed and since I have to work every day I told him to wrap himself with my love when I wasn't there. He called me a few days later and said he had sold it for $75. After the extended silence on my end he said he was just joking, but his nurse really wanted it. yes after she put up with him for three weeks she did get the quilt and now she has my love too.

ummm i am sitting here just speechless which pretty much never happens to me some people are just UN BE LI EV AB LE!

LOL that nurse probably giggled all the way home that day about what a silly lady that patient was i know i would have.

this is the person who is too cheap to buy stuff for themselfs direct her to the local good will lol!

I Have had to learn not to put strings onto to quilts I make and give away. Once it leaves my possession I have no control over it. Now I am very choosy about who gets my work

Thanks for all the tips and pics from this board. This is my first post.

I sewed very intricate dresses for my first grand daughter. Some were even smocked. When they moved in with us a few months later I asked where the dresses were? "Oh, we didn't have room for them when we moved so we left them in apartment". I didn't make anymore. Later I made another grand child with different parents a quilt. It was the dogs when I went to visit. I don't do that anymore either. Since I have always made things they don't sew and don't value them. I also stopped altering clothes when I discovered they were buying things on markdown because I could alter them - never mind the size. I hate to alter and sure don't do it now.

Excellent Idea!!!!

I have a little different spin on your story with one that happened to me. I had a total stranger see a quilt that I made and went crazy over the quilt. She just had to have it.She contacted me several times and made a point fo how poor she was. She could never afford such a beautiful piece of art work. she actually cried tears. SO.....I sold her the quilt at a rediculous price to find out that she turned around and sold it for a fortune!!! Never again will that happen!!!!I don't care how many tears they cry!!! Susie Sew-a-lot

OH MY !!!!!! That is why i CAREFULLY choose who i give one. Some people just don't understand the concept od hand stitched and hand quilting !!!!!

I learned a long time ago when making things for my family (mostly mother and sister) that our tastes were so different that it was difficulty to make something they truly appreciated. So, from then on we started what I call the "I get it back" gifts. Whatever we give one another, if for any reason they no longer want it, I get it back. They've begun the same kind of routines between themselves, too and it is really working out well. I must admit, I have a tendency to make things with fabric I love more than they might, but after all, if I may ever get back, why not? And they have become more thankful and appreciative of the crafting and time that goes into my gifts. I cannot keep up with them financially and they'd rather pay big bucks to send something than take the time to make it. So in my estimation, we're even. Like the author Debbie Macomber says, "make every stitch count as a prayer, a good thought or just plain fun and whatever you're making will be worth the effort." Go for it!!!

maybe it was just the fleece they didn't like? Did you use a panel?

Amazing stories....I will remember these stories as my quilting progresses. I am only on the 4th one and have given the 1st 3 away. I would be very hurt and am sure you were too.

I totally understand your pain at your hard work unappreciated. I've sort of decided to hone my quilting skills by giving everyone I know a potholder I've made. It's such a good, fast,easy way to use scraps and not invest a lot of money.

I'm working on my very first quilt, baby-size and boy have I learned a lot from all my booboos.

Could someone comment on the best quilt designs for beginners or baby quilts. I tried my first FMQ on a potholder and it will be a long time til I do that again.

You are so right! This needed to be said. No offense intended, but there are just some folks who don't appreciate the effort and love that go into making a homemade gift, especially a quilt. They should go out to Anna's and buy themselves a quilt from China.

Oh dear, that is just an awful thing to have happen. I am so sorry to read this. You are right though, often people just don't realize how much time and effort (let alone cost) has gone into making our quilts.
I belong to a quilting group (a couple of them actually) and one of the groups the ladies each made a block and signed it then put the quilt together. The leader of the group brought it to me when I was in hospital having my cancer treatment. I thought it was so sweet of them all to think of me this way. Love the quilt. Of course the following weeks went past in a blur and I forgot about the quilt. I had it with me in hospital for a couple of weeks but then sent it home as I was worried something terrible would happen to it. Several weeks after coming home I suddenly remembered that quilt and couldn't find it. What panic occurred as I imagined all sorts of scenarios for what had happened to it. To make it worse I had looked at the wrapped quilt twice while searching for it and yet not seen it. Anyways to make a long story short, it is now on our bed with another (it is winter here).

I have given away all except 2 of the quilts I have made so far and with out fail all of them have been put away and are not in use (well 2 I don't know about). I have just accepted that this is the way some people are and I don't really mind as I make the quilts because I enjoy doing this. Apart from two (and I have kept one) of them all of the others have been smaller quilts.

Cheers
Maybe1day

I guess I could love any quilt.
Hubby and I were in Sears just browsing when we seen these big boxes of "Hand made quilts" just $29.95. These were made in a 3rd world country.
Two of those quilts caught my fancy, so we bought them.
One was very well made, the other not so good on the hand quilting. Actually, it was because the quilting thread seem to rot away in a year. I am going to re-stitch it. It has a lot of hand applique. The bottom line of this story is how I stroked the quilt thinking about the hours that had gone into it and how few pennies the worker had been paid for her time.

