Would you give your first quilt...
 

As a gift?

Here are is my dilemma: I am still finishing my first quilt that is not a rag quilt. My intention was to gift it to my husband's co-worker who just found out they were expecting. I am not too thrilled with the results... I used a few cheap fabrics, which in turn stretched and also ironed it a few times before learning you are to press the pieces, not iron. So some squares are off, my straight line quilting is a little wonky and I haven't even started binding. I feel it looks okay for a first quilt, just not sure how I feel about it being a gift.

What would you do? Give it or keep it for practice?

I would keep it to practice. Also, you will be able to look back at it one day and see how far you have come. :)

i wouldn't. just keep it and if you still like quilting and the person is still a friend, make a quilt for their kid at a year or 5 years or whenever it strikes you as a good idea.

aileen

I gave my first, second, and third quilts, but they were to my mom, and my daughters. They've had to mail them back to me over the years when I needed to display them in "First quilts to Masters" demonstrations, so I know they feel like they were a sort of back-handed gift! :D

Jan in VA

After you're finished, wash it, and then decide.

If they just found out they were expecting, you should have plenty of time to do another--with all you've learned on this one, the next will be much better.
That said, it is possible that you are the only one who sees the shortcomings on this first one.

I agree with CraftyRainRain, keep this one for future reference. If you have indicated they can expect to receive a quilt from you, I'd like to suggest you check out some of Jenny Doan's tutorials at MSQC.com or just put in Missouri star quilt company in the search box. She has some simple, cute quilts that are ideal for baby gift. Also there are many adorable baby/children's panels that would be great with 1 or 2 borders and very simple quilting.

I would wait. I kept my first quilt but gave my second quilt to my mom as a Christmas gift. The second one was way better than the first, although I learn something new on each quilt! I feel like I need to make a new quilt for myself, I sometimes laugh when I look at my first quilt compared to where I am now 4 quilts later :)

My 1st quilt turned out far better than I thought it would so I gave my niece as a baby gift. However, I really
wish I had kept it just because it was the 1st one I made.

I gave my first, second, third...in fact I gave them all away for the first 20+ years of quilting about 6 years ago my hubby asked me---'are you ever going to make one for us?' *now we have 3* :) it is up to you- if you are not happy with it- concerned about those *cheap fabrics* that may not hold up- and feel you could do something better for this person ---make that choice- if you decide when it's done it's not so bad & want to give it- go ahead- (often we are our worst critics- what we see as 'bad' is actually just fine in other's eyes)

No I wouldn't give this one as a gift. You said you used some cheap fabrics and it might not hold up for a baby with a lot of washing. That's just my opinion, of course.

Depends on how close you are to the parents. A very, very close friend would appreciate it simply becasue it was your first effort. Someone not so close might see it simply as a poor excuse for a gift.

Personally, I would keep my first quilt, no matter what. I like knowing that I have the first quilt I made. It was quite an accomplishment, I thought, though, looking back at it now, it is sort of primitive. Still, I like having it.

I was told by a quilter when I started to keep my first quilt and to keep track of how many quilts I had made by writing the current number on my calendar. I have heard many quilters wonder how many quilts they had made, and, thanks to that advice, I know how many I have made...and I have my first quilt. I am on quilt 74 and I still learn something on each quilt I make.

Dina

Thank you for all of your opinions. The recipients aren't very close to us personally so what GrannieAnnie said is one of my fears: a poor excuse for a gift. I see it as a labor of love but others may not! I think I will hold onto it. Maybe I will start another an diff I am done before said bundle arrives, great. It not, it's off to to find a onesie to wrap up.

Thanks again everyone.

I would keep it. Sounds like you have enough time to make another. Like other suggestions there are all kinds of patterns for baby quilts. Some very simple and absolutely precious. just Google quilts for babies/infants/children!

Don't give your first one away. What are you going to use for comparison? Keep it, put it away. Make them another one.

