I made a king size carpenters star quilt for my niece and she said she loved it but the next time I went to visit her she had it on the floor for her dogs to lay on..I did feel bad at first but then I thought it is hers to do what she wants with it.. just glad that someone is getting joy out of using it and her dogs love it..LOL

I gave a wedding quilt to my Dh's brother, it kinda hurt my feelings that nobody ever sees the front of the quilt; only the back. If I had known that I would've given them a bedspread from Wal-mart. Its not my quilt anymore and therefore I have no say how it is used.
This is a picture of the quilt:
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...45965719fgaxFs

Sharon

Quilts to Grandchild
 

I must add that I have given quilts to my grandchidren & when I asked him if it was keeping him warm, he said he "lost it" My daughter-in-law never uses anything I give them, homemade or bought, believe me, this hurts. What would you do ??;/

I am thankful that they are using it. It would crush me if it ended upin a thrift shop or yard sale.

I would start giving checks or photographs .

Most of my quilts, I never see again, because they were given to a charity, like the battered women's shelter. The ones that I made for o ur children and grandchildren have all been heavily used. However, one that I gave to a neighbor received an honor that embarrassed me. When this older woman moved in across the street from us, I realized that she was hardly using her furnace. I gave her a small quilt that I had just finished. It had a gazillion mistakes, but I thought she could use it to wrap up in to keep warm when watching TV. Imagine my surprise when I visited her next and saw the quilt hanging on the wall. This wasn't just an act to make me feel good, because the quilt was still hanging there 3 years later. She has since taken it down to redo that wall but assured me that the qulit would go back up as soon as she got the painting done. The quilt was only what I considered a utility quilt in a simple stair step design.

It's a beautiful quilt!!!

I would give the kids something edible and give the DIL nothing.

My pets are allowed on my lap, couch, and bed. My daughter made a beautiful quilt for me that I kept folded on the back of a seldom used chair. One day I noticed the quilt was missing. When I mentioned it to her, she said if I wasn’t going to use it, she was. Her house is also an indulgent pet home. It is now being used on my bed and she is happy.

I think “treated with respect” is a subjective term. When her beloved old dog died, she buried him wrapped in the quilt I made for her when she was a teenager. She is very aware how much time and work goes into a quilt, but knew I would not consider her act of love disrespectful.

Other thoughts: (1) You can buy a “quilt” at Walmart for $20, some people think that’s what quilts are worth. (2) I quilt for my own pleasure and enjoy the cutting, intricate piecing, and the actual quilting. My biggest expense is buying fabric from my LQS. (3) Just because I think my quilt is gorgeous, doesn't mean it is. (4) Some people don’t want cats or dogs, some don’t want them in the house, some only want them on the floor, and some people regard them as treasured members of the household.

I give and let go....but must admit was a bit surprised when last year I made a quilt for my mother. I agonised over the pattern, spent quite a bit of money on some special fabrics (all her favourite colours)...stitched with love and care. The backing I had on hand...chintzy apricot/mauve rose fabric (not a favourite of mine)...but I knew Mum would like it. The idea was, she could use it for Nanna Naps etc. Sure enough she keeps it on the end of the bed....Backside up! My sister and I make a game of sneaking into her room and flipping it right side up every time we visit.....As long as she loves it and uses it...I don't really mind:)