If I had been the nurse, I would have said "how can you give this away, it's hand made!" I would have read the tag to the patient and made sure she knew who made it for her and told her it was too valuable for me to take, that she needed to take it home. After all, it was made for HER by a FRIEND. Then I would have offered to drop it off for her if she couldn't manage it that day. Guess I appreciate handmade items as I know the work that goes into it and to me it would have been like STEALING to accept it, especially since the chick didn't have a clue. Do I live in a small town area? Yes, but I'd like to think that even if I didn't, I'd do the same.

Judy, there are probably some good threads on her about that subject. A couple of tried and true beginner patterns are just setting 5" blocks together, a rail fence pattern (very quick and simple, yet looks interesting) another is a four patch with solid/contrasing setting squares. If you look on downy.com's website, there are some patterns there for their charity quilts. The patterns are super simple.

It's a bit disheartening when the receiver doesn't "get" it---or their enthusiasm is less than underwhelming. I have a friend who offered me $10 for a lap quilt I made---I told her that wouldn't cover my time let alone the fabric! However, many of my family members and friends have received quilts from me and are not only more than appreciative, they vy to see who gets one next!

No, you're not nuts, but people grieve in different ways. I can top that one--when my FIL died, they waited a few extra days to bury him until it was his birthday and then all eleven kids signed a birthday card and put it in the casket to be buried with him. Did I mention also that the children dug the grave by hand and then once pops was in the ground, placed his beloved deceased dog on top of the casket? Yes, they dug the dog up to place it with him and threw a 6 pack of beer in too, before filling in the grave. Then the coolers of beer and the hard liquor hidden behind the next headstone came out and they started drinking! I have never, in my entire life, seen such a scene!
I would take it as a compliment that she was buried with the quilt. She obviously loved it; it gave her great pleasure and comfort. She must have reflected the joy of the quilt to others also, and I would bet that when others saw it in the casket, they recognized it as having great meaning to her.
Sometimes the homemade, personal items give the family pain until they can accept the death, too, so maybe this was their way of not having to deal with the pain of seeing it as they weren't ready.

I think it's a great idea to give someone a nice gift and yet test them out for future quilty gifts. I know that if someone, friend or family, took the time to make me something I would make sure to use it, display it, and treat it like it was the Hope diamond. If your cherish your family and friends, and they give you something from the heart, you should love them and the gift. One day it may be all you have of them to remember them by and how they loved you enough to take the time to do something special. I cherish every hand painted, cross stitched ornament my BFF Anna gave me, and all her other gifts as well no matter how much they cost or how well made they were, she did them with love and now that she is gone way to early from my life I remember her, her love and the good times every time I see them. I have been lucky enough to find another BFF and she quilts, I have made her several things, including a quilt. She has raved over them, showed them to everyone, put them in a small county fair for display and tells me how soft and lovely my quilt is getting. There are those that will appreciate your lovely gift and it's good to know who to give them to, so your thread is wonderful, a gift to us!

I made a quilt for my niece and we were suppose to meet...that didn't work out with the arrangments they 1st made...I still have the quilt here over 1 year later...guess it was not important to them.
I made a quilt for my son and he called crying as he was so happy...he is 42!! And it is on their bed and matches nothing in the bedroom. The baby quilts I made for his kids...I said to use and abuse...they have enjoyed and all well loved.
My other DIL...ugly story so we won't go there...ha ha!!
I quilt to keep me happy but a little respect is not much to expect for my kindness!

Lets just hope that nurse finally felt appreciated. Sometimes they work there legs off and ,unknowingly, you may have made her day. Look at it on the positive side. I do agree that everyone does not appreciate the work and if you have it quilted on a long -arm it certainly isn't cheap. I don't care what it costs if it is for a loving grandchild who is old enough to appreciate it. So far I have only given quilts to my children and grandchildren. I finally made one for ME! My first quilt that I have kept.

When my two adult sons died ( 2 1/2 yrs apart) their wives gave me their shirts. When I finally could cut into those shirts, I made a quilt for each of their children (3 in total) and did a very memorable label for each of them, regarding their dad. The eight year old really seemed to appreciate it at that time, but now I don't think she even knows where it is (she's 21 now) (I have stored it at my house, and she doesn't even know where it is.) The other two (ages 4 & 6) were too small to appreciate, I know. But, I don't think mom has reminded them about them at all.....put up out of sight.....they are now teenagers. My heart still breaks in more ways than one!! I hope I have enough time when I find out I'm about to die, that I can give my quilts away to people who will appreciate them.....some people will NOT get one. LOL

