Iraxy

My former SIL used his grandmother's handmade quilts as acoustical wadding in his music room. My DD refused to have quilts that I had given her used that way and it caused a huge disagreement. My DD has asked that he give her those quilts (holes and all) to her for their DD but so far he has said no. My DGD has made her 1st quilt. She is 9. Yippee.

mhollifiel

My grandmother made me a scrappy postcard quilt (cut using a post card as template) which has been used for everything and now resides in the back of the SUV full time to protect the carpet. I have had to recover the back because it has been used so much. I am sure she never envisioned that quilt being used that way but she did make it to be used and BOY! has it ever been used. Point is, use depends on the recipient and is up to them. I purposely make quilts that will be used and "abused" and take it as a compliment when a replacement is called for.

mary123

Gramie,
What good insight you have about your children and your quilts. Thanks for posting your response. It reminds us mothers to try to let our children be who they are, and not who we think they should be.

bobquilt3

AMEN! A quilt is made for the joy of creating. Should you care to share it with someone fine but the reward is in seeing it finished.

bobquilt3

Beautifully said. Much nicer that my perhaps to sever reply.

Wanabee Quiltin

I personally put my heart and soul into every quilt I make. They cost a great deal of money and lots of work and time, so yes, I would get hurt if someone didn't use it. I have given very few of my quilts away and when I have, I have made very sure the colors and design match the person. I have had very good results, so far. This Christmas I will be giving away many quilted items as gifts and I am planning on thinking that what they do with their 'gifts' is their business, not mine.

Deborahlees

my mother was a great 'starter' but not a finisher....lots of single blocks in her trash....
the only item that made it to any size was catheral window (all done by hand of course)
that ended up almost 3 feet square.
my husband made a wood frame for it and it hangs in my sewing studio....
I am very proud to look upon it on a daily basis and can not imagine it in a closet....

connietoo

The worst hurt is when you go to visit and see the quilt you made being used for the dog to lay on!!

justflyingin

I personally think "on display on a chair in her living room" is actually a more prestigious place than her bedroom. Obviously she is very proud of it and wants people to see it! Congrats.

Friday1961

I'm a relatively new quiltmaker and so far I have given only one "quilt" away--a Labyrinth tabletopper in patriotic colors to a friend whose husband is retired Navy. I gave it to her because when she learned I had begun quilting and knew why it was important to me, she, several times, sent me quilting magazines. When she called enthusiastically thanking me for the tabletopper I told her she could pass it on if she liked and she said "no one's getting this out of my hands!" What she will actually do with it, I have no idea and will probably never know since she lives in another state. The truth is, her friendship and encouragement is why I gave it and why she so graciously accepted it. The quilt itself is less important (though I did love the little thing when I finished it and I think she meant it when she said she loved it, too). Also: if I don't already know someone's taste, I usually just feel them out about whether or not they would like a quilt (or any handmade gift). Many don't, plain and simple. And that's their perogative.

A few years ago I gave my DS and DIL a beautiful (it was the pattern and colors that made it so) crocheted afghan, which they had expressed a great desire to have when they saw me working on it. They loved it when they got it but they are careless with possessions and there's no telling where that afghan is today. But I knew that when I gave it and I gave it anyway. I'm currently handquilting a large throw size quilt for their son (also somewhat careless) and I can't predict it's ultimate fate either. Do I regret the care--or lack thereof--of the things I made with love and by my own hands? Yes. Can I do anything about it? No. Unless quilters want to keep every quilt they make (I don't, nor do I have room) then these are the chances they take. By that same token, I keep certain things I've made simply because I won't take that chance; I recently made a small attic windows quilt that I will keep "just because". But for the ones I give, I take pictures, hope for the best, and try not to judge. And what I hold to is the joy and appreciation I saw when I gave them.

Last Christmas I made my youngest grandson a Minesweeper "doll" (he calls it a figure) and more recently a Steve "doll" (from the same online video game). I found a kind of pattern for one, the other I had to make up, as they say, out of whole cloth....in this case fleece. His genuine delight in these gifts made my day and if they are now forgotten under the bed or out in the backyard (which I don't believe) I still remember how thrilled he was to get them and that makes it worth it.

This post prompted a LOT of responses. I doubt any of us would feel quite the same about gifts we bought as about the things we create with our mind, heart and hands!