I gave away my first 6 quilts before i made one for me. All the recipients were happy with their quilts. If you wait for perfection you may never achieve one good enough to give away.

I agree. I was able to sell my first quilt which I wasn't happy with the final results but fortunately someone else had other ideas. YIPPEE!!!

REMEMBER, always buy the best fabric you can afford !! :)

I kept my first quilt/wall hanging and I am so glad I did. When I compare the third and fourth quilts I have made to it I know it was a good decision! Keep the first one for posterity and make another one later. I have the first one I made hanging up on the wall in my sewing area to remind me how far I have come. If I posted a picture of it you would laugh and laugh.

I made my first quilt for a co-worker's daughter, so in case I decided I didn't like the quilting experience (and 4 years later, we can see how THAT turned out) and it turned out horribly, I didn't have to worry about ever having to see it again.

I kept my first, second and third and then decided to gift some to the grandkids. They didn't care if things weren't straight and the lessons learned on those first 3 were great. Still learning and every quilt I make has some elements I'm not thrilled with but they're never boring. If you'll be unhappy with them having it just don't do it. Make something new with better fabrics and the lessons learned on the first one.

I agree - finish it and wash it and decide then. I think if you are going to give a gift, you should give it with a happy heart....not doubt. If you are not happy enough with this one - take your time and make another. You will learn something on your 2nd quilt as well...but i think you will be happier if you keep your first.

I did give my first quilt as a gift, and even though it wasn't perfect it was met with heartfelt thanks. If you are not happy with the result then I would recommend keeping it around and making something you would be happy to gift. None of my quilts are perfect but as long as I know I worked hard on them, I'm happy with the result.

I actually did give away my first one, but it is not very far, just across the way. I gave it to my sister for Christmas one year. She was at my house and saw the top finished and sitting on my ironing board. She said “Well, should I take it with me now, or will you wrap it up for Christmas.” I tried to talk her out of it, and when she went home, I made the decision to give it to her.

It was already half done, and I KNEW she would love it. It did not really bother me to give it to her, because I can see it any time, plus I took pictures of it.

If you're worried about the quality, they won't see the mistakes that you see. That being said, your second quilt will go so much better than your first! I would keep the first as a benchmark for your future quilts, and make another for them.

Or! If you don't want to make a quilt for them, cluckclucksew has a tutorial for a car seat cover that I've made for two new little ones and it got RAVE reviews! (we lived in an area that got a lot of rain so for the top fabric, I used PUL with a Dr. Seuss print - not to brag, but it was super cute) I also made a changing pad for a friend of mine with PUL fabric on the back side so it can be wiped off after using it in a public bathroom - that was also a much loved/needed gift. There are patterns for those out there, too - I didn't use one, just made a small quilt and put an elastic to the side of one end so it could be rolled up and secured.

I think you should keep it. It's nice to see the progress you make.

Each quilt you make will have some sort of issue -- piecing isn't quite good enough, colors aren't just right, borders are a little wonky, quilting leaves something to be desired. But the recipient doesn't see any of those things -- they just feel loved because of all the thought, work, blood, sweat and tears go into the piece.

My first and second quilts live with my nephews. I have several tops that I need to quilt - and eventually I will keep a few of them.

Cheers, K

I kept mine, but it was made specifically for me. Over time a few seams split and I had to fix them. When I gave away the first few quilts, I told the recipient that I was still learning, and that repairs were free.
I've never had one returned to me. I recently was at my sister's house and inspected the quilt I gave to her(one of my firsts). I could see that it had been laundered several times, and it looked great!

I would keep it too, especially if you aren't too happy with the results. Baby quilts will be washed and washed again and you want it to be used. I guess you learnt a lesson not to buy cheap fabric. With all the time it takes to make a quilt, you want it to last and cheap fabric won't last. Chalk it up to experience and don't buy cheap fabrics or Joanne's fabrics for quilts.