You are so right. A friend of mine is pregnant with her first child and I planned to make a quilt for her. She is very much like a daughter to me. She loves animals and works in animal rescue so I painstakingly looked for bright dog prints (without much luck) and finally found some really cute fabrics with paw prints, bones and the like. Got right to work on it...a rail fence pattern...worked like a dog (yeah, pun intended). Showed it to friends and they loved it. Top is all pieced and I got cute flannel for the backing with dogs on it. I was sooo excited I wanted to show it to her but then I wouldn't have had "the perfect shower gift." Much to my astonishment, when I showed her the pattern she scrunched up her face and told me it was ugly and too busy. She then proceded to show me a panel quilt..no patchwork at all that she "just had to have." Ugh...nothing against panels but without at least a pieced border they just don't seem like real quilts. Thanks for letting me vent.

Good grief!!! These stories just keep getting more and more awful! I hope there are more people out there who like their gift quilts than don't like them. I feel so bad for you. 8-)

Love your "test" -- hard to believe that anyone could not appreciate such a thing of beauty as a "homemade" quilt...

Oh, we all have the stories and isn't that sad. I too have suffered the same ungrateful recipients. Almost feel as if you have to interview people before giving. lol

Some of these stories here just break my heart.

But any of you who want a REALLY GRATEFUL recipient, just send you beautiful works of art directly to me!!!!

I hear ya! My ex-in-laws were from New York, and none of the ever got it, or much handmade from me! Last year, I made all my family eyeglass cases with paper-pieced patchwork. If they understood the work, great! Most of them did, and if not, I'm not "out" a lot of time and effort. Most of my family either crafts or at least appreciates it! Luckily, all my kids know what crafting is all about, and appreciate it. Not sure about their spouses yet, though! They all (7 of 'em) work on making things for each other for Christmas. Pretty cool! I

I would rather just buy something for someone who doesn't appreciate it, and save my efforts for someone who will.

Good idea!

This isn't about a quilt but a few years ago I went through great pains to paint a little wooden foot stool for my Dad. He is a very patriotic Canadian who used to fish and hunt so I painted a fishing creel with trilliums on it. The next time I went to the senior's home he had his urinal on it. I didn't say anything but I was very disappointed.

that's just what I was thinking.OMG I'll bet she was thrilled. And to even think you would put that amount of time into making a quilt for someone you did not know. (Charity quilts being the exception)

My youngest son has a quilt I made for him when he went to college and then added to when he graduated and got a Queen size bed. When I would go visit the corner was always turned down and you could see the label. I'd turn it back and then when we would come the next time it was turned down again. I asked him why he did that. And he said, "I don't want anyone to think it's just something I bought, but that is made just for me by you." That kinda makes up for the time when I made a quilt for my daughter and mailed it to her for her b'day and I had to ask if she liked it. Needless to say I'm making my son another quilt to replace the one that is getting a bit tattered now. I don't make bed quilts for my other sons who have wives that prefer their own style and would just use it to make me feel good. I've made them throws that are seasonal and they like those. (Probably because they don't have to look at them all year long)They loved the baby quilts I made but the effort that goes into a large bed quilt means I want the receiver to like it as much as I do making it for them. Some people just don't get quilts or care one way or another and then there are people like us who drools over a pretty quilt.

Exactly what I would have done......and I'm a nurse. Never, never, never would I have accepted a gift like that. I would have made sure she left my floor with that quilt in her hands! But then she probably would have given it to the outpatient staff on her way out through. LOL

I feel the same way.I made pj's for every one one Christmas an I found out short time ago that Sons Mother inlaw gave the ones I made her an DIL away an DIL wasn't happy about it cause she liked hers an wore them often.But I won't be making hermom any more things for her to give away.

I can relate to so many of these stories. I think, because of the way some of the quilts I've made for gifts for relatives have been received and used - makes me all the more fond of doing charity quilts. I don't know what happens to these quilts, but I enjoy each and every one I make and figure most of them are as well loved as some I have done for 'loved ones'.

A rag quilt I finished and gave my son when he was first diagnosed with colon cancer and which he cuddled with a lot before he died was used by his spouse in the U-Haul when she moved. I would love to have seen that quilt put aside for one of my son's kids. But, I have learned that 'things' that have meaning for me don't necessarily have the same meaning to others in my family. So, I will continue to foster my love of quilting by doing the charity quilts!

I think you have a great idea, and I wished I had had it a few years ago. I made a baby quilt for every baby/toddler in my church and gave them to the moms. I could not believe the responses I got. One even refused it (she had sooo many blankets already, I should just "pass it on") I don't think that only one out of all the moms I gave one to ( I think I made about 10 or 12 quilts) was very greatful or overly happy to get a quilt from me. It taught me something-I'm not bitter or anything, but I am very careful now who I give anything to. Quilting is not a cheap hobby and if the gift isn't appreciated or used, it is a waste of money. ( I think)

What a great idea. Thank you