Would you rather....
 

Use a quilt every day and possibly lose it over time to wear and tear or leave it sitting it a closet or maybe have it on display but never use it?

I have a quilt that my mom had commissioned for me before she passed. This lady didn't use the highest quality fabric and it had a tear in it with very little use. Needless to say I prefer to keep this one on display so I can have it for a long time and hand down to my children from their grandma. Others not as special I use.

Definitely use. But I don't have grandchildren, otherwise I'd probably be inclined to save something special for them. The granddogs don't appreciate it!

I use mine..... and rotate them from time to time. The ones that are very worn that my DHs mother and aunt made back in the 1930s are not used. They wouldn't last much longer if we used them.

When my dear MIL passed, my husband and his sister took turns picking the quilts that she had. Some of the older, worn quilts were the 1st to be picked. It was the memories that made some more special than others. It was a fair way to keep the quilts alive and I cherish the ones my DH picked. I've told my kids they have to do the same thing when I'm gone even though my DH says he's going to sell them all at a yard sale for $1 each. He's kidding.... he loves my quilts and I always get a big hug and kiss when he teases me about it. And the kids argue over the quilts every time they're here together for a visit.

I use all of mine but one. My storybook quilt is displayed, it's bedsized and I did make it to be used on the bed, but it just looks better in a display mode.

Use it and wear it out. Then I can make another one. When I have them lined up in a closet, it stifles my creativity and I think, why bother. Which is why I quit scrapbooking. After 12, I think I have documented enough.

I use all of mine even the one my Mother made. I feel her love when I wrap up in it. Who knows how someone else would treat it. She had several top made when she passed. I quilted my two daughters one , they can hand theirs down. lol

The ones I make I want used. I have several that my greatgrandmother made back in the 1930s that are worn and not used. I am saving what's left of them for my granddaughters. I hope that they love them as I do. So far none of the ones I make have deserved to be displayed.

A quilt that is not used will likely not have any meaning to the next generation. A quilt is just a cover until it is filled with memories of tent forts, bedtime stories, etc.

I definately use mine. The grandkids have worn theirs out and I just make another to replace them. I know they have been well loved and used daily. It would be a shame to make them to sit in a closet. I do have one that came from my grandmother. I finished it off and have it out for show. It does get used occasionally. She made her quilts for use and I would like to think she would be happy that I have mine out and use it as she would have.

Most of mine are to be used. I have a couple special occasion ones, and family ones. We are only here for a little while, so I enjoy the beauty as I can~

All my life I've been a "saver". I saved favorite clothes (that I never wore) because I didn't want to ruin them; I saved crystal stemware and china because I didn't want it to get broken. Now I save fabric because god forbid I make something and it's not as pretty as it could be and I find a better pattern. So in answer to your question, I only use 3 of the quilts I've made. BTW I gave the china to one daughter who sold it in garage sale and gave the crystal to another daughter who uses it.

The reason I asked is I bought an older quilt (at an estate auction) that I mentioned in another post about trying to fix. But sadly...I think the repairs are above my skill level, and honestly...there are A LOT of repairs as I look at this quilt. I think it would cost a lot of money to fix a quilt that might not be worth that much. (?) It currently lays on my futon in my sewing room.

I considered folding it up and storing it yesterday...but then what? I didn't buy it to have it lay on a shelf in my closet. If I were to die, there aren't any family members that would care about my quilting (or that particular quilt.) So, I think I just may leave it out until it finally gives it. It will be well loved (by me) while its here.

Could not have said it better myself. This is exactly how I feel, so the quilts in my home never see the inside of a closet. I do have some on display, but they rotate on and off the walls along with the quilts on the beds.

That would be the perfect thing to do with that particular quilt. Just looking at a quilt can bring enjoyment.

There are plenty of beautiful quilts in museums to admire. I tell my kids to let the museums do the quilt storing and for them to use the quilts I make.

