Is there a limit as to how ugly a charity quilt can be?
01-18-2012, 07:24 AM
#71
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 69
I belong to a small group of five (that includes me) we are a club of sorts. We make charity quilts and we use fabric we buy, have in our homes and donated fabric. There are all sorts of fabric. We try to keep like fabric together. We also use unknown fabrics to try out new blocks or as samples for new techniques. We are not an experience group of quilters we are a fun group of quilters who do very decent work. We vote when we don't agree on some things but we seem to all agree on this give as you would to receive. You give junk expect junk. Just my two cents. icee
01-18-2012, 07:53 AM
#73
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: California
Posts: 14,723
Originally Posted by ckcowl
ugly is a personal thing- some things i think are just hidious you might absolutely love-
as long as the fabrics are quality fabrics that will hold up- they are usable- check with the charity though- all those charities out there have their own (requirements/rules) concerning what is acceptable and what is not---mostly though they need to be cotton, washable, durable- functional- if you would not give it to someone you know-you should not give it to a stranger- they deserve the same consideration as anyone you know
as long as the fabrics are quality fabrics that will hold up- they are usable- check with the charity though- all those charities out there have their own (requirements/rules) concerning what is acceptable and what is not---mostly though they need to be cotton, washable, durable- functional- if you would not give it to someone you know-you should not give it to a stranger- they deserve the same consideration as anyone you know
01-18-2012, 08:04 AM
#75
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Sturbridge, Ma
Posts: 3,992
Thank you all. While this subject has been long and with many many opinions I have found it refreshing, enlightening, informative and educational. In fact it just may have given me a new lecture on the subject. We all have our own opinions about the subject and reading through the postings has given me anew perspective on the subject. How would a leture with the title "Use Up or Suffer the Consequencies" sound.
Consequences might be: guilt at thinking somone might be cold; waste not want not; filling the land fill and causing environmental problems, etc etc.....just thinking here. Idle hands must be active. amd ot goes on. But then I have to drag a plastic bag full of these donations in for show and tell and then show samples made from each of the unwanted or ugly stuff.
Consequences might be: guilt at thinking somone might be cold; waste not want not; filling the land fill and causing environmental problems, etc etc.....just thinking here. Idle hands must be active. amd ot goes on. But then I have to drag a plastic bag full of these donations in for show and tell and then show samples made from each of the unwanted or ugly stuff.
01-18-2012, 08:23 AM
#77
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Lebanon, Oregon
Posts: 1,712
I agree with the thoughts here, if it is usable and warm and able to meet the needs then ugly is just a opinion.
My quilting group makes quilts for the local VA hospital. (I am a Vet and really see the appreciation from the receivers)
My husband wanted to learn how to make a quilt to give to the VA hospital. So I helped him with the basics. The rest was up to him. I thought how I would never put those colors together, but kept my opinion to myself. I saw the work put into it. I saw him get his stitches right, working to make it his best.
On Christmas Morning I opened that quilt! I don't have to tell you that it is now one of my very favorite quilts. It was made with love and knowing the work he put into it made it all the more special to me.
He said he wanted me to have something that I could appreciate and also to understand how others felt when they received a gift I made. My perspective from Ugly to beautiful changed in an instant.
My quilting group makes quilts for the local VA hospital. (I am a Vet and really see the appreciation from the receivers)
My husband wanted to learn how to make a quilt to give to the VA hospital. So I helped him with the basics. The rest was up to him. I thought how I would never put those colors together, but kept my opinion to myself. I saw the work put into it. I saw him get his stitches right, working to make it his best.
On Christmas Morning I opened that quilt! I don't have to tell you that it is now one of my very favorite quilts. It was made with love and knowing the work he put into it made it all the more special to me.
He said he wanted me to have something that I could appreciate and also to understand how others felt when they received a gift I made. My perspective from Ugly to beautiful changed in an instant.