I have one quilt that I no longer use; it was given to me on the occasion of my first wedding by a dear family friend who was in the Air Force with my mother. I used it till it had two holes in it and most of the quilting stitches are gone. It has been a well loved quilt, but the friend passed away several years ago from breast cancer, and it means too much to me to let it get to the point where it's ratty looking. Right now, the quilt is in the top of my closet, where it will stay till I can decide what to do about it.

I do make seasonal quilts that I change out through the year, but they are well used when they are out. :-)

I would love to use them, but for some reason, I just can't. I don't know if it's something that I know I'll wear out and not have it to look at or what. That's just me.

Use it - absolutely. Be sure to take photos before it's used too much. I would prefer that my bed sized quilts not be dragged through the mud and snow, but used inside the house. I don't mind pets on them too much. Kid sized quilts I'd expect receive a harsher treatment than bed quilts.

Bed sized quilts are used. Wall hangings are hung for display.

Anita

I display the ones made by my grandmother and great-grandmother. They are too fragile for daily use now, although they were used on beds during my childhood until the fabric started wearing too thin to wash in a machine. They have been loved and I still want the memories. The ones I make are on beds, some are "draggers," and some are for charity.

i would definitely rather use it. the only way i wouldn't use it is if it was made to be decorative and hung on the wall.

Use it until it's threadbare then put it in my cedar chest as a memory. Things made with the hands come from the heart and it's best to wrap up in that love.

I tell every one who receives a quilt from me the greatest appreciation they can show is to use it!

use it. but then again, I have one my gm made over 55 yrs ago, used it for about 15 yrs. now it's in a closet with the first one my son made at 9 yo.

like loris, when I make one and give it away, I tell people to use it

There is a "little" book with quotes about quilts and I don't have it handy to quote it perfectly but one was a girl wondering if her grandmother smiled while quilting it thinking about what she was going to be doing under it. I use mine and I hope the people I give them to use them. Only one I knew was put away until her daughter was old enough to take care of it. And that one was totally hand embroidered, then hand quilted. It was a twin size quilt.

I use the ones we have. I'm currently making one as a gift for my great niece. I hope she uses and enjoys it until it falls apart.
Rodney

All of my quilts are either used or displayed. None of them just sit in a closet.

I would use them. I got my love from sleeping under my great grandmothers handmade quilt. My mother wished she had not let me sleep under it but it gave me a lifelong love of quilts and quilting.

I couldn't agree more! I like to think all the quilts I send to new homes are just full of memories.

Definitely use, I haven't made or do I intend on making a quilt that I wouldn't consider using, I just need to be careful how I use them, I always have a dog or two on our bed and the other beds in the house tend to be used by the cats. I will probably display the wool applique quilt I am working on because I am having enough trouble keeping dog hair off of it as I am sewing the blocks.

I love my quilts and use all of them. some are hung on the wall others are on our bed and my kids all use theirs . I too, tell people to use them. thats what they are for and when they wear out I make more.

I have to say BOTH. I do use some of my quilts on a regular basis..but I have a few that I just have set out just to look at such as my Crazy Quilt and my twin size Dear Jane quilt. The ones I just "see" still give me a lot of pleasure even tho they are not used.

I use the ones I make as do my kids. I have some that grandmothers made that I display. Wonder if my grandchildren will feel the same way about my quilts someday...

I make quilts to use. I would love to see a well worn quilt. It tells me that that quilt is loved.

I have special quilts from my mother that I am saving to pass on to my children/grandchildren when I am gone. Some of mine I use and some I save for the same purpose.

All of mine are used except one that I bought many years ago. It was all hand made by the mennonites in very light, pastel colours & with us having 2 dogs that like to get on our bed (especially when we're not there) it wouldn't last long so its displayed on a quilt rack only. It was purchased before I started quilting 4 years ago.

Well said. I am pleased when my grown boys use theirs and seem to really appreciate them.

My kids and grandkids use my quilts. They don't live here long after they are finished.

I use mine - I an see if a quilt is special (sentimential reasons or because it is a heirloom) not using it but having it on display.