01-18-2012, 08:44 AM
#78
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 1,092
Originally Posted by Favorite Fabrics
Here's our situation: the stash consists of over a dozen of large boxes of "textiles" that have been donated over the course of I don't know how many years. In the boxes are everything from new fabric (cotton, blends, T-shirt knits, double-knits) to fabric that was on the shelf so long that it has really obvious fade marks to curtain panels, old tablecloths, and lots of sheets, from faded-but-serviceable to nearly worn through.
And a number of different thoughts were expressed at the meeting, such as:
"Why should we buy ANYTHING to work with, when we have so much stash already."
"Don't insist on just cotton. Those double knits we have would make great backs, if only we had some smaller quilts, because they're just not quite wide enough."
"Those double knits - it's just too hard to get the needle through them."
"All those fabrics were donated, and we really should use them as they were intended."
"We've become a dumping ground, every time somebody wants to clean house!"
"Well, if you think our quilts are ugly now, you should have seen what we were working with 40 years ago! We were cutting apart clothing to use..."
There is a wide range of ages in this quilting group, and some have lived through the depression and some haven't. (I suppose that changes one's perspective.)
The quilts are all going overseas. We're not actually quilting them, just tying through with perle cotton (or similar). I don't believe all the fabrics would wash succesfully, but the point was mentioned that if the quilts are just to serve as a wall or a rug, they might not ever get washed anyway.
I don't think we're even at the point where we're discussing taste or aesthetics or colors, really. The quilts are just 8" squares sewn together. We're talking REALLY BASIC quilts here.
A couple of the ladies cut the 8" squares (very accurately, I must say) and sewers get handed a bag of 108 pre-selected squares to put together however we please. Some in the group don't cut, or sew, they just help layer & tie.
And a number of different thoughts were expressed at the meeting, such as:
"Why should we buy ANYTHING to work with, when we have so much stash already."
"Don't insist on just cotton. Those double knits we have would make great backs, if only we had some smaller quilts, because they're just not quite wide enough."
"Those double knits - it's just too hard to get the needle through them."
"All those fabrics were donated, and we really should use them as they were intended."
"We've become a dumping ground, every time somebody wants to clean house!"
"Well, if you think our quilts are ugly now, you should have seen what we were working with 40 years ago! We were cutting apart clothing to use..."
There is a wide range of ages in this quilting group, and some have lived through the depression and some haven't. (I suppose that changes one's perspective.)
The quilts are all going overseas. We're not actually quilting them, just tying through with perle cotton (or similar). I don't believe all the fabrics would wash succesfully, but the point was mentioned that if the quilts are just to serve as a wall or a rug, they might not ever get washed anyway.
I don't think we're even at the point where we're discussing taste or aesthetics or colors, really. The quilts are just 8" squares sewn together. We're talking REALLY BASIC quilts here.
A couple of the ladies cut the 8" squares (very accurately, I must say) and sewers get handed a bag of 108 pre-selected squares to put together however we please. Some in the group don't cut, or sew, they just help layer & tie.
Last edited by selm; 01-18-2012 at 08:46 AM.
01-18-2012, 09:00 AM
#79
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Dallas area, Texas, USA
Posts: 3,042
There are cases of people who need a quilt to keep warm, but if it's too pretty it might be stolen. Also, there are many people who have terrible addictions to drugs and alcohol, and a very pretty quilt might be sold in a weak moment to raise money to support their habit. In other words, there's a place in this world for even the ugliest quilt, as long as it will keep someone warm. New quilters who don't have the skills to do wonderful work yet should not be discouraged from trying to make something to be donated, and fabric that looks ugly to one person might be quite appealing to another.
01-18-2012, 09:53 AM
#80
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Upstate NY, north of Syracuse Area
Posts: 6,003
Here is my personal take on the situation. If the fabric is totally inappropriate for quilting, say sheer curtains or fabric so old it has dry rotted, I would set it aside to get rid of. Threadbare sheets, etc. I would designate for lining double knit quilts. I would NOT mix cotton with double knit but I would mix it with blends as I do that all the time anyway with no problems. Heavier fabrics like upholstery and drapery, could be used to line thinner cotton quilts or for a top or backing. I understand that your quilts go overseas, however, there are many homeless here in our country that sleep out all the time who would appreciate a sturdy, heavy warm quilt, especially during the winter months, but during the summer, too. The quilt would make the ground a little softer to lay on. The upholstery, double knit and other heavier quilts are great for the homeless and the "uglier" the better since they don't want someone to steal it because it is pretty; and darker is good since they probably won't see much washing. If your group didn't want to make quilts for this, it could be a side project that fabric could be donated for. I can't imagine a single cold homeless person saying, "OMG, I can't take this quilt. That is upholstery fabric and it just will NOT do." LOLOL
Anything too worn or faded to use on the outside can be used on the inside if it is big enough, or can be pieced together to make it bigger in the case of say, faded curtain panels. Since you are tying these quilts, the extra seams should not be an issue.
If it is too hard for someone to get the needle and tying material (yarn or whatever) thru the double knits, what about machine tacking? I think that is what it's called where you sew it together back and forth in just little spots scattered about?
Basically, I believe that there is a way to use MOST of what we have and that it should be used. I believe that people who are cold will not care what the item that warms them looks like. I know I would not. I believe there is a great difference in the kinds of donation quilts and what qualities they require. IE: If I am making a quilt for someone who is ill and undergoing chemo, I will make it beautiful and soothing and hopefully comforting. If I am making a quilt for an active duty military person, I will make it handsome, but rugged, comforting again and leave out the whites and pale colors. For a homeless person, as described earlier. But all of my quilts will have my love and caring in every stitch and will be done to the best of my ability. Some may be "ugly" in my personal opinion, but I know they will serve the purpose for which they are intended. And that is, after all, the whole point of making them.
I am proud to put my name on each quilt I made because they are made with love and caring and I have done my best. Not because they are a work of art that reflects well on my skill and talent as a quilter.
Sorry this turned into such a long post, but I feel deeply about this issue and it is so very important to me. Hugs and smiles and more hugs to each and every one of you who spend even a little bit of your time quilting to help others. All the differing opinions and discussions in the world cannot detract from the good that you do!!!
Anything too worn or faded to use on the outside can be used on the inside if it is big enough, or can be pieced together to make it bigger in the case of say, faded curtain panels. Since you are tying these quilts, the extra seams should not be an issue.
If it is too hard for someone to get the needle and tying material (yarn or whatever) thru the double knits, what about machine tacking? I think that is what it's called where you sew it together back and forth in just little spots scattered about?
Basically, I believe that there is a way to use MOST of what we have and that it should be used. I believe that people who are cold will not care what the item that warms them looks like. I know I would not. I believe there is a great difference in the kinds of donation quilts and what qualities they require. IE: If I am making a quilt for someone who is ill and undergoing chemo, I will make it beautiful and soothing and hopefully comforting. If I am making a quilt for an active duty military person, I will make it handsome, but rugged, comforting again and leave out the whites and pale colors. For a homeless person, as described earlier. But all of my quilts will have my love and caring in every stitch and will be done to the best of my ability. Some may be "ugly" in my personal opinion, but I know they will serve the purpose for which they are intended. And that is, after all, the whole point of making them.
I am proud to put my name on each quilt I made because they are made with love and caring and I have done my best. Not because they are a work of art that reflects well on my skill and talent as a quilter.
Sorry this turned into such a long post, but I feel deeply about this issue and it is so very important to me. Hugs and smiles and more hugs to each and every one of you who spend even a little bit of your time quilting to help others. All the differing opinions and discussions in the world cannot detract from the good that you do!!!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Ditter43
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
11
08-31-2010 11:29